Monaro Rock Quarry Project

Enchanted Hill in Royalla stands,
Covered in Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands.
This type of land we should preserve,
This hill beside Melrose Nature Reserve.

On Enchanted Hill the view you see,
Is The Australian Capital Territory.
Richardson, Calwell and Theodore,
Chisholm, Tralee and Gilmore.

Where Gang-gang fly and Wedge-tail soar,
Then return to nest as they did before.
On Enchanted Hill their nests so fine,
But a business wants to build a mine.

This hill where Traditional Owners walked,
Sharing their heritage through song and talk.
Scaring and ringing trees to show the way,
And leaving signs that can be seen today.

They lived in harmony with the land,
Leaving their footprints in the sand.
They drank from the creeks that still flow,
To Tuggeranong Valley down below.

Next the settlers came along the trail,
Building homes and soon the rail.
Royalla grew with rural blocks,
Children, horses, cherries and livestock.

Enchanted Hill supporting native bird and man,
And now some business has hatched a plan.
To fell the trees and scrape back the soil,
To dig the rock: The environment to spoil.

The hill to now make concrete and asphalt stink,
But what will become of the legless skink?
Blasting, grinding, the dust blows by,
To settle on gardens and homes nearby.

These rocks they carry silica dust,
But to build our roads they claim a must.
But what of the other quarries four,
They say not enough we need much more!

To me it’s greed at the cost of many,
Our insurance even now it’s a pretty penny.
The risk of bushfire and accident when blasting,
While children and horse owners are out riding.

I heard each day when a mine powers up,
Home electrical equipment becomes corrupt.
The brownouts and the power cuts,
The noise, the dust, the moving trucks.

Over two lanes on the Monaro trucks to go,
The traffic north and south will have to slow.
When trucks cross the rail line then turn right,
How will we see them in fog or at night?

Our Tin Man stands his green eyes cry,
On the Monaro log and quarry to trucks go by.
Slowing Tuggeranong’s city bound route,
Five hundred trucks to join the daily commute.

Johnson Drive and that slip lane,
Where drivers and truck attempt to share the same.
And at the top of the hill where trucks to turn left,
How many of us will soon be laid to rest?

Michalago, Bredbo and Cooma too,
This mine will impact all of you.
Googong if they don’t take the Monaro Highway,
Then the trucks will drive Old Cooma ‘byway’!

The report said we wouldn’t make a fuss,
As kids walk from gate to school bus.
Public Health of both lung and our heads,
Four years we waited for this report to be read.

You didn’t mention for our health the tree change,
Or the soldiers that don’t want to live on a range.
For the families that moved from quarry to hill,
We want peace, clean water, clean air and not to be ill.

The SEARS said 200 trucks to go cruising,
And yet your report said 500, 750 it’s very confusing.
The failure to engage with those in the valley,
It took us to rise and call them to rally.

They have this issue with pollution and air,
An inversion layer sits over those that live there.
They don’t need more dust or noise or pollution,
Your trucks or your cleverly worded ‘solutions’.

There were so many here that wanted to buy,
The blocks of land so close but a quarry nearby?
Your proposal stopped the growth of our community,
But on this issue, we have joined together in unity.

What of these offsets they are but a laugh,
Scared birds and animals as they scrape back the grass.
Those critters don’t move to another location or blocks,
This flora and fauna will no longer be stocked.

And where are global warming reports?
More bushfire and drought less water to port.
Or what of the cost of the carbon offsets,
Economic value we think there but regrets.

And what of the cost when motorists cry
A plume of smoke is in the sky!
Call up the local bush fire brigade to appear
Their employers bear the cost to volunteer!

You see you didn’t add up all the cost,
Our tank water and pumps and panels will be lost.
The figures we waited four years to see,
Have failed to assure us to agree.

The wind wasn’t measured here,
The traffic measured in a covid year!
Update the workings but our trust is eroded,
No licence for Enchanted Hill to be exploded.

Those that chose to live near here,
This mine will cost them very dear.
We will no longer see the stars at night,
Because of the mines bright shining lights.

Don’t let them clear, blast, dig or drill.
Stop the trucks, Save Enchanted Hill.
No Quarry, no industrial estate in Royalla,
Save Enchanted Hill - You have the power!

