Monaro Rock Quarry Project

My family and I live in Tuggeranong and we strongly object to the proposed new quarry to be operated in Royalla. The activity at the proposed quarry will adversely affect 1000s of residents and have a significant detrimental environmental impact in the area. Both the flora and fauna in the area will be negatively affected by noise, dust, the huge number of vehicles passing through hourly. There is a huge risk of silica dust being transferred in the atmosphere, to people. The health of residents needs to be of major concern. There are schools in the area and there is a huge risk that the health, well-being and education of our children will be impacted by the changes and disruption that will inevitably become evident . This is the wrong place to establish an environmentally harmful, destructive and divisive development.

I'm one of Canberra prominent mountain climbers, resident of South Canberra, I've climbed all over Australia in and around mining sites and seen first hand the impacted mining and rock blasting has, I've seen the Pilbara blasted the Trakine mine, mine trucks everywhere the roads are full of heavy haulage vehicles but the difference is it not near a large metropolitan hub and l do not wish this within our community the health and environmental impact that will effect generations not to mention the environment significant to the woodland grasslands home to a variety of native wildlife and indigenous culture sites, I also grow up in and around quarry and aggregates with my family owning a company when I was a child and understand the businesses position on expansion but we do have a number of quarries already in the area.


Health:
I'm significantly concerned about the respirable crystalline silica particles, causes multiple diseases, including silicosis, is incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease, and is on the same seriousness as asbestos, being a parent to children who attend a school within the 5km zone I don't find this acceptable look at cases around the world at places exposure to deadly particle exposure like Mr Fluffy for asbestos exposure and buy backs, it's like in Wittenoon WA, no access due to the exposure to blue asbestos and closed to public, how is Silica an acceptable exposure? As it's seen as the new asbestos.


Environmental significants:
the proposed sight sits close to a sacred indigenous site near theodore - Indigenous grinding groves the area has culture significant for the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We also have a number of endangered plants and animal life critically endangered box-gum grassy woodlands there are less than 10% left in the world on enchanted hill the site is also home to the critically endangered pink-tailed legless lizard, Swift parrot, Purple Pea in the proposed area also many invertebrates black rock scorpions and trapdoor spiders that all play a role in our eco system.


Enchanted hill NSW is part of the canberra hiking, mount climbing community, people climb Enchanted hill there many pages online showing this. As a climber we call it peak bragging I myself have climbed Enchanted hill I personally used it as a training mountain for my record breaking mountain climbs, l don't want to see it's destroyed and the effects on the environment and loss of green space.


Thank you for your time

Submission objecting to the project attached.

I object to this project on the grounds of
- operating a industrial scale mining operation in a quiet residential area
- dust and noise that will affect the nearby residences, particularly with silica dust exposure now being linked to early deaths
- increased traffic on an already overburdened highway
- local roads not being suitable for the number of heavy truck movements proposed
- sheer damage to the local flora and fauna by clearing a site of this size
- the existing quarries in the area not being utilised to their full potential

My husband and I bought property out near Royalla about 3 years ago, because my health was being negatively affected by living in Canberra with the associated toxins there.
The mine will create a huge amount of silica dust, which is a known irritant for me. We know from many years of research how many seemingly harmless toxins have been discovered to affect people's health when it is too late. We bought a property to live off-grid (I react badly to chlorine, etc in town water) and to avoid chemicals. Many others will also be affected by this dust, as well as thousands of animals and plants. In an area that already has 3 underutilised quarries, it is senseless to add another one purely for the economical gain for two families. Surely the bigger impact on our already declining environment from mining, the extra pollution from 500 daily quarry trucks and the addition of pollutants in the air and into the riverine systems should be more important than the economical gain of a few?
Leave those of us who have chosen to live a healthier life, as well as the local flora and fauna, alone to improve our local environment and not destroy it.

I oppose the project because of concerns about water usage, road safety, dust pollution and noise pollution

This submission sets out a detailed opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Royalla. The project presents serious risks to human health, the environment, community amenity, and regional sustainability, while delivering only narrow private benefits and questionable economic returns.

