Modification 3 Quarry Continuation and Stockpile Area Extension

The attachment is a result of broad community consultation and a number of community meetings. It outlines the general views of most of the community.
This is a link to a petition on change.org that attracted 80+ signatures, mainly locals, in the first two weeks it was open.
Apologies, I could not see how to provide an attachment to this petition.
https://www.change.org/u/me

I strongly object to the proposal for the following reasons:
• Severe health impacts
• Risk to the thousands of vehicles that use the highway daily
• Environmental Impacts and Concerning Track Record
• Impact to quiet enjoyment
• Impact to property values
• Impact to local road.
The proposal creates unacceptable health risks to residents from airborne silica dust. The number of wind turbines in the area clearly demonstrates that it is a high-wind area. The increasing rates of silica dust related respiratory disease has been the topic of medical conventions, it’s been labelled the new asbestos, with national strategies developed to try and address the potentially fatal impacts. I have been diagnosed with an incurable respiratory disease, working from home most days, living in a rural environment removed from urban pollution is critical to my wellbeing. The quarry would be a risk to all residents, but particularly for myself because of my reduced lung capacity and compromised immunity system.
The number of trucks in the proposal is extremely alarming, the Federal Highway is a major road with significant daily traffic, the slip lanes are not designed for a constant stream of large trucks merging into heavy traffic – catastrophic accidents are inevitable, the nearest hospital and ambulance service in Goulburn is 30 minutes away.
To attempt to lessen the risk of silica dust requires a large amount of water use, while recently there has been regular rainfall there are long periods with little rainfall. Redirecting the volume of water required would impact the natural environment, made worse by contaminated run-off. The company has a poor track record with EPA notices, licence revocation and fines, it would be naive at best to accept the inadequate assurances regarding environmental management and protection.
As Canberra and Goulburn have grown, rural residential areas have also grown, with many families drawn to rural living. The noisy, environmentally destructive operations of a quarry do not fit within the rural residential environment of Collector and Currawang. Residents compromise convenience to enjoy the peace and quiet of the rural area, the impact to our quiet enjoyment would be severe, as would the impact to property values.
The road could not cope with the extremely high volume of trucks proposed, and the commitment to repair the road is not realistic – even if the road was in good repair it would not be possible to keep up with the damage from the constant heavy vehicle traffic, the road would be in a permanent state of semi repair further impacting locals who need the road to access essential services.

I support project

I support this project

The previous objection under my email was a collaboration of concerned residents representing a view from the community.
This is my view and is consistent with the feelings of the community.
I object strongly to the proposed expansion of the Barina Quarry for a number of critical reasons;
- proponents have tried to understate the size and impact of the expanded quarry on the community. However, the expansion is a massive 5 to 9 times the existing excavation, (Irwin Environmental). When operational the original quarry was disruptive to the much smaller population of the area then, we now have a much greater population and a much greater disruption.
- Property values will be impacted which represents a significant loss in real terms to the current approved residents of the area.
- The proponent is not of sufficiently good character to manage an operation such as this. They have a long list of EPA transgressions and have had their licence revoked as a result of the transgressions.
- The proponent is elusive and tries to disguise who is actually running the company by changing the company name and the listed key personnel. Transparency, honesty and integrity elude them. They cannot be trusted to adhere to regulations, especially self regulation.
- The environment is clearly a loser in this proposal. At a depth of 60-70m the water table will be impacted with ground water contamination a certainty. Dust from operations will contain silica and cannot be controlled without excessive use of ground water, leading to run off complete with contaminates or less water and airborne contaminants.
- Perhaps the most extraordinary claim by the proponent is that current infrastructure is sufficient to cope with the significant increase in heavy traffic along Collector Rd (East) and particularly at the intersection with the Federal Hwy. An average of more than 10,000 vehicles travel along the Federal Highway every day and to suggest this is not a problem is preposterous. If this projected proceeds lives will be lost at the corner of Collector Rd (East) and the Federal Highway as 100+ heavy slow moving long vehicles move in and out of Collector Rd on to the Federal Highway where vehicles are travelling quickly, often in very poor conditions with severely restricted vision.
- The proponent has no declared plan for post mining. It is my view that they will try to use the excavation as a waste repository as they proposed to a community meeting in I think 2017.
The proponents should rejuvenate the current site using certified clean fill to match the already 1.2 million tonnes that have been removed, and secure a safe clean future for the community as well as a handsome profit for themselves.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this proposal.
Regards