We object to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project on a number of reasons.
The amount of harmful fine dust this Quarry will produce & being so close to surrounding areas of Royalla & suburbs in the south of the ACT is a major health issue. Especially Royalla as it already has an operating Quarry just to the south of it within a couple of Klm's. The fine dust from this Quarry is already an issue in the surrounding areas. The Monaro Rock Quarry proposed site is just to the North of Royalla meaning it will be smack bang in the middle of the Quarries.
Then there is the issue of the excessive amount of trucks entering the Monaro Highway from the proposed new Quarry. The trucks will have to cross the very busy Monaro Highway which is 100Km zoned speed to get onto the highway. This will cause major disruption to traffic using the Highway. Not to mention the higher risk of major accidents causing serious injury or possible death with these heavy laden trucks entering the Highway in a 100Km zoned speed limit zoned area.
The Monaro Highway from Old Cooma Road to Johnson Drive Roundabout in the ACT is already substandard in a number of areas with issues to the road surface. These excessive amount of heavy laden trucks will bring this road into disrepair even more. The roundabout at Johnson Drive will need major upgrades as well because the traffic flow will not cope with the extra amount of trucks preventing flow of traffic.

I have been a resident of Royalla for the past 16 years and a resided in rural residentials property’s around the ACT for over 45 years. I value the unique environment we have in the region and intent to work for it to remain as is.

I do not believe the EIS was able to demonstrate that the proposed project is viable, in the public interest or delivers enough benefit to offset the enormous amount of risks the project proposes to the land, people, economy and culture of the area.

The EIS process proved to be complex and flawed in its expectations of the lay person, it is unreasonable to expect the average citizen to be able to work through or understand the project data and information within the EIS or to understand, more crucially, if there is information missing that should be taken into account when completing submissions particularly in the timeframe provided. For example; I found the EIS lacked sufficient mediation for the Social and Mental impacts the project will have on members of the community, impacts that have been present and increasing for the last five years due to the length of the SSD process. Impacts that need to be properly evaluated as they relate to industrial proposals and activities for both individuals and communities.
The EIS also failed to demonstrate sufficient mitigation, take accountability or even fully identify the impacts the projects water requirements would have on the water tables and day to day lives of the people and surrounding area. Despite residents paying large amounts of money for bores and their associated water harvesting rights there have been many times over the last 15 years where I have witnessed the water supply fail to meet expectations leaving several of the bores dry or low, even during times of “normal” weather. The possibility of adding a quarry to these ongoing water supply issues has residents concerned about how they will water their livestock and gardens, or maintain a normal water supply for home use like washing cars or homes, let alone plan for times of drought and bushfire

Stakeholder consultation was inadequate and in the case of several ACT residents, who were specifically mentioned in the EIS, it was non-existent, this despite the EIS clearly stating that stakeholders were involved in consultation.
The wind data provided in the EIS was wind data was from Isabella an area of Canberra with very different conditions to Enchanted Hill, this would mean the spread of dust and odder would be much greater than scoped in the project.

For these reasons, I believe, the project proposal would need to be independently reviewed to asses if the data and information supplied is ‘fit for purpose’ prior to any review or consideration by NSW Planning.

The proposal itself creates extensive risk to the area, including but not limited to;

Traffic increases of up to 500 heavy truck movements are not congruent to the existing infrastructure beyond the project zone and would apply to much pressure to the road network and user loads. It would greatly increase risk to road users and in the event of an accident again put pressure on the communities health services.

The following observations identify some of the impacts of dust, as I saw them from my time living near a hard rock quarry.
Dust the silica dust will be created by the project site and from trucks is highly toxic to humans and animals. It will not be possible to contains the dust at all times and silica dust can travel up to 80km from the site of production. There are many open playing fields within this danger zone.
Dust will also be released from trucks, particularly as they will be entering populated areas immediately after leaving the production site, meaning there will be more dust that was resting on the vehicle as well as from the vehicle loads to spread into the populated community several kms from the site.
The dust will collect on solar panels, reducing power supply to many homes and creating added risk to homeowners who would need to regularly clean them.
People with conditions like Asthma or COPD, may lose the ability to enjoy time outside or, as has been the case with the existing quarries, be forced to move.
Dust will also
Dust from the quarry would impacts both water filters and machinery filters requiring more regular replacement and reducing the life of machines that require air for combustion.
Dust reduces the ability to enjoy the outdoors particularly as it tends to be worse in the summer.
BUT WORST OF ALL – It only takes once, one exposure, one lung full of toxic silica dust to cause damage and possibly reduce our life expectancy and providing us with years of pain and suffering. Most terrifying if you consider the amount of schools directly in the danger zone.
The community will be the ones to then wear the cost of healthcare required to manage these conditions and possibly worse, conditions such as Silicosis or Cancer into the future. Having an industrial site of this nature so close to populate areas is a recipe for disaster and while more research is necessary, the Australian Cancer Atlas identifies the majority of populated areas near hard rock quarries of this nature have higher than average cases of cancer, a risk our community is not willing to take.

