Monaro Rock Quarry Project

I strongly object to this project. The social and environmental impacts are overwhelmingly against this project getting approval from the NSW Planning Minister.
The number of trucks daily on our roads, the noise, blasting proximity to residential areas and most importantly the dust which would impact the health of our children kilometres from the site is horrifying.
It is about time health concerns, particularly of young children, take priority when assessing projects such as this.

It is too close to the homes, will lower property values, increase traffic through already busy roads and pose an incredible risk to the health of families and the nearby nature reserves. The increased traffic will cause extra noise, and as the years go on, it will greatly damage the nearby nature reserves, further increase noise pollution and cause much more pollution than accounted for.

Hello. I would like to express my concerns about the proposal to develop a further quarry (making at least 4) in the vicinity of the Royalla Station Country Estate. I cant believe that it is even being considered given the very close proximity to where people live. I came out here for the lifestyle.

I am very concerned about what impact the quarry will have on my health. The negative health impacts of quarries are well documented and understood. These include the production of fine dust particles which cause silicosis/ lung cancer; respiratory problems; reduced lung functions and airways restrictions; nasal infections; coughs and asthma; and eye allergies, soreness and dryness. Additionally, the dust will cover plants which reduces/prevents photosynthesis.

I am concerned that the quarry will cause the destruction of our pristine environment which is a sanctuary for wildlife; flora and fauna. It is my understanding that we have critically endangered and endangered species here which share their home with us. We already have enough quarries to service the needs of the community. These are not operating at full capacity so any increased demand can be met by increasing production.

I am concerned that the additional traffic movements caused by trucks going to and from the quarry will have a significant impact on noise levels; traffic congestion/delays; wildlife killings and potential motor vehicle accidents.

I am concerned that the operation of the quarry will cause blackouts/brown outs as it draws electricity which residents need to live comfortably.

Operating a quarry requires an immense amount of water. I am concerned that this demand for water will impact the water supply to this area and that contained in the surrounding environment e.g. aquaducts.

Extracting the product will also be very noisy and enveloping.

I am concerned by the lengths to which the quarry owners have gone to in order to have this project approved. Is it really a State Significant Project? The Queanbeyan/Palerang Council did not want it to proceed. Additional activities to that first proposed have been included in the Environmental Impact Statement. For example concrete making and crushing and tar production. I wonder whether these are an attempt to distinguish this quarry from existing quarries! I am concerned that an area zoned to protect endangered species can be altered for financial gain.

I can see no valid reason for the quarry to go ahead, other than to put money in the owners' pockets. If they are sure that the operation of the quarry will be harmless to Royalla and other resdients, I suggest that they set aside monies to cover future contingencies occurring as a result of their activities. An actuary can help calculate what an appropriate amount may be.

Carrolle Colbert

I am writing to object the proposed Monaro Rock quarry which if approved, will lie directly behind our property. As indicated by our address, our home is located at 1330 Old Cooma Rd on a battle-axe block. The location of our residence makes us geographically very close to the proposed quarry development, however, our home does not seem to be indicated on any of the maps included in the proposal. I feel this is an important point to bring to your attention.
I have grave concerns for my health, in particular the disturbance of sleep and silica dust. I am the recipient of three heart valve replacements and my ongoing health and current convalescence is one of the main reasons we remain at our property. We also have a large family - six grown children (one of them with high level disabilities) and 16 grandchildren. I fear for their health in relation to the silica dust also.
I would also like to add although access to the proposed quarry are listed as off the Monaro Highway, there will be increased truck traffic along the Old Cooma Rd. I have been advised recently by a roads assessor, that the Old Cooma Rd does not meet the requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation for use by heavy trucks.

I am writing in opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry. I do so both as a local Tuggeranong resident and as a teacher at Lanyon High School, which sits within the direct catchment area of the proposal. My concerns are grounded in the potential negative impacts on student health, community safety, and the broader environment of the Tuggeranong Valley.

Health and Air Quality
Dust emissions, including respirable crystalline silica, pose significant health risks. The EIS acknowledges potential dust generation but underestimates the cumulative effect of prevailing winds carrying fine particulate matter towards local schools and residential areas. Lanyon High School has more than 800 students and staff on-site daily, many of whom spend considerable time outdoors for sport and recreation. Increased dust levels would expose children and young people — a vulnerable population — to elevated risks of asthma, respiratory illness, and long-term health complications.