No way

I have concerns about the traffic management entering and exiting from the hwy . This is an extremely busy road with traffic at 110km/h sign posted. Many vehicles travel at much higher than the posted sign limit. The current infrastructure does not support the proposed volume of trucks slowing to turn on a sharp corner without adequate turning out lane, and then to cross four lanes of highway traffic with fully loaded truck and trailer to return northbound. I am concerned about the dangerous and difficult merging conditions, volume of traffic. I think this greatly increases the chance of a fatal accident, if roads infrastructure is not significantly improved to accommodate this process.

I am also concerned about airborne silica particles, given collector and surrounding localities are on tank water. Silica dust settling on roofs or buildings or potential for airborne particles- unsure that the water suppression mitigation is adequate to address this.

The safety and lifestyle risk to residents and wildlife is too high. With this and the Tarago Incinerator, it feels our area is completely abandoned by our government.

Is the proponent Chris Eveston the same Chris Eveston who has been fined by the EPA for operating unauthorised waste facilities in Goulburn (NSW) and Hume (ACT)? In the event that they are the same individual that should disqualify the applicant from operating any facility requiring an EPA license as they've demonstrated repeated failures to comply with the appropriate laws and regulations and couldn't reasonably be trusted to only import clean fill to the site.

The consultant has failed to accurately represent that the Federal Highway has a 110km/h speed limit (not 100km/h as stated). If they are unable to compile simple factual information the rest of their analysis and presented facts should be subjected to greater scrutiny. It's highly likely that the remainder of the report is full of simple inaccuracies misprepresenting the case of the proponent and inaccurately minimising the risk to the community from the Quarry's operation.

There are other shortcomings and inaccuracies in the traffic reporting - the use of 134 laden trucks is (unlike as described in the report) a minor change - it will effectively double the carried weight on the road as 12 trucks per hour (during the 11 hour operating window of the quarry) move during commuting and school pickup and dropoff windows. The report claims that less than 10 trucks per hour will use the road.

The report mischaracterises the need for upgrades to intersections claiming "These intersections were
assessed as being appropriate for the traffic volumes associated with the Proposed Modification
(less than 10 vehicle / hour), with appropriate sweep paths. " There are greater than 10 vehicles per hour using the intersection as noted further down in the report - "The assessment considered turn volumes and traffic volumes, given the relatively low turning volumes from the development (20 vehicles per hour, evenly split in both directions"

Is the consultant or proponent being deliberately inaccurate or misleading choosing to quote only those numbers which would seem to give them a positive outcome.

The blasting and dust from the quarry will also be a disturbance to the local community affecting and interrupting study and play at Collector Primary School, work from home activities, quiet enjoyment of the rural lifestyle and disturb the agricultural, sporting and agisted animals in the vicinity.

The proponent should be required to not engage in a VPA but have a condition of the DAs approval to be a mandatory update and improvement of the road prior to the commencing of any other works. The road in its current condition will not be safe for even limited heavy vehicle movements about its current use.

There exists a significantly increased probability for severe vehicle accidents at the Collector Rd/ Federal Highway junction as slow moving heavy vehicles cross multiple lanes of traffic during busy times of day putting local and commuter lives at risk.

The proponent and their consultant claim that community consultation was undertaken but it was not a genuine attempt at consultation being performed on a Wednesday from 4-6pm when a significant proportion of the local community were unavailable due to work commitments.