Biodiversity- As it stands the project would be responsible for the loss of endangered flora and fauna. I don’t feel the proposed offset program would come close offsetting this issue as it will not replace the rare species wiped out from this project.

The impacts of blasting this close to homes are endless, mental health is often impacted and
noise, vibrations, and dust from blasting and heavy vehicle movements, electricity damage to homes and appliances and electrical equipment from brown out, as well as reduced solar capacity through dust on panels.

Damage to electrical cars, appliances and equipment as well as reductions in power due to dust on solar panels.

Asphalt production releases strong unpleasant odder that travels great distances and gets stuck in all types of material, a constant discomfort.

Poisoning of waterways and ground waterways from project run off is of particular risk to children and livestock and the risk of these types of contamination spreading great distances is highly likely due to the interconnecting water courses that go from the proposed site all the way to lake Burley Griffin and beyond.

Noise – due to the proposed location noise pollution will be extensive, noise
HOURS 5am to 6pm 6 days per week
Reversing beeps


I have read the EIS and reviewed the data and the projects possible and projected outcomes and compared these to the results of similar projects. I have listened to the community’s concerns and reviewed not only the projects risks to the community but also supported individuals with mental and social anxiety issues resulting from the proposal. I have tried to find examples of how this could work but whatever way you look at it this is a really bad idea and should not be approved as the risks just can’t be offset sufficiently for the project to deliver any worthwhile benefits. If the project is not withdrawn following the submission process, I believe it would need to go to a public meeting.

Hello, My name is Harrison Hynes and I am writing today to try to help give a better understanding of just how deep and widespread the effects of the Monaro rock quarry development have been, and will continue to be. First and foremost I would like to preface this plea with some experience of my own. I along with my family grew up alongside a quarry toward the back end of Royalla. Of course this was not the intention of my parents when they moved to Royalla some 25 years ago, this does not however change the fact that it became a reality soon after their having built one of the earlier houses in the area. Throughout my childhood the impacts of the quarry were very apparent, with issues ranging from a massive increase in dust pollution to the development of asthma in my mother, an issue that she still deals with to this day. These stand as obvious issues even without considering the fact that the quarry’s blasts would cause tremors, making the pictures on our very walls to fall, the cups on our tables to tip over. In saying that we eventually decided it was time to move, we had dealt with the effects of this mine for far too long and we could see the pollution starting to impede on all of our breathing, made especially scary as my younger sister had also been born with asthma. After months of home searching, in and out of the royalla region, we eventually settled on a block just off the monaro highway, not far along old cooma road. Although my family and I were sad to leave our old home, we were also looking forward to continuing, having found a house we knew would bring more amazing memories. And it was like this for some time, however eventually of course it would have to come to an end. The news of a quarry being established right on our doorstep was not the news we thought we would be hearing. How would you feel if you found out the primary reason for your family moving house was presenting itself to you once again? Except this time it was even closer.

This is just the tip of the truly sad iceberg that is the development of the Monaro rock quarry. Not only does the quarry negatively impact those living in royalla, but also basically everyone in the south canberra valley, and the surrounding NSW regions. It is extremely detrimental to the over 300 species found in the area, including both indigenous flora and fauna. It causes extreme damage to land brimming with cultural and historical importance. With up to 500 trucks going up and down our road everyday, causing long lasting damage to our streets, streets that the perpetrators would have no hand in fixing. Not only that but with this vast amount of trucks pulling upwards of 750,000 tons of rock daily, along with snow traffic would make the daily commutes of those living here hell. Aside from all the points above, supporting me, and the rest of the people fighting alongside me I pose a question, why here? There are many other places that could be developed, places outside the range of heritage sites and civilians. Does this shit really need to happen, just for the monetary gain of those taking advantage, creeping an agenda further and further past what it once was, what it was meant to be? We are people, just the same and truthfully it affects all of us. I truly hope the pleas of all those around me have proved to give even slight insight into the turmoil troubling all of us.