Key concerns include:
Public Health Risks: The quarry would emit respirable crystalline silica dust, a proven cause of silicosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses. Tens of thousands of residents live within 10 km of the site, with some as close as 1.6 km, placing a large population at risk.
Environmental Damage: The quarry threatens to deplete groundwater, alter surface water runoff, pollute Tuggeranong Creek, and fragment habitats. These changes are largely irreversible and inconsistent with sustainable land management.
Social and Amenity Impacts: The proposal would generate up to 200 truck movements per day, significant noise from blasting and crushing, and dust deposition on nearby properties. These impacts will reduce quality of life, diminish property values, and erode the rural character of Royalla and surrounding areas.
Lack of Economic Necessity: Existing quarries in the region are under-utilised and already capable of meeting demand. The quarry provides minimal employment and economic benefit compared with the widespread costs imposed on local communities and infrastructure.
Planning and Legal Inconsistency: The project conflicts with ecologically sustainable development principles, the precautionary principle, and regional planning frameworks. The cumulative impact of another quarry in this area is unacceptable.

This submission argues that the Monaro Rock Quarry should not be approved. If, contrary to these arguments, approval is granted, it must be subject to stringent, enforceable conditions that protect health, environment, and community wellbeing.

1. Introduction and Context

1.1 Location and Setting
The Monaro Rock Quarry is proposed for a site in Royalla, located near the NSW/ACT border. The site lies close to the Monaro Highway and within commuting distance of Canberra. Surrounding land uses include rural-residential communities, small farms, and conservation areas.
Importantly:
* Royalla residents live as close as 1.6 km from the proposed site.
* Tuggeranong, a major ACT suburb, lies only 2.6 km away.
* There are approximately 31,000 residents within a 5 km radius and over 90,000 within a 10 km radius.
This is not an isolated industrial setting but a semi-rural landscape embedded within a growing metropolitan region. The quarry would therefore impose impacts on a substantial population.

1.2 Proposal Overview
The quarry proponents seek approval to extract up to one million tonnes of rock per year. Operations would include:
* Blasting, crushing, and screening of rock.
* Onsite stockpiling and loading.
* Up to 200 truck movements per day.
* Operation six days per week, up to 12 hours per day.

1.3 Planning Context
The proposal has been declared State Significant Development under NSW planning law. This status requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and allows the Department of Planning & Environment to determine the project. The assessment must be guided by the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and the public interest.

2. Health Impacts

2.1 Silica Dust as a Hazard
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust is generated during quarrying, especially from blasting and crushing. According to Safe Work Australia, exposure to RCS can cause:
* Silicosis (an incurable and often fatal lung disease).
* Lung cancer.
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
* Kidney disease.
Silica dust particles are small enough (<10 microns) to penetrate deep into the lungs. Unlike larger dust particles, they are not effectively expelled by natural defence mechanisms.

2.2 Populations at Risk
The proximity of large residential populations greatly increases risk:
* Nearest homes are within 2 km.
* Schools, childcare centres, and aged care facilities exist within the 5–10 km zone.
* Prevailing winds can carry fine particles well beyond the immediate quarry boundary.
Children, the elderly, and those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses are particularly vulnerable.

2.3 Regulatory Standards and Compliance Challenges
NSW and WHO air quality standards set limits for PM2.5 and PM10 particulates. However, numerous studies show that even at levels below regulatory thresholds, long-term exposure increases health risks.
Dust suppression measures (water sprays, covers, vegetation) are not fail-safe. Equipment failures, drought, high winds, and human error all compromise performance.

2.4 Case Studies
Queensland quarries have faced enforcement actions after failing to control dust, with residents reporting health impacts and property damage.
Western Sydney silicosis cluster: Cases of accelerated silicosis among stonemasons highlight the dangers of silica dust even with modern controls.
The Monaro Rock Quarry risks exposing tens of thousands of residents to these hazards.

3. Environmental Impacts

3.1 Groundwater Depletion
Quarry operations require large volumes of water for dust suppression and processing. Extraction may lower the water table, affecting:
* Residential and farm bores.
* Springs and wetlands.
* Soil moisture and vegetation health.
Hydrogeological studies often underestimate cumulative impacts. Once groundwater systems are disrupted, recovery is slow or impossible.

