Mod 2 - Local Product Delivery

My wife and I are concerned about the safety of our family with the increasing number of fast moving vehicles along Oallen Ford Rd. The driveway to my home is located at what I believe is called "Chainage from Site 14.5" in Table 3.2 "Route Inventory of Oallen Ford Rd - Windellama Rd" in Appendix 3 of the Modification of PA_07_0155 labelled as "Approaching crest; no centreline".
When my home was first built, Oallen Ford Rd was gravel past my front gate. Subsequently the road was regraded and sealed. As a result the driveway access to Windellama Rd has become increasingly dangerous due to the increasing number of vehicles using the road and the increasing speeds. It is necessary for a vehicle exiting my driveway to encroach onto the road to see if there are any vehicles coming which may be hidden by the banks of the road, shrubbery (which I endeavour to keep slashed), or the depression in the road on either side of the crest of the hill. I am very concerned that increasing the number of laden trucks travelling at speed will increase further the danger of entering or leaving our home, perhaps fatally.
In addition our 2 small grandchildren live with us. They catch the school bus and need to cross Oallen Ford Rd. The bus needs to stop on the crest of the hill to pick up and drop off. The road is simply not wide enough to allow the children to safely wait for the bus or for the bus to stop and collect or drop off the children without blocking one side of the road. There is no space for the bus to pull off the road. This could be disastrous.
In addition I travel every day to Canberra to work. There are already a number of large trucks (semis, trucks with dog trailers) using the proposed route to Tarago. This road is narrow and winding with very poor edges as well as the road continuously potholing. I have had many close calls despite limiting my speeds along this route. Trucks run the real risk of losing control when their wheels encounter the broken side of the road. Attempts at widening the sealed portion of the road have been largely unsuccessful with the majority of the widened edges being rough and broken. The roads in the area are too narrow to have a centre line. As such many vehicles use the centre of the road including over crests. Road features are poorly signposted. This has become apparent with the increasing number of impatient drivers who apparently do not know the road. The number of ACT plated cars using the route to Tarago has dramatically increased with the sealing of the majority of Oallen Ford Rd and down to Nowra.

I am a resident and farmer on Oallen Ford Road, the newly proposed haul route for the Ardmore Park Quarry. My home is alongside the road and I will be severely inconvenienced by increased heavy traffic - I move my cows along the road and graze them there (with a permit) from time to time.

Near my entrance is a very tight Z turn to cross Jacqua Creek. This is a section of road that has many accidents and the vehicles involved often end up in my paddock having broken the fence and skidded off the road. This is particularly true in wet weather or when the road is frosty - winter mornings.

The bridge is also subject to flooding with numerous occasions over the past 10 years when transit has been impossible.

I do not believe Oallen Ford Road is a viable alternative and it appears to me that this option has been requested because of the expense involved in the Bungonia Village by-pass, together with the upgrades of Jerrara Road. It is plain to me that Oallen Ford Road is not capable of carrying additional heavy traffic and that it will disintegrate just as Jerrara Road has due to Council funding constraints.

I believe the movement of sand and gravel laden trucks in such a large number will be extremely detrimental to our already inadequate roads. I am a mother of a young baby and have noticed the diminishing state of our roads, in particular Windellama Road. I travel below the speed limit as I do not feel secure travelling over the already large potholes at the current signposted limits.
I feel that the concept of the truck haulage will be extremely damaging to our country roads and will effect the safety of those who travel along them. I strongly OBJECT to this dangerous proposal.

We have made a "tree change" in our retirement as promoted by governments to assist in boosting regional areas.
We travel regularly along Windellama Road from our residence to Goulburn CBD for a number of reasons, i.e.shopping, volunteering at various organisations and dining out.
If this proposal is approved then very large trucks will be travelling along local roads which are not adequate.

I object to the proposial due to the amount of traffic already on these roads, the width and condition of these roads
cannot handle extra trucks.

As a regular user of the. roads proposed to be used by this company I have often been pushed onto the verge by trucks that now occasionally use these roads. The thought of many trucks on these roads is scary & an accident waiting to happen. While my objection is not the fact that they want to use local roads but there has to be an obligation to make the roads suitable to take the traffic that they propose. Originally I thought that Jerrara Rd ( which is a narrow road) was to be widened & at least that would improve safety How a large company can endanger the lives of other people is beyond my understanding. Not only local people but traffic that now goes down the coast via main road 92 would be affected Please consider others Thanks You Graham Price

I object to the following proposed alternate haul route by Multiquip quarries

The company originally wanted a chicken farm on the property Ardmore Park which was opposed by council. Then they decided after drilling for underground water and finding sand, basalt, etc, they would turn it into a mine and supply the Sydney market. By making it 'state significant' they could bypass the council.

I doubt they expected the following court case by the local council, an adjoining neighbour at the time (that they were made to buy out) and The Minister for Planning to object and WIN the court case.