Noise and Vibration
Quarry blasting and machinery noise will carry across the valley, particularly during early morning hours when classes are beginning. Consistent exposure to low-frequency vibration and intermittent high-noise events can disrupt learning and concentration. Students with additional learning needs or sensory sensitivities are especially at risk of adverse impacts.

Traffic and Road Safety
The project forecasts a significant increase in heavy vehicle movements along key arterial routes. Many of these routes service school buses, cycling corridors, and family drop-off points in the Lanyon Valley. The increased volume of quarry trucks raises the risk of road accidents involving young people travelling to and from school, as well as congestion that will affect the daily life of the community.

Environmental and Community Amenity

The quarry site sits close to areas of environmental and cultural significance. Disturbance to local habitats and waterways could have downstream impacts, including sedimentation and contamination of catchments that flow towards the Murrumbidgee River corridor. Visual scarring of the landscape also undermines the amenity of the area, which is valued for its natural beauty and recreational use by families, students, and local residents.

Lanyon High School is not an isolated case: multiple schools, childcare centres, and early learning facilities are located within a few kilometres of the proposed quarry. The combination of air quality, noise, and traffic risks amounts to a significant threat to the safe and effective operation of educational facilities. This proposal places unnecessary additional burdens on young people, educators, and families in our community.

Deficiencies in the EIS

While the EIS outlines mitigation strategies, they remain insufficient and vague in several key areas:
Dust control measures rely on ideal weather and operational compliance without robust independent monitoring.
Noise modelling does not reflect realistic worst-case scenarios of blasting during class hours.
Traffic analysis does not adequately address peak school travel times.
The absence of binding commitments, enforceable penalties, and independent oversight means the community cannot rely on assurances alone.


The Monaro Rock Quarry proposal carries unacceptable risks to health, education, safety, and the environment in the Lanyon Valley. As a teacher at Lanyon High School, I strongly urge the Department to reject this project in its current form. Our community’s wellbeing, and particularly that of our young people, must take precedence over industrial extraction.

I object to the project due to the proximity to suburban areas and the potential impact on sensitive environment.

To whom it may concern,
I object to the proposed quarry project in Royalla. Please see document attached.

I am writing to you out of concern for the quarry development submission from Monaro Rock.

My family and I have lived in Royalla for 18 years and love living in the peaceful rural community. Moving out of Canberra was a choice my husband and I made consciously. We wanted to get away from the noise and pollution, to have some land to grow our own vegetables, and have fruit and nut trees so we could eat our own produce. To eat healthier and breathe fresh air. We wanted chickens to have fresh eggs and have room for our children to learn and grow in this beautiful environment.

We bought the land knowing it was zoned rural residential and were happy knowing it wouldn’t be made into a high urban or industrial area.

I wake up every day loving living in Royalla. I look out my kitchen window and see the stunning views of the mountains and hills. Enjoying the birds and animals and nature I see all around us. The quiet and peaceful way of life we have here. The fresh air we breathe and clean water we collect in our tanks which we drink and water our plants and vegetables with.

To now find out this could all change because a quarry is planned just down the road. I keep coming back to why? Why do we need another quarry? There are already three quarries (Queanbeyan, Williamsdale and Mugga lane) with the same rock being mined in the area. That apparently aren’t even running at full capacity and still have years left of the same rock. I say again why do we need another one?

We had a meeting last week at the Royalla common for families that live near the Williamsdale Quarry. They stood up and informed us how that quarry affects them. The dust, the noise, the brown outs of the electricity, the water usage, the trucks and more.

Our fresh air, water we collect and drink, plants we grow and eat, the animals we farm now will have silica dust contamination. There goes our healthy way of life.

The noise from the blasting and trucks won’t be any better. If we wanted to live somewhere noisy, we would have stayed in town.

I know already from traffic and the trucks on the Monaro highway that any increased traffic will become more of a problem for people using the Monaro highway daily. I say this from experience because during the snow season we have to wait 10 minutes or even more to get out onto the Monaro highway at a time. There have been many Accidents, quite a few fatal, on this stretch of road due to the traffic load and now they want to increase it even more. To add big heavy trucks pulling out across traffic, I can’t believe this has even been considered. The school buses use this highway during the week. We already have high amounts of traffic on this worn-out road which gets repaired constantly.

If Monaro rock doesn’t get ACT approval to use the Monaro highway they will use Old Cooma road. The only other road that will have access to the quarry. This is a two-way country road not a highway. The school bus drops off and picks up kids on this road. If approval is given for the Monaro highway there will be infrastructure to be done first. So, they will be using Old Cooma road anyway as that is the only way through to the quarry site. The intersection from Old Cooma Road onto Monaro Highway is, in my view, already extremely dangerous.