To whom it concerns,

I live in Royalla and I am extremely concerned about the proposal for a new quarry in the area.

As some background, I have lived in Royalla all of my life. From when I was born to few years ago, I lived at the southern end of Royalla, within sight of the Williamsdale quarry. In fact, the Williamsdale quarry played a significant role in my family and I’s decision to move house.

As a child, I was scared when the whole house shook. I was scared when my brother screamed in fear and I had to console him when we were just watching the morning cartoons. I was scared when picture frames fell off of the walls and my horse bolted. I was scared when I saw clouds of dust billow behind the big hill, and when the trees slowly gave way to the growing waste dirt and rock pile. I was scared when my grandfather kept going into hospital with the family being told that he would die there due to his lung issues. I was devastated when he could no longer visit even when he wasn’t at hospital, because nearly every time he came over, he relapsed. And most of all I was scared when my mother and siblings couldn’t breathe when they needed their asthma inhalers because they couldn’t breathe properly.

As I grew up, I was annoyed when I had to pick up the shattered glass from fallen photo frames, and when I had to make sure the fallen picture went back into the same place to cover up the hole that had been left behind when it fell. I was saddened by the ever growing pile of dirt and the decreasing number of trees, because I have always loved the environment - especially so close to the Bush Capital, which does, in fact, still need to have the Bush. I was nervous when I saw the truck drive around the street with the lights flashing to warn us that blasts were going to occur, so I knew that I couldn’t ride my horse just yet, because I knew that he would spook. I was always frustrated by the layer of dust that coated every inch of the house, no matter how hard we tried to keep it clean. And I was always irritated that the barbecue, the lid of the spa, the outside table and chairs were all always covered in a thick layer of dust. Every time we wanted to eat outside or use the barbecue, it would take an hour of scrubbing just to make things look like they had been touched in the last century - even if they had just been cleaned the weekend before.

I understand that the dust may not have all been caused by the quarry - they did have dust suppression for for legal reasons, I’m sure. However, I know that at the old house, there was rarely a strong wind for any dust to be blown towards us, and yet, it always was. And when we moved into our new house, suddenly we didn’t have to scrub down the patio table every time we wanted to use it - a simple wipe would do. By then my grandfather had long since passed, but I do not recall having seen my mother, my brother or my sister use their asthma inhaler since the move - I’m not even sure they have inhalers any more. Despite the facts that we have more animals, do more with them, and the wind is always blowing a gale - and should therefore kick up more dust - we have had none of the issues that we had at the old house.

Of course, the new house came with some new challenges as well. We have a bore now - I have read the EIS that refers to the ground and surface water, and I understand that minimal impacts are expected. However, I am of the opinion that even minimal impacts become major over time, especially in areas that are constantly growing in population and therefore water usage, in one of the driest countries in the world. And water can also be a significant component in dust suppression.

I have read the EIS that refers to air quality, which also indicates that there should be no significant impact. However, I do not believe that the Williamsdale quarry ever identified serious issues either, even though the events that I have detailed above indicate that it did create issues. Not to mention, we are constantly discovering the new impacts of various substances in various quantities, and we do not know what the future science will suggest is safe, especially when it comes to inhaling particles. This is especially relevant, given the windy nature of the immediate area, and the very close proximity of not just farmland, but various suburbs and schools. I also believe that the carbon emissions that come from this quarry will be significant - and in a country that has signed onto the Paris Climate agreement, and has a legislative aim of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, I do not believe that any infrastructure development should be going ahead without full carbon offset.