This proposed mine has been through the courts (see attached document) where it was stated that

(a) " The predicted heavy vehicle movements associated with the proposal would result in unacceptable amenity and social impacts for residents along the proposed transport route, including Bungonia;
(b) The predicted heavy vehicle movements associated with the proposal cannot be accommodated without unacceptable risk to road users given the current serviceability of the proposed transport route;' etc

The proponent made minor changes and slipped through the Labor Government at the time under part 3A.

Nothing has changed since then and the roads have not been upgraded. They have had years to do something about it, but they have not. All they have done is continually try and get around not to have to upgrade the roads.

We believe that this is just another ploy by the company to try and get the trucks rolling so that they have a foot in the door.
This is backed up in my mind by the fact that he had a crushing plant delivered last week ready. One would have to wonder why they would spend so much money on equipment when they have not been granted the go ahead unless there is something the community has not been told.

The mine was knocked back because of the state of our roads down here. The alternate proposed routes are totally inadequate, many are only 5 metres wide, dirt, blind corners and concealed driveways. Children stand on the sides of these roads waiting for local school buses and mail persons frequently stopped to deliver mail and often cant get totally of the road. These alternate routes they are proposing are even more inadequate than what the court ruled against.

The judge at the time justice Jagot took the time to actually come down here and see for herself the state of the roads and made her judgment. I cannot see why, other than personal greed, that anyone would agree to this ridiculous proposal. They should be made stick to what we all fought in court including your department and do the road up to the standard the courts said they had to and stop trying to get in the back door!

I object to the following proposed alternate haul route by Multiquip quarries

This proposed mine has been through the courts which was opposed by our local council, a neighbour and The Minster for Planning, where it was stated that

(a) " The predicted heavy vehicle movements associated with the proposal would result in unacceptable amenity and social impacts for residents along the proposed transport route, including Bungonia;

(b) The predicted heavy vehicle movements associated with the proposal cannot be accommodated without unacceptable risk to road users given the current serviceability of the proposed transport route;' etc

The proponent made minor alterations and got it through the Labor Government at the time under part 3A.

The mine was knocked back originally because of the state of our roads down here. The alternate proposed routes are totally inadequate, many are only 5 metres wide in places, dirt, blind corners and concealed driveways. Children stand on the sides of these roads waiting for local school buses.

I object on the grounds that the proponent is trying to completely change what their original intention was 'to supply the Sydney Market' . They are trying to get in the back door so they dont have to do the roads up which is what they were knocked back on in the first place! We should not have to risk our lives on these roads for one persons financial gain.

Also it doesnt make sense why the department for planning would approve something that they had previously fought against in court and won. Its the same issue, the roads and peoples ammenity!!!

Ardmore Park Quarries

Lewis Buslines
Tallong NSW
ABN 43 715 291 729
17th July 2013

Jessie Giblett,
As one of the local school bus service providers that supplies the school bus service from Windellama to Goulburn, operating along Oallenford Road and Mountain Ash Road and on occasions Windellama Road.
Whilst I am all for creating employment in our local community, I am greatly concerned at the current proposal by Ardmore Park Quarries to say the least. As the proposed roads are really not of a suitable nature for commercial vehicles to be operating on safely whilst having to negotiate each other. Whilst Oallenford Road is of suitable width, there are no places for the school bus to pull completely of the road whilst picking up and setting down in this area.
Mountain Ash Road in total and Windellama Road between Oallen ford Road and Painters Lane is only just of suitable width, with broken edges, that requires one to move off the edge of the road at times to let vehicles pass. Between Lumley Road and Oallenford Road it is both narrow and windy, hence the no lines and in my time as the school bus operator there have been several accidents on one particular section between Windellama Primary School and Oallenford Road, with one fatality in the not so distant past. The children of Windellama Primary School also have need to cross Windellama Road in order to use the school sporting ground.
It should also be noted that, Oallenford Road, Windellama Road, Brisbane Grove Road and Mountain Ash Road are all subject to flooding. With low level crossings and causeways and roads that cross flood plains. There has already been two days this year where the school bus has been unable to operate due to roads cut by floodwaters. The only road from Ardmore Park that doesn't flood is Oallenford Road via Bungonia Village and thence out to the Hyway via Jerrara Road.
With out upgrades to the current infrastructure, and changing in some cases the load limits, allowing heavy vehicles to use them would simply be asking for the risk of further fatalities to rise exponentially. Unfortunately as the school bus service provider, should the school bus be involved in an accident it will be me who has to wear the consequences, and in the event of a fatality the families of Windellama . Not Multi Quip or the relevant department that approved the use of the aforementioned roads.
Regards,
Guy Lewis

Strongly object to the Ardmore Park Quarry.