3.2 Surface Water Runoff
Clearing, blasting, and stockpiling will alter drainage. Risks include:
* Increased erosion and sedimentation.
* Pollution of Tuggeranong Creek and connected waterways.
* Greater flood risk downstream due to changed hydrology.

3.3 Biodiversity Impacts
The quarry will clear habitat and create noise, dust, and light pollution that disrupt fauna. Impacts may include:
* Loss of native woodland and grassland.
* Fragmentation of wildlife corridors.
* Declines in threatened species populations.

3.4 Climate and Cumulative Stress
The project adds to cumulative environmental stress from existing quarries and urban expansion. It undermines climate resilience by destroying carbon-sequestering vegetation and increasing heavy vehicle emissions.

4. Amenity Impacts

4.1 Traffic
Up to 200 truck movements per day will:
* Increase accident risk on the Monaro Highway.
* Add congestion and noise.
* Deter cyclists and other road users.
* Accelerate road wear, imposing costs on government.

4.2 Noise and Vibration
Blasting, crushing, and truck movements will produce continuous noise and intermittent high-intensity vibration. Residents may experience:
* Sleep disturbance.
* Stress and anxiety.
* Structural damage to homes and water tanks.

4.3 Dust Deposition
Beyond health risks, dust will:
* Reduce visibility and outdoor amenity.
* Damage gardens, crops, and water tanks.
* Require ongoing cleaning and maintenance.

4.4 Visual Impact
The quarry will scar the landscape, replacing rolling hills with an industrial void. This is incompatible with the rural-residential character of Royalla and surrounding areas.

5. Social and Economic Considerations

5.1 Limited Employment Benefit
The quarry will employ relatively few staff compared to the number of people adversely affected.

5.2 Property Values
Noise, dust, and visual scarring typically reduce nearby property values by 10–30%. For hundreds of properties, this represents millions in lost equity.

5.3 Tourism and Lifestyle
Royalla and the broader region are valued for rural lifestyle and proximity to Canberra. The quarry threatens this appeal, undermining growth in tourism, recreation, and residential settlement.

5.4 Cost-Benefit Imbalance
Benefits: modest profits to a private company, limited jobs.
Costs: health burden, road upgrades, property value loss, environmental degradation.
The imbalance is stark and contrary to public interest.

6. Planning and Legal Considerations

6.1 Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
Under NSW law, decision-makers must apply ESD principles, including:
The precautionary principle: where threats of irreversible damage exist, lack of scientific certainty should not justify approval.
Intergenerational equity: ensuring today’s actions do not compromise future generations’ needs.
Conservation of biodiversity.
The quarry fails these tests.

6.2 Cumulative Impacts
Several quarries already operate in the region. Adding another intensifies dust, noise, and traffic beyond acceptable limits.

6.3 Strategic Land Use Conflicts
The project conflicts with regional planning goals for sustainable rural-residential growth and environmental protection.

7. Comparisons with Other Projects

Bass Point Quarry (NSW): Strict conditions imposed after community opposition, including buffer zones and truck limits.
Newcastle Sand Quarry refusal: Rejected due to dust and traffic impacts near residential areas.
These precedents show that projects with significant community and environmental impacts should not proceed.

8. Community Concerns and Consultation

The Royalla and Tuggeranong communities have expressed strong opposition. Social licence is absent. Without community consent, the project will remain a source of conflict and resentment.

9. Conclusion and Recommendation

The Monaro Rock Quarry poses unacceptable risks:
To public health through silica dust.
To the environment through groundwater depletion and habitat loss.
To community amenity through traffic, noise, and visual scarring.
To regional sustainability by undermining planning goals and cumulative limits.
The limited private benefits do not outweigh these widespread costs.

I strongly urge that the Department of Planning & Environment refuse the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal. If, despite these objections, approval is granted, it must include stringent, enforceable conditions on dust, blasting, traffic, water use, and rehabilitation, with independent monitoring and community reporting.