I object to the project as I am concerned for the safety of my family and the community.

The trucks entering and exiting Collector Road from the Federal Freeway is extremely dangerous due to vehicles travelling at 110ks. The trucks will need to cross three lanes on the Freeway and then will have to merge.
The exit lane to Collector road is not long enough to slow the trucks down without interruption of the traffic on the Freeway.

I believe it will only be a matter of time before a major accident or a fatality occurs.

The company had their licence revoked due to multiple breaches previously eg. clean fill was contaminated. Process and procedures were not followed and resulted in multiple fines.

I have no faith in this company and strongly object the quarry reopening as I don’t believe they will comply with legislation as previously demonstrated and don’t believe they should be given the opportunity again.

Our safety, well being and a healthy environment must be considered first.

Please see attached rejection letter for the Barina Quarry.

Please replace my previous submission that includes my name and address within and replace with this version.
Latest version has had name and address removed.

See attached.

The scope of this district has changed dramatically since this quarry was last in operation. There are now numerous new households directly neighbouring it. The quarry is no longer a suitable operation for this area. The road is unsuitable and operations will cause significant impacts to long-term residents.

I object to this proposal as per the details in my attached document.

I object to the submission in its current form as it does not adequately consider future environmental concerns or the impact on traffic conditions in the immediate area.

This project is not in keeping with the rural residential area that it is being proposed in. This is not an appropriate development for a growing rural residential area. The Quarry part of the site has not operated for approx 15-17 years now and the amenity of the region has totally changed in that period. Being so close to Canberra has lead to an ongoing growth in rural residential in this area.

Silica dust is of a major concern to locals.

Water run off from the site when it was operated in the early 2000s was a big issue as the retention dams were not big enough to retain the run off which ended up in Currawang creek and Lake George.

The proponents of the proposal have had a strained relationship with the EPA with a Goulburn recycling centre and also one at Hume.

Why is this application using Upper Lachlan Council when the proposal is in QPRC?

They have also been notified from QPRC (the council which the proposal is in) to remove imported fill which was illegally used to build a road to a shed on the property.

If 134 trucks are to be coming in laden and departing laden the dangers to local traffic on the local road is not acceptable.

There is also the issue of slow moving laden B-Doubles and Semis getting off and onto the Federal highway. A highway that has got a lot busier over the last 16years. The danger and increased risk of fatalities is massive as these laden trucks would take 2 Kim’s to get up to speed as it is an uphill climb from the Collector Road E intersection within the Federal Highway.

The idea of bringing in waste fill to build roads in a quarry that produces road base has the locals doubting the true intentions of the proposal.

In 2018 the owners put forward their desire to have a waste recycling facility on the site. I feel if they get the approval to import waste fill onto the site it is only one step away from the original proposal which was rejected by the community.

I am totally against this proposal.

To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to lodge a formal objection to the proposed expansion of the quarry. This development is wholly inappropriate for a rural residential area and presents serious environmental, economic, infrastructure, and public health concerns that cannot be ignored.
Traffic and Road Safety;
The proposal will increase heavy truck movements,likely by more than 100 per day. These trucks will be forced to access the already veery busy Federal Highway, which has over 10,000 vehicle movements daily. This volume of additional heavy vehicles will dramatically increase the risk of accidents, congestion, and fatalities, particularly at intersections already known to be dangerous. The local road network is not designed to absorb this industrial-scale traffic despite what the proponents say.
Environmental Impacts;
Groundwater depletion and contamination: Digging to depths of 60–70 metres threatens to permanently alter the water table and deplete groundwater resources essential to the region. The potential for contaminated runoff into local waterways is a further, unacceptable risk.
Airborne silica dust: Hard rock Quarrying activities will release silica particles, a known carcinogen, into the air. Dust drift will not only threaten the health of residents but also impact livestock, crops, and natural ecosystems.
Excessive water use: The proposal requires an extraordinarily high volume of water, sourced from an incredibly important local groundwater supply. This will directly compete with rural households, farming, and community use.
Noise, Amenity, and Land Value
Continuous heavy vehicle movements and quarry operations will generate significant noise, vibration, and dust. The rural residential character of the area will be irreparably damaged, leading to a sharp decline in property values and quality of life for nearby residents. Families who have invested in the region for peace and amenity will suffer financial loss and the erosion of their way of life.
Company Record and Fitness to Operate;
The proponent has a long and troubling history of environmental breaches, EPA notices, fines, and even licence revocation. A company with such a track record should not be entrusted with an operation of this scale and risk. Their poor compliance history demonstrates a lack of good faith, responsible management, and community respect.
Conclusion;
For all these reasons—safety, environment, community health, amenity, and the proponent’s poor record—I strongly urge that this application be rejected outright. The risks and costs far outweigh any short-term economic benefits.
I request that this objection be recorded formally and that I be notified of any hearings or further consultations regarding this proposal.