Strongly object to the Ardmore Park Quarry

Att: Jessie Giblett

I strongly object to an increase of trucks on Cullulla Road. The road is narrow and winding and not suitable for heavy trucks. As a property owner I came to live here 17 years ago for the peace and quiet of the country. This is already disturbed by the many trucks and other vehicles which use this road. I, as many others on the road have horses and use the road to access trails. The wildlife is now being killed off at a greater rate from traffic, and the danger to the large number of children living in the area is increased tremendously and I would not like to see an accident happen! The trucks that do use this road travel at a very fast pace which is not suitable for this type of road. Therefore I reiterate... No more trucks on Cullulla road.

Thank you for your kind attention

Dear Madam / Sir :

Under no circumstances should Ardmore Park Quarry be permitted to alter their development application to permit increased heavy vehicle traffic on Cullulla Road , the " third world " goat track upon which I live ..

This road is very narrow, has many tight corners , virtually no shoulders anywhere , and broken pavement along its edges for most of its 12 km length. The track is so narrow it has no painted lines ANYWHERE except for the intersection with Lumley Road , and reflector posts are often missing , flattened or otherwise damaged.

This medieval thoroughfare now handles a huge volume of traffic as it offers shallow gradients all the way to Nowra via Nerriga , and this situation is worsened by the fact that the Clyde Mountain Road from Braidwood to Batemans Bay is often closed to remedy landslides , thus increasing the volume of recreational vehicle traffic , motorcycles and rally cars to name but a few of the noisy intruders into what was formerly a quiet place.

To increase traffic volume would be a totally irresponsible decision which defies logic and common sense and would ultimately lead to traffic disasters and I protest most vehemently against this inane request/proposal .

I object to the additional movement of heavy trucks using Windellama road as a better option. I do not feel it necessary to compromise the safety of the community and more heavy traffic deteriorating further our main access road into Goulburn.

The modification documentation contains contradictory information. The map in the main report showing proposed local haul route doesn't include Mountain Ash Rd. between Jerrara Rd & Goulburn. However the map in the appendices does include Mountain Ash Rd.
I seek clarification on this matter & comment that this shows sloppiness on the part of the proponent & the Department that this was not resolved prior.
The inclusion or not of Mountain Ash Rd. does not alter my objection to the application as this is not a "minor " change but is completely different to the original approval to haul product for the Sydney market via Jerrara Rd. & the Hume Highway.
This should be a completely new application as the scope is so different. Not only are the designated local haul routes (subject to clarification) included but the stated desire is for local customer deliveries, effectively "open slather" for any road subject to it's weight restriction. This is a totally different business model to that approved.

I object to it as we have enough trucks on windellama rd. Me and my daughter have been nearly killed 3-4 times by truck on the wrong side of windellama Rd

I object as Windellama Rd is only wide enough for 2 cars .My wife has been nearly killed 3-4 times by trucks coming onto the wrong side of the road especially around the bends.

I would like to register my objection to the proposal put forward by Multiquip Ardmore Park Quarry owners to allow their trucks to use all of the local roads. None of our local roads are suitable for truck movements and allowing this proposal would put every other user of these roads in great danger including our children who travel by bus to schools in the area. The sight of the school bus and a large truck passing each other on these roads is the most frightening experience, one which I have witnessed many times and allowing even more trucks to use these roads seems irresponsible to say the least. Now that Jerrara and Oallen Ford Roads have become a preferred route to the coast from the Freeway turnoff at Marulan, traffic has increased manyfold and the risk of accidents due to the unsuitabilty of these roads for Heavy Traffic must surely increase by the same level. There are already too many trucks using our local roads and to allow even more trucks to use them is not in the interests of public safety but in fact, quite the opposite. This is a rural area and the roads were constructed as such.

I am against any more trucks using the Oallen Ford Road. As it is the roads are in disrepair and dangerous to drivers let alone these huge trucks that already speed on the road. There are a lot of families out here and Oallen Ford Road has become so busy. I have lived here for 30 years and I have witnessed the huge increase in cars and trucks let alone more trucks. The road cannot take it and nor can the residents.

I am concerned that the modified D/A consent conditions may result in traffic increase (and large traffic vehicles) on the Windellama Road where I reside. I understand that up to 10 truck movements per day 6 days a week may result if the modification request is granted.

I further understand that the modification request will result in up to 20,000 tonnes of material being moved by those trucks.

If this is correct then I am seriously concerned at the ability of our road to cope with this additional load.

The road is already in a poor state and will deteriorate very quickly if this is permitted. Especially in poor weather conditions.

Moreover there are 2 bridges on the road which are already in a dreadful condition. One at "Badgers Holt" approx. 3 k's from Goulburn already has a 40 Kph spped limit coupled with a 14 tonne load limit because it is in such poor condition.

The other is the historic Lansdowne Bridge which is in disrepair and very narrow and unsafe. It is regularly repaired by crews only to find that it breaks up again immediately the crews leave.

The route which diverted past the township of Bungonia and then to the Hume Highway near Marulan is a much safer alternative for this increase in traffic.