I don’t even know why the Enchanted hill site was even considered ok to put a quarry there. What about the environmental impact it will have on the flora and fauna. The rare plants and trees on this hill, which should be protected.

So, I’m writing to ask you to reject this quarry development. Please think of the community and the hundreds of people and families which will be affected, who live in this area. It’s always the little people who are affected when big rich companies like Monaro Rock do this sort of thing.

They say it will bring money and jobs to the area. Has anyone asked who will work there (truck drivers taken from the other quarries?).

Will they put money into our community here? I don’t think so they are only going to take, cause destruction and impact our lives in such a negative way.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry project. My property is located within close proximity to the proposed site, and I have serious concerns about the health and environmental impacts this project will have on my family, my property, and the wider community.

My primary concern is the risk of silica dust being generated and dispersed by quarrying activities. Silica dust is a well-documented health hazard. According to Safe Work Australia, exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can cause silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders. The World Health Organization also recognises silica dust as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in humans.

Of particular concern is the risk to my child, who may face lifelong health consequences from continuous exposure during their critical developmental years. Scientific research has shown that children are more vulnerable to airborne pollutants because their lungs and immune systems are still developing, and they breathe a greater volume of air per kilogram of body weight compared to adults.

Dust particles do not respect property boundaries. Prevailing winds in this area mean that airborne dust from quarry operations is highly likely to travel beyond the quarry limits and settle over neighbouring homes, gardens, and community spaces. Even with dust suppression measures, the scale and duration of this project pose a significant risk of uncontrolled dust emissions.

In addition to personal health risks, silica dust can contaminate soil and water sources, reduce air quality for the community as a whole, and negatively impact local flora and fauna. These environmental consequences cannot be justified in the face of safer alternatives for material sourcing and development.

Given the overwhelming health evidence and the unacceptable risks this project poses to my family and community, I respectfully request that the Monaro Rock Quarry project be rejected. Our health and wellbeing, especially that of our children, must take priority over the commercial interests of this proposal.

Thank you for considering my submission.

I object to this project due to the proximity of my home.

I object to this project as I live nearby and I think the added truck traffic on the local roads will be dangetous and noisy. The roads are already terrible and if we are to get up to 500 more trucks a day, it will be a great danger to anyone on the road.
I am also concerned about the health impacts of any silica dust that will drift across the local area. We live in the country because we love the clean fresh air.
I am also concerned about potential increase in noise - again we choose to live in the country for the peace and quiet lifestyle.
I am also concerned for the endangered flora and fauna in the area.

Too close to suburbs, do not want the mine to go ahead

Since the silica awareness courses, we were forced to subscribe too, im extremely worried and afraid of the impact of the dust that will be created by this Quarrie .
The other main concern is the substantial increase of heavy vehicles . The roads are never kept up to a safe standard especially on old Cooma road.

As a long-term resident of Theodore, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed quarry development planned approximately 3km from our community.

This project raises serious concerns for the health, safety, and wellbeing of local families. Many residents, including children and individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma, already face challenges due to poor air quality exacerbated by woodfire smoke in winter. Introducing quarry dust into this environment would significantly worsen these conditions and pose unacceptable health risks.

The proposed site is alarmingly close to public spaces, including sporting ovals that host regular regional events. The impact of airborne particles on young athletes and spectators must be considered. The health of our community should not be compromised for commercial gain.

Noise pollution is another major concern. The sound of trucks from the Monaro Highway is already noticeable; the addition of heavy quarry traffic will be constant and disruptive. Residents deserve peace in their homes, not the relentless noise of industrial operations.

Property values in the area are also at risk. Many of us have lived here for decades, investing in our homes and contributing to the community. The prospect of declining property values due to the quarry is deeply unfair and unjustified.

The environmental impact of this project cannot be overstated. The damage to local ecosystems will be irreversible, and the proximity to residential areas is simply inappropriate. The lack of transparent consultation and limited public awareness about the project is deeply concerning.

Traffic congestion on the Monaro Highway will worsen, affecting both local and interstate commuters. Longer travel times mean less time with family and more stress for working individuals.

This project is not essential. What is essential is protecting the health, homes, and quality of life of the people who live here. We chose this area for its natural beauty and community spirit, not to have it disrupted by industrial development.