The EIS on the Transport indicates that the proposed access road would be more than adequate to support the additional traffic load of the proposed quarry. As this is still a proposal, I cannot vouch that it would or would not be suitable. What I can vouch for is the current state of both Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway. These are the only two major roads that a access road would be able to go onto, and they both already require regular repairs due to being, quite frankly, shoddy. The slightest amounts of rain can cause potholes big enough to blow a tire, and avoiding potholes and kangaroos at the same time can be more difficult than one would think. I also do not believe that any point along either road would be a safe exit due to the speeds, traffic and frequency of minor and major accidents. Not to mention, to build the proposed access road, the most likely access point would be via Monaro Station road and Mates drive. When the property was first purchased, approximately 2 trucks were going up and down these roads per day. Not only was the entire road so diminished in quality that it was dangerous at the best of times, with proper repairs never taking place, our driveway was also used as a turning circle. This caused such significant damage on our street, which took weeks to fix, that I was forced to scrape the bottom of my car against the lifted parts of road every time I left for work. I received multiple flat tyres during this time, along with a loose bracket that may well have been caused by the constant scraping.

I ultimately understand that this project has been deemed necessary, and I understand the practicality of having the quarry in such close proximity to where it would be needed. However, i do not believe that it is necessary to have it so close to residents, nor do I personally believe it is truly a necessary project at all, especially given the high number of established quarries in the general area.

Ultimately, I do not believe that anything I have said in this submission will make a real difference. I understand that mining is the biggest industry in Australia, and I do not expect the words of one women, or even the hundreds that I'm sure have submitted, will change that. What I sincerely hope is that the health of everyone in the area, the flora and the fauna, the health of the water table and ecosystem and the health of the world is seriously taken into account in the coming months proceedings.

Thank you.

I found out about this project a couple of hours ago (Wednesday 24/9/2025). With this very short notice it limits my ability to read all the information available and consequently provide a more detailed submission.

However, I still have serious concerns about positioning this quarry close to populated areas. I understand there would be a lot of dust particles and pollution in the air. Additionally, when there are prevailing winds, pollution would be blown further and ultimately lots of people would be breathing in these dust particles. I know so many people who already suffer from asthma and also have compromised immune systems. I believe this could become a major health issue for a lot more people in the area and surrounding areas.

I note that the quarry would be worked for 30 years, 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. That is a lot of dust, pollution and so close to a populated area.

In addition, the increase in trucks required, the traffic implications is also a major negative factor. The Monaro Highway already sees congestion with the amount of work and snow traffic.

Surely there are better choices, safer and more suitable places where this quarry could be placed, away from signifiant populated areas.

I am registering my objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Royalla. This project is unsafe and inappropriate for our community and should not proceed.

In my household there are autoimmune health issues. This makes us particularly vulnerable. Even short bursts of dust exposure could seriously affect wellbeing. Living beside a quarry for thirty years, with daily emissions, is an unacceptable health burden.

Like most properties in Royalla, we rely completely on collected rainwater. Dust from the quarry will settle on rooftops and wash into water tanks that also provide drinking water. Residents will have to pay for testing and treatment of water and also more frequent cleaning of water tanks and roof tops just to ensure safe and clean water supply. These additional costs will add to the already high cost of living.

A large, long-term quarry does not belong in a rural-residential area. The proposed site is too close to established homes and recent subdivisions. The amount of Dust, vibration, noise, and truck traffic do not belong in a rural residential area. .

Proposed controls such as water sprays and monitoring are not reliable. Have you ever been to an event where it is dusty and the ground is sprayed with water? The water dries/evaporates quickly and the dust continues making an unpleasant situation. With water being such a valuable resource , how much will the quarry require to attempt to keep dust at bay? Furthermore, the quarry will add respirable crystalline silica dust proposing a significant health risk. Royalla experiences high winds and it is inevitable that the dust will escape and be carried into the community and have devastating health impacts.

The high level of truck movements will bring diesel pollution and road safety issues. Will the 250 additional trucks each day be flowed via the Monaro highway, likely causing an even greater issue with snow traffic? Or will the trucks flow down Old Cooma road where some sections are not even fit for cars to travel on safely.

This quarry threatens to damage community health, pollute vital water supplies, and erode the wellbeing of families in Royalla for decades to come. As a resident and as a mother, I cannot accept such risks. The proposal must be rejected in the interests of public health and community safety.

I object to the project on many grounds but they can be summarised as:
1. this project profits the few at the risk and expense of the many
2. this project is utterly wrong and inappropriate in this location
My grounds for objection include location (zoning), traffic, dust, mental health impacts, and a lack of economic benefit, all expanded on in my submission.
We ask that this application be rejected, or that it be referred to the IPC with public meetings to be held.
Thank you

I object to the project 100%. Please refer to my attached submission.