As residents of Calwell we object to the proposed quarry being so close to Tuggeranong. We object to the main impacts of increased noise on the whole suburb, silica pollution with increased risk for health regardless of the levels of silica and other powders produced, and impact on traffic on the Monaro highway. There are other sites far from Canberra that are suitable for similar purposes, and we definitely do not want a monster project like this next to our doorstep, neither we are willing to being impacted by dangerous dusts, increased noise and traffic.

As residents of Calwell we object to the proposed quarry being so close to Tuggeranong. We object to the main impacts of increased noise on the whole suburb, silica pollution with increased risk for health regardless of the levels of silica and other powders produced, and impact on traffic on the Monaro highway. There are other sites far from Canberra that are suitable for similar purposes, and we definitely do not want a monster project like this next to our doorstep, neither we are willing to being impacted by dangerous dusts, increased noise and traffic.

I strongly object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project at Royalla. This development poses an unacceptable risk to my family’s health, our drinking water, and our community. It must be refused.

Health risks from dust
The quarry will generate large amounts of dust (PM10 and PM2.5) every day through blasting, crushing, and truck haulage. NSW Health confirms these fine particles worsen existing conditions and can cause new chronic illnesses. They also trigger systemic inflammation when inhaled.

My family includes members with autoimmune vulnerability. For us, this risk is direct and serious. Even small increases in dust exposure could cause flare-ups and permanent harm. With the quarry proposing 30 years of operation, this is intolerable.

Contaminated drinking water
Our home relies entirely on rainwater tanks. Dust from the quarry will settle on our roof and wash into our tanks. NSW Health warns of this risk, and the NSW EPA has already investigated similar contamination at Cadia, where metals were detected in tank water and sediments. Families there had to pay for testing and filtration. The same will happen here. This project directly threatens our only drinking water source.

The wrong location
Quarries generate dust, noise, vibration, and traffic. They should not be sited in residential or rural-residential areas, and certainly not where households depend on rainwater tanks. Royalla is the wrong place for this scale of operation.

Controls cannot eliminate the risk
The proponent may claim dust suppression and monitoring will protect us. Experience shows otherwise. Dust controls fail in hot, dry, or windy weather. Monitoring only shows exposure after the damage is done. Tank filters and cleaning shift the cost and responsibility onto residents. Families and out livestock should not have to live under constant threat of poisoned water and unsafe air.

Other impacts
The quarry will add heavy truck traffic on local roads, creating diesel pollution and safety risks. Blasting will disturb sleep and reduce quality of life. The stress of living under these conditions is already affecting my health, including loss of sleep since this proposal was announced.

Legal and regulatory framework
The project is inconsistent with the National Environment Protection Measure for air quality, the NSW Clean Air Regulation 2022, and NSW Health’s guidance on rainwater safety. Allowing this quarry here would disregard established health protections.

Future legal action
I also put on record my intention to commence legal action if this quarry is approved and causes harm to my family’s health or drinking water. I will pursue the proponent, regulators, and any authority that fails in its duty of care.

Relief sought
The only safe and responsible outcome is refusal of SSD-27223807 in full. If approval is nevertheless considered, strict independent monitoring and make-good provisions for air and water must be imposed. But even with conditions, the risk remains unacceptable.

Closing statement
This project threatens our health, contaminates our water, and undermines our right to live safely in our own home. Families in Royalla should not be forced to carry the burden of a 30-year industrial quarry. The only responsible decision is to reject this project entirely.

I am strongly against the new quarry.

I have serious concerns about the future implications on not only my health and my families health, but future generations of my family and also the local communities that will be affected.

The risks of silica have already started to be identified. I don't want my families only sources of water being contaminated, with silica dust / particles landing on my roof and going into my water tanks (we do not have town water).
Let alone with strong winds already hitting our place and bringing in dust everywhere, we don't need the risk of inhaling silica dust as well, contaminating our gardens- fruit & vegetables as well as that of my paddocks which provide feed for my animals and also that of wildlife. No animals (pets / livestock and wildlife) should have to suffer injesting the pollution from the quarry either.

The loss of habits with our local fauna & flora will be devastating. I enjoy watching our local bird life soar over our skies (especially the wedge tail eagles). Enchanted Hill, has some amazing Eagles and knowing their habitats will disappear/ become unsafe will be horrible.