I urge decision-makers to listen to the voices of those who will be directly affected. The risks are too high, the benefits too narrow, and the consequences too lasting.

This quarry must not proceed in its proposed location.

I do not want the quarry as the roads around Royalla are already busy, dangerous and not suited for the extra traffic and trucks that the quarry will bring. Our bore water table will also be jeopardised.

Development Application No. SSD-27223807
I am objecting to this project as I will be affected by a number of issues if this project is allowed to go ahead.
The concerns of neighboring residents as documented in the EIS, lists the issues raised by local residents from the consultation process 3 years ago, in response to the original proposal of a quarry only. It is only now with the publication of the EIS that we have learnt about the proposal to develop additional infrastructure for the production of premix concrete, an asphalt plant and a concrete recycling facility.

Concerns
Silica Dust - I am concerned with the hazards posed by finer silica dust which will result as a result of the quarrying process.
The study included in the EIS is based on the effects of particle size PM10 and PM2.5 which (according to this study which was commissioned by the developer) has a deposition zone of 1-2 km and max travel distance of 5 km. My residence is les than 3.5 km from the proposed quarry site. I have been told that it is advisable for me to fit additional filtration to my drinking water which is harvested from rain on my roof and also to install HEPA filters within my home during the 6 months of the year when the prevailing winds blow over the quarry site and directly towards my residence.
PM1 particles (not discussed by this study) penetrate deeper into lung (alveola region) and has to elevated toxicity due to the increasing surface area as particle size decreases. This is linked to accelerated silicosis, COPD lung cancer and other systemic effects. Silica dust of this size which is not covered by the impact study will typically travel up to 20kms. There are a number of suburbs and townships within a 20km radius of the quarry and the impact will affect thousands of people and over a dozen schools. According to Safe Work Australia, there is no safe level of silica dust exposure.

Policing of Safeguards/Mitigating requirements - I note that the impact of air quality, noise and blasting have been addressed by implementation of mitigating actions by the operator. My concern is that for the most part, this is a self-audited activity by the operator who would be motivated to comply to all the required safeguards during the periods of inspection/auditing only and relaxing these standards at other times.

My Other Concerns include;
• Water is a precious and limited resource and I note that the quarry requires large quantities of water especially for dust control.
• The proposed route for trucks requires access to infrastructure controlled by the ACT government. It is my great concern that this route will not eventuate and that our rural access road will be subjected to up to 500 truck movements per day if traffic for concrete, asphalt and recycled products are taken into account. I would like to see that the route via the Monaro Highway for truck access to/from the quarry becomes a mandatory requirement of this development.
• Social studies include in the EIS have not mentioned the areas of Little Burra and Mt. Pleasant estates which are of a significant size and adjacent to the quarry in addition to the Royalla estate. I suspect that we have been lumped in with Googong township which is between 6 – 9 kms from the quarry (not 13kms as stated in the EIS)
• Googong township (not the greater suburb of Googong with population of 13,800) has a population of approx. 7,400 and is a rapidly growing area.
• Similarly, the distances to other communities such as Burra have been stated to be further than the actual distance from the quarry.
• The zoning for the site of the quarry is currently set as Environmental Conservation and Rural landscape which reflects the values and expectations of the community already living here.
• This community immediately surrounding the proposed quarry site strongly identify with and have actively sought after the tranquility of this rural setting and we object to the disruption that the quarry will bring.
• There is a real threat that property values will decrease in proportion to the proximity to this industrial development in our midst. In addition, there is a real possibility of additional costs to implement extra filtration measures to our drinking water and the air within our homes.

The studies supporting the application have been commissioned and paid for by the developer. I would like to see a pause in the approval process so that additional independent studies be conducted to verify the finding as submitted in the EIS.
In addition, the air quality study should be expanded to include the effects of the PM1 size particles. The proposed mitigation measures should be expanded to include air quality monitoring throughout the surrounding areas – not just within the confines of the quarry property. The results of the air quality monitoring need to be transparent and available to the community.
The EIS comprises of 16 documents, one which is 503 pages developed over 4 years. The community has been given 4 weeks to respond, and it is not reasonable to expect a complete analysis of the EIS in four weeks. However, inconsistencies have been noted. Given the health, social and financial impact to a large number of people, I strongly urge that further independent investigation and community consultation be carried out and serious consideration be given to the overall impact to the local residents before deciding on the viability of this application.