I object to this project on two grounds, firstly community health and the impact this project with on my family and friends who live in this area: and secondly the misrespentation in the EIS that this is just a medium scale quarry, rather than the actuality that this is a major extraction quarry combined with a concrete batching plant and an asphalt production plant. Science agrees that silica dust
environmental impacts, in terms of human health, can extend up to 20 kilometers from the quarry site. This has the ability to affect the tens of thousands of peoples living in the immediate area. For this reason alone, this quarry should not proceed.
The EIS covers the development of a quarry with up to 500 loaded truck entries to an already a busy highway per day. These vehicle movements cover the movement of quarry products only and miss the additional movements required by the development of the concrete and asphalt plants. As these additional plants are not adequately covered by the EIS, that document mispresents the effects of the totally of the development to our local community and to the state government itself.
I firmly believe that this development is misrepresented in the supporting documentation and should not be proceeded with.
Sincerely

On behalf of my family and I, who live in immediate vicinity of the proposed quarry, we strenuously object to its development.
We object on the grounds of potential harm to the health of all the local residents.
The proposed site is far too close to residential areas for such a large scale project.
We object to the level of dust, odour, noise pollution and extensive large truck traffic.
They should not be allowed to extract from the ground water at this industrial scale.
The site is elevated from the surrounding residential areas, therefore all pollutants will flow downhill to residential areas (this includes noise, dust and odours).
Old Cooma road, Mates drive and Monaro Station road will need to be upgraded to support heavy trucks traveling along this route to get to Queanbeyan, as I'm sure they will not go the long way around via the Monaro hwy. Note Old Cooma road is already in very poor condition in quite a few sections with only the light traffic it receives currently.
Note this is not a rural area but the council defines it as environmental living, ie residential living in a rural/natural environment, which would be shattered with a quarry nearby.

As per the attachment, I strongly object to the quarry as it is at best a highly doubtful economic argument and at worst a blatant misrepresentation of the adverse impacts of the proposed industrial park.

I have concerns regarding this quarry and its detrimental impact on the local environment and threatened flora and fauna species, on the rural roads and safety aspects with increased heavy vehicle traffic as well as the health concerns to the residents that call this area home and who value the quality of the air and water for our families.

See attached amended submission

My household opposes the proposed new Quarry
For many reasons:
1/The impacts of silica dust on respiratory health has been well documented. We do not need the potential impact of this in the air and also falling on our roofs leading to containment of our drinking water as we all rely on tank water in the area.
2/ the impact to the ground water, the quarry will access ground water limiting the water in the water table that is relied on my many in the area for more sustainable
3/ the quarry process uses water and thus produces waste water. This can contaminate ground water and is also expected to run off into the local Tuggeranong creek
4/ Traffic, the exisiting roads will not tolerate the extra heavy vehicles traffic. The Monaro hwy is not designed to tolerate the extra traffic the Quarry will create. Heading into Canberra (north) the road is only one lane, there are also concerns about the safety of a slow heavy fully laden truck leaving the quarry crossing the highway with vehicles traveling at 100km/hr
In snow season the turn from old Cooma road onto the hwy at intersection with good visibility can be challenging we do not need extra truck traffic on this road and the location that the proposed quarry will be accessing the highway will only make traffic conditions dangerous and likely force unsafe overtaking of slow trucks
The alternate route for the trucks to travel down old Cooma road and the road between fernleigh park and wellsvale drive is narrow, with no shoulder and potholed and will not stand up to the extra traffic movements especially wide and heavy loads. When residents have requested this road look at being widened we have been told by QPRC that the corridor contains protected trees and thus can’t be widened

5/ local septic systems and brownouts
The extra draw on the electrical infrastructure may cause brownouts that affect many electrical appliances but importantly the pumps of the septic system we rely on. Why should we be forced to pay for replacement pumps and other electrical items affected by these potential brownouts.
6/ impact on local flora and fauna,
The impact to ecosystems may have far ranging and irreversible impacts
Ultimately we moved our family out of town for a more peaceful, Clean lifestyle not to hear blasting and trucks thundering by 6 days per week and be concerned about impacts to our health.
Don’t let this quarry go head to line the pockets of the owners at the detriment of the greater community it