I am also seriously concerned about the proposed increase of vehicle movements (especially trucks) not only on Monaro Highway but also Old Cooma Road. As both these roads are on my daily travels, it is often scary enough dealing with the current traffic let alone up to 500 more per day.
The roads are constantly breaking up with large pot holes appearing at a drop of a hat. The trucks will make them worse. This increases the dangers for motorists. The vehicles turning into & exiting the quarry will be dangerous, especially in wet weather & foggy weather.

I am scared about all the unpleasant implications that this quarry will bring. We have seen what devastating things have come out of Asbestos and more recently engineered stone - we are already seeing reports of the issues with silica, so why take that risk

If my family or I, or my future family, suffer medical issues as a result of this quarry, who will I send the medical bills and requests for compensation to?

We already have 2 quarries in our area that dont run at full capacity, but we suffer from those already (dust / trucks etc) please don't approve a third.

Please think about the future and the implications that this quarry will bring of approved.

I have lived in Royalla for over 20 years. As I look out the kitchen window to the south east I have a clear view of the Williamsdale quarry. We have lived with blasting, noise, dust and smoke since we moved here. As I look to the north I have a clear view of Black Mountain tower in the ACT. In the middle distance is a hill called “Enchanted Hill”. I would like to think that it will there in twenty years and not another hole in the ground.
My first reason for objection is the damage to the environment, the quarry will clear 22.44 hectares of critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland and 77.83 hectares of vegetation overall. The proposed site is home to over 300 species of flora and fauna. On top of this included in the plan is the main access road, over 2.5 kms of sealed road taking up to 500 large trucks per day. This road on ‘crown land’ winds around Enchanted Hill at 860 meters, at times following the old railway, does a 180 degree “u” turn, (dropping 30 meters), follows the railway south east, a 90 degree turn over the railroad, by bridge, into the ACT, over Tuggeranong creek and a new “T” intersection on the Monaro Highway (in a 100KM zone and 150 meters below the crest of a ridge!!). There will be so many cuttings and embankments I gave up counting, the damage this road would do to the biodiversity will be horrendous. Might I suggest that the ACT Government approvals, cost, and environment impact of this road will mean it will never be built.
My second reason is Traffic. The project will generate up to 500 heavy vehicle movements per day, including haulage trucks and concrete dispatch vehicles on the Monaro Highway, rural roads and Old Cooma Road. The project acknowledges that to build the industrial estate will use existing local roads. This will result in the destruction of 3 roads, Mates Drive, Monaro Station and the Old Cooma Road.
My third reason is the misinformation or lack of information. When first proposed this was a simple blasting quarry. What is now proposed, upon release of the EIS, is twice the area where Monaro Rock hope to mine and process rock, manufacture concrete, hot asphalt and recycle concrete for the next 30-35 years. All this surrounded by residential areas in NSW, Royalla, Campbell Estate, Mount View, Little Burra, Fernleigh Estate, the new areas of Tralee and Environa, and Calwell and Theodore in the ACT. Many of these residents share a boundary with the proposed industrial area, as well the expanded area will impact the head waters of Tuggeranong Creek and Jerrabomberra Creek.

I do not want to live near a quarry.

I do not want to live next door to a quarry, asphalt plant and concrete recycling.

Please find my detailed submission which supports with overwhelming evidence that this quarry cannot go ahead.

This information I will be sharing will be submitted and available to anyone requesting it through the Freedom of Information Act.

Concerned about the proposed location and silica dust.