I strongly object to the re-opening and expansion of the Barina Quarry on Collector Road. This quarry is very close to my home on Lucky Pass Road, where I work from home 4 days per week. I work in emergency management so I rely on my quiet location to be able to concentrate on my work and conduct regular online meetings.
This development will significantly devalue properties within a 5km radius. My aunty lives near a quarry in the Port Stephens area and she has had constant issues with the quarry in terms of noise, dust, trucks etc. and her property has decreased significantly in value compared to similar properties located a bit further away from the quarry.
Like most people we live here because we enjoy the peace and quiet. I bought this place so I can ride my horse on Lucky Pass Road and not have to deal with heavy traffic. Regular explosions and weekend operations are simply not acceptable. Many of us have livestock, and with horses, loud explosions can cause them startle which risks injury to people if you're near the horse. Other livestock such as alpacas, sheep and cattle are located within 1km of the quarry.
Collector Road is an absolute disgrace just with the light traffic that uses it now. The gravel road on Lucky Pass Road is in better condition than the tarred section of Collector Rd East that sits under ULSC. The constant use by 100 + trucks a day is completely unrealistic, unsafe and will create problems getting onto the Federal Highway. Passing a truck on it, as it is now, is dangerous, so having to compete with multiple heavy vehicles is just not acceptable. My children attend school in Collector so I use this road twice a day at least . I don't look forward to competing with trucks who probably won't share the road.
In addition to the noise and silica dust pollution that the quarry will create, a 70m hole and surrounding stock piles etc will have significant impacts on the environment and wildlife. This will include impacts to the water table, erosion and polluted run off. The area has a dense population of kangaroos, echidnas and wombats that will be impacted.
This company also has a poor track record with the EPA so I question how they can even be considered as being responsible enough to operate this quarry as good corporate citizen. They have been given notices, fines and had their license revoked. I don't accept the claim that it will create jobs. These will no doubt be outsourced to those outside of the area.
The company's consultation with nearby residents and the local community has been absolutely pitiful, with only 2 letterbox drops. In this there was a very poorly printed map that you couldn't even read with your glasses on, with very high level fluff and no detail. Their community consultation at Collector Hall was a very poorly chosen time for most people to be able to attend, which was obviously a deliberate attempt to avoid questions and face up to a very concerned community. With training and experience in community engagement, this for me, has not hit the mark and cannot be classed as consultation. On the public participation (IAP2) spectrum it probably reached 'informed', with no attempt to reach 'consult' or 'collaborate'. If they were half serious they would be inviting residents to the site to show us the layout, the blast site, provide the detail, and allow us to ask questions.
It seems that our small community is a constant target. We've recently had a wind farm put in, had to fight against a high risk shooting range (also on Collector Rd East), currently fighting the Tarago waste incinerator which will take Sydney's rubbish, and now this. We've copped our fair share. Honestly, please leave our small community alone and let us live in peace!