I object to this project, I have no desire to have the air I breathe in everyday to contain silica, we live in a valley where the air likes to sit and stir above us. This can and probably will cause many cases of silicosis, my parents are in their 60s and if this quarry goes ahead my parents are strongly considering moving further into Canberra or a another city entirely, our entire family is about to all move back to Canberra and it would far better that we don’t have to drive hours to see each other. The concept of having 700 trucks a day is unsettling, 700 trucks with large rocks that could be thrown out and onto the roads I and my family have to drive everyday. The dust pollution they will leave behind driving through the suburbs will be terrible. Having to drive around with my windows up and car on air recycling mode isn’t my idea of a Saturday drive.
I understand there a many jobs being made from this quarry but the damage to the housing market, silica dust in the air and having large vehicles crowding our roads is much worse than these jobs loss and loss of money. Please take our objections to heart and don’t go through with this

Rock quarries cause negative effects like dust, noise, and traffic pollution. These operations degrade landscapes, destroy wildlife habitats, and can reduce property values.
Quarrys can lead to habitat destruction for native species, deforestation, and potential contamination of waterways, disrupting local ecosystems.
Quarrying generates dust, including potentially harmful silica, which can travel long distances and cause respiratory problems, particularly for the elderly and children which there are many.
The operation of quarry machinery and blasting creates noise and vibrations that affect the health, safety, and quality of life for us.
Increased heavy vehicle traffic to and from quarries can cause road degradation, pose safety hazards, and increase noise pollution in local areas. The industrial nature of a quarry can undermine a community's quiet, rural lifestyle and negatively impact property values. Quarry dust suppression methods, which rely on water, can stress already scarce local water supplies. We dont want this. No profit before people!

I am a resident living in an area that would be affected by the proposed Monaro rock quarry. I have many concerns as to what this proposed quarry would mean for me, my family and my community.

I'm concerned as to the health hazard posed by the expected silica dust. I live with multiple family members who suffer from asthma, and exposure to airborne silica particles would only serve to worsen their condition and have further potential for long-term respiratory issues.

I commute almost daily along the Monaro Highway, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how congested the road can become, especially during the peak ski season. Traffic heading toward Tuggeranong can back up from the roundabout to as far as the Royalla Solar Farm. Adding a large quantity of quarry trucks to this already strained route would only increase the risk of accidents and delays that we already deal with. Even if truck access to the Monaro Highway were to be restricted, the alternative Old Cooma Road runs close to residential areas and is ill-equipped to handle heavy industrial traffic.

Equally troubling are the possible environmental consequences. The area targeted for development is home to a critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland, as well as over 300 other species of flora and fauna. The quarry would require clearing a vast majority of this habitat, which would result in irreversible damage to biodiversity and the loss of vital ecosystems. simply replanting trees in this environment after clearing the area could not replace or remedy the impacts of clearing out this endangered species of Box-Gum Grassy Woodland.

My home has been more to me than just a place to live. it's been a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of town, it has provided a safe space for both my family and the animals we keep living. I feel that the introduction of a quarry so close to home threatens to disrupt the peace and safety of my home and community.

With two operational quarries already located within 10km of the proposed site, I question the necessity of introducing another. Is it worth compromising our community's health, safety, and environment for a project that only serves to duplicate already existing infrastructure?
It’s deeply troubling for me to consider that unnecessary economic ventures like this new proposed quarry may be prioritized over environmental or public health concerns.