There are many reasons to object to this development, environmental damage, health concerns, other activities on the site, excess traffic, electricity surges, water table drops. These are just a few.
Environmental damage - the area of Enchanted Hill has been an area of environmental significance because of the box-gum grassy woodland. Councill has the area zoned as a protected environmental zone due to the woodlands being home to endangered plant species. To my knowledge it is also federally protected. this operation will also displace many native animals especially birds who nest in the trees. Once this is lost there will be no recovery to this beautiful area. We know that quarries do not adhere to their boundaries and do care about accidental damage done to areas they are not supposed to be blasting in. There are also Indigenous artefacts in the area which were found during the site survey. If these are found on our property, we are not to disturb them, so using this site as a quarry will disturb what has been found.
Health concerns - no amount of dust control will keep the dust down. As a resident of Royalla, we know about dust due to the other quarries in the area. The biggest concern is the silica dust and the possibility of contracting silicosis. More is being learnt about this life-threatening cancer and how far the dust can travel. I am asthmatic, I moved to the area for the cleaner air, if this goes through this will affect my health. Who will pay for my medical treatments? Notwithstanding the health implications, the dust will settle on our roofs, it will contaminate our water tanks that we use for everyday drinking, washing etc. Many in the area have solar panels, including us. The dust will also settle on these and reduce the amount of electricity we produce and a need to clean the panels more often. So, we also will have extra costs to clean our water tanks, water filters and solar panels. We also have livestock; this will affect their drinking water and the extra dust in the paddocks.
Other operations on the site - This was put forward as a quarry, it is now turning into a major industrial operation. Along with the quarry, they are now proposing to recycle and crush cement (more dust) and asphalt production (this will smell). The residents in Tralee complain about the smell from the production of asphalt in Hume in the ACT. They are now proposing to operate 6 days a week.
Blasting - Blasting causes shock waves, residents on the southside of Royalla have noticed damage to their houses from the quarry blasting in Williamsdale (we can hear this on occasion). The blasting will frighten the animals and could cause serious injury if spooked and run into fences.
Excess traffic - Now they are looking at expanding their operation, up to 500 heavy vehicles will be driving down rural roads and the Monaro Hwy (dropping dust as they go). This will make getting in and out of driveways and onto the highway more difficult. Add the extra traffic during ski season and we will never be able to get out onto the hwy. I have looked at the proposed entry onto the Hwy. This is at the crest of the hill; this is a recipe for disaster. There will be many accidents at this intersection especially over winter when the fog sets in. This area is the first area to have the fog settle and the last to dissipate. The Monaro Hwy road surface is a disgrace, there are pot holes everywhere and they never seem to be fixed. There are quite a few from the solar farm and going down the hill that keep getting filled but not fixed, within a couple of weeks the pothole is back, it takes another month before it gets filled again. The Hwy will become more of a goat track than it already is with around 500 extra trucks using it.
Electricity surges and brown outs - these damage electrical equipment. We have 3 phase equipment along with our other appliances. These can be damaged when there are surges in the supply. If you have to claim on insurance, our policy amount will increase especially if there are many claims going through in the area.
Water table - many in the area have bores, we also have one. During the drought most bores dried up as the water table dropped. With the site estimated to use 42.4 million litres of water annually, this will dry up our bores (which we use to water our life stock and water our gardens) even faster when the next drought comes. This will mean that we will have to bring in water for the life stock etc. More costs.
Economic loss - I have already named a few things that will economically disadvantage the residents. Cleaning water tanks and solar panels regularly, insurance increases due to building movements and electrical appliance damage, water having to be bought in due to water tables dropping. Another one will be windscreen damages, lets face it, the truck drivers do not cover their loads properly and drop dirt as they drive because they don't cover the trailer when it is empty. The leftover dust and small rocks swirl around and out of the trailer, hitting car bonnets and windscreens of those driving behind them causing damage to the car. Dirt also drops out of the bottom and sides of the tailgates of the trailers. Now the big one, house prices. We all have poured our hearts and soles into our homes; we have designed and built our own home. Our home is our retirement fund. When we do sell our home will be worth a lot less than it is now due to the quarry. The prospect of the quarry has already affected house prices and the number of people who want to move to the area. I know of people who are waiting on the outcome of the planning development before buying in the area. They will not buy if the quarry goes ahead, they will look elsewhere. That is our financial loss. Who will compensate us for the loss of property value?
Do we need this development - this development is not of state significance. This company went straight to the state government for approval as they knew that council would quash it for the environmental protection that the property has. There are 3 quarries in the area, to our knowledge, these quarries are only operating at round 40%, so there is no need for a 4th. This is purely a money-making venture for the owners of Monaro Rock to feed their current concrete business. They have said that it will reduce their costs, this may be true, however they will not pass on these savings to their customers. Why would they, people are paying the price they are already, why would you reduce them?
This industrial operation has the potential to affect over 49,000 residents who live within 10km of the site with the dust that will be carried away from the site as well as what comes off the trucks when they travel. The suburb of Googong keeps growing, so there are going to be a lot more people potentially affected by this development.
If the NSW state government cares abouts its constituent’s health, and the environment, there is only one option, and that is to reject this development proposal.
Please don't let us down.

There will be significant unnecessary impact on suburbs that have been in place for 30 years. The noise and dust will be disruptive and could cause issues to the playing fields full of kids sports within 3kms on the quarry.

I don’t think that building a quarry in this location is practical or safe for the residents that reside in a close proximity to this proposed site.
I am a mother that works from home daily and my children as well as other families and their children go to school in the area. To have the dust, noise more traffic on an already dangerous road and everything else that this quarry will bring is not right. We need to look after the health of all the residents and the safety of our children.
There is already enough quarries in the area and if another needs to be created for this purpose, look for land suitable enough and in an area that will not impact thousands of people not only healthwise but logistically as well.
The construction of a quarry would result in significant land disruption, which could harm local ecosystems. Loss of wildlife habitats, changes to local water tables, and potential contamination of groundwater resources are all potential environmental concerns. In addition, the long-term impact on the landscape could permanently alter the natural beauty of the area.
One of the main reasons of moving to the area is that it is on the outskirts of Canberra close to the natural bushland and is nice and quiet. This quarry will undo all of that.
Not only all of the above but the impact on our land values will also decrease making it hard for any resident that wants to sell.
As mentioned previously I urge the decision-makers to consider alternative locations that are further away from residential areas, ensuring the protection of public health and the long-term well-being of the community.

I am incredibly dismayed by the planned proposal for a new quarry out at Royalla. My parents live in Royalla NSW, and I myself live in the Tuggeranong Valley in the ACT, located approx. 5kms from the proposed site. I have asthma, and also have a daughter with a complex medical history, who loves to spend time outside at her grandparents house, exploring the 'fairy forest'.

The proposed quarry, if it goes ahead will mean that my daughter is no longer allowed to play outside, at home, school, participate in her local little athletics club meets or at her grandparents house. There is no way for Monaro Rock to guarantee that there will be zero respirable crystalline silica escaping outside the confines of the proposed site, and it will infect all of the surrounding land. Given the current evidence coming out around the dangers of silica dust, ( including a nation wide ban on the manufacture of engineered stone to protect existing stone masons etc), allowing this site to be built within 5kms of peoples homes is utterly idiotic.

Outside of the physical dangers associated with silica dust, there will be additional impacts on peoples safety. The roads into and out of Royalla are single lane, and will not safely support the projected extra traffic generated by the site. Over winter (snow season) the roads are already jam-packed full of cars, with increased risk with people returning from the snowfields that are already tired, and less aware of their surroundings. There has already been multiple fatalities on that section of road in the last 15 years, with more people requiring hospitalisation due to injury. This site is not suitable for reducing the risk to the public.

Outside of the people, it also poses a massive threat to the local wildlife, and fauna. If I'm reading the EIS correctly the quarry will clear 22.44 hectares of critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland and 77.83 hectares of vegetation overall. I understand that the proposed site is home to over 300 species of flora and fauna.

Residents in Royalla already suffer large voltage swings and damage to sensitive pumps and other equipment. This proposed quarry is only going to make this existing issue worse, and there will be more impact on the water table levels, which isn't fair to those already living out there.

There are already four quarries operating within 30kms of Royalla. None of them are currently working at capacity, and all would have enough stone to mine in the existing area for years to come. The plan to destroy part of the natural Royalla estate rather than re-invest into the existing mining facilities in the region, is absolutely mind-boggling and not in a good way.

I hope that you take this plea for saying no to the proposed project seriously. There is no benefit to this project, outside of lining the pockets of the owners of the mine, to the detriment to every single person that lives within a 15km vicinity of it.