As a local resident who chose to live out in Royalla due to the peace and quiet and lifestyle it currently offers I oppose the quarry development.
We run 23 acres and enjoy running a small mob of sheep and head of cattle. We enjoy the lifestyle, where we don't have noisy neighbours as they are a fair distance away. We don't have traffic noise like in town. We have fresh air without pollution.
We already have seen a decrease in local water tables as Royalla is growing and more properties have bores. The quarry has indicated that they will hit ground water within 4 years of operation. This will more than likely impact not only close surrounding properties but reduce ground water levels in the whole area as water will travel naturally to larger wells or underground storage areas. The run off from contaminated water will be directed into Tuggeranong creek, which in turn runs into Lake Tuggeranong and overflows into the Murrumbidgee River. While Monaro Rock indicates they will control the run off, we see time and time again that larger companies will start with the right intention but profit drives results not looking after the environment. You only have to see how many water breaches are reported in various bodies of water where contaminated water reaches our seas and waterways. I don't have the number to report but watch the news and see how big corporations will pay a fine to make it go away. I would hate to see our local area ruined from contaminated water that will destroy local trees, water ways, wildlife and stock.
My family had a brown out that caused major damage to two pumps, one to our house for drinking water and another for stock, plus a tv that wasn't surge protected. We were lucky that the bore pump was turned off and not on a timer when the surge blew the pumps. The extra electricity required by the new quarry, without any infrastructure upgrades worries me as I have already been impacted by local surges and voltage swings. We can't afford the constant increases in insurance premiums to cover the possibility that we will incur more frequent voltage swings when the quarry takes more electricity from the grid.
The silica dust that will be added into the air worries me. We live in a world where we understand the risks of blasting, how silica travels and what damage it does to our bodies. To openly put many people at risk of silica related disease does not make any sense to me. It adds extra pressure on our health care system, it risks the health of staff required to work there and all local residents. Monaro rock have mapped out how far they think silica may travel but they can't be 100% sure their mapping and estimates of future weather patterns are correct. Look at the weather stations, they hardly get it right!
I have learned a lot about the endangered box-gum grassy woodlands from the volunteers that are helping to oppose the quarry. I thank them for making us aware of the biodiversity that exists in our area. We as a small community, have many working bees to keep our area thriving and to support the environment. One my husband and I have helped with on occasions. We have a tree protection zone on our property where we have cleared blackberries and teatree to help gum trees and native wattle to thrive. The council comes onto our property to ensure we are irradicating weeds and keeping the land safe yet Monaro Rock want to totally destroy a hill side for profit.
The traffic is also an issue. We already see many potholes on the Monaro Hwy from current traffic levels. The road would need significant upgrades to cater for extra trucks up to 200 a day. The proposed entry point for trucks seems unsafe and may cause traffic delays, slowing the flow of traffic. The alternate route of Old Cooma road would be horrible for local residents that are next to the quarry . The extra noise, dust, vibrations would destroy their peace and quiet.
The current area is zoned C2 and RU2. It was zoned this way for a reason to protect local flora and fuana, and wildlife. This goes against that zoning.
I am not a scientist, I don't hold a degree in environmental studies but I am very concerned about the impacts to the local area, the decrease in value of our homes due to noise pollution and reduced air quality. The increased risk of ongoing health issues relating to silica. Potential defects of our homes due to vibrations from blasting. Potential changes to weather patterns that could affect already below average rain fall as Enchanted Hill becomes a hole in the ground. I really hope this does not approved and common sense prevails. We can't reverse the damage that the quarry will cause to the landscape.

I highly object to this project.
The fact that there is an application to have yet another quarry / concrete plant in our local area is ridiculous. Local residents already put up with two quarry’s in our close vicinity and do not need to have another one pushed upon us.
All local residents have spent large amounts of money to move out of the city, away from the unnecessary noise and pollutants that projects like the proposed one will bring.
Do not ruin our beautiful landscape and endangered flora/fauna with this large scale project.
Many residents including myself also have young children. I purchased my home in this area to provide a great future for my family to grow up in a safe, natural, fresh air environment. However if this project was to go ahead, the risk of silica dust and other health hazards negatively affecting my family would be greatly increased. This completely contradicts the main reasons my wife and I decided to purchase our home in this local area.
Locals already deal with massive influx’s of interstate traffic throughout holiday periods, particularly winter. During the snow season the highway is very busy and is constantly backed up with a line of traffic from the two small round a bouts at Johnsons Drive all the way up the hill towards the Royalla solar farm. Adding hundreds of truck movements to this current traffic issue is a recipe for disaster.
I have had several close calls of head on collisions with impatient travelers trying to overtake in dangerous spots along this stretch of the highway. If this proposal gets approved and the project goes ahead there will be major damage to our local roads. There will be major delays on our local roads. There is a high chance there will be an increase in major collisions on our local roads causing major injuries and/or deaths.
This proposal is absurd and should never get through.
Take the quarry elsewhere and do not allow it or anything similar in our local area !