Thank you
Nick George

I object to this due to noise and dust

Please do not let this quarry go ahead. It is far too close to residential areas, will greatly disrupt people, traffic and wildlife. There are significant health risks for those of us living so close to the intended site, including poor air quality and silica dust. The roads are already busy and not equipped for hundreds of additional trucks per day. No quarry should be permitted so close to existing residential areas, a site much further away should be identified to minimise the impact on people and the environment. Please do not approve this project.

Too close to the suburbs. Don’t want this to go ahead. I object to this project. Do not proceed.

I am writing to object to the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal. After reviewing the available documentation, I believe the project is inconsistent with planning principles and would have unacceptable impacts in the areas of traffic, amenity, economic necessity, biodiversity, and water resources, particularly local aquifers.

1. Road Safety and Traffic Capacity
The quarry is projected to generate up to 500 heavy vehicle movements per day, equating to a truck entering or leaving the site every 1–2 minutes during operating hours.
Old Cooma Road is a single-lane rural road that is already unsuitable for its current use:
• In several sections, it is barely wide enough for two cars to pass, creating danger when larger vehicles approach. I personally feel unsafe when trucks come toward me due to the lack of road width. This situation is complicated if a cyclist happens to be on the road, and will undoubtedly lead to an accident at some point.
• After rain, potholes become unavoidable, creating further hazards for all road users.
• The road will face increasing traffic from the growing Googong development, which will add pressure even without the quarry.
The Monaro Highway, while a major road, is also frequently congested. During peak periods, such as the snow season and summer holiday traffic, traffic often banks up for many kilometres, especially around the entry and exit points near the proposed quarry. Adding hundreds of slow-moving, fully loaded quarry trucks to this highway will significantly worsen congestion and safety risks.
Even with upgrades, intersections near the site have limited sight distances, increasing the likelihood of collisions. There is no viable alternative route that would prevent these impacts from spilling into residential and community areas.

2. Noise, Dust, and Blasting Impacts
Operations are planned for 12 hours per day, six days per week, including blasting, crushing, and concrete/asphalt production. This will create ongoing industrial noise and vibration, impacting nearby residences.
The quarry will process 1,000,000 tonnes of material annually, generating dust containing respirable crystalline silica, a recognised health hazard. Fine particles can travel up to 16 km, placing approximately 92,000 residents within 10 km of the site at risk.
Almost all of the households in the area rely on rainwater tanks, which could become contaminated by dust. Dust suppression depends on substantial water use, which may not be sustainable during droughts.

3. Economic Redundancy
There are four existing quarries within 30 km of the site, including Williamsdale and Cooma Road quarries. These operate well below capacity, with an estimated 70 years of reserves remaining.
The Monaro Rock Quarry would duplicate existing supply, leading to oversaturation without clear public benefit. Even the proponent’s Environmental Impact Statement states it would supply only 25–30% of regional demand, indicating most demand is already met by current operations.
The limited employment benefits (approximately 20–30 jobs) do not justify the scale of impacts.

4. Biodiversity and Environmental Loss
The project would clear 77.83 hectares of native vegetation, including 22.44 hectares of critically endangered Box Gum Grassy Woodland, protected under NSW and Commonwealth legislation.
The site also provides habitat for threatened species, including:
• Pink-tailed Legless Lizard – 40 ha of potential habitat
• Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper – 2.35 ha
• Pale Pomaderris – 0.56 ha
• Small Purple-pea – 0.13 ha
• Silky Swainson-pea – 2.66 ha
This area is partly zoned C2 Environmental Conservation, reflecting its ecological value. Offsets cannot fully compensate for the permanent loss of this habitat.

5. Groundwater and Aquifer Impacts
The quarry will require up to 42.4 million litres of groundwater annually for dust suppression, processing, and concrete production.
This region has a history of groundwater stress. During the 2020 drought, many residential and agricultural bores ran dry. Extracting water at this scale risks lowering aquifer levels, which would reduce supply for residents and farms and impact surrounding ecosystems.
Aquifer depletion could also affect baseflows to Tuggeranong Creek, degrading water quality and threatening downstream ecosystems.

In summary, the Monaro Rock Quarry would:
• Overburden unsuitable roads like Old Cooma Road, already narrow and hazardous, and worsen congestion on the Monaro Highway.
• Reduce residential amenity through constant dust, noise, and blasting, risking drinking water quality from tank water
• Duplicate existing quarry capacity, which I believe already sufficient to meet regional demand for decades.
• Destroy critically endangered habitat and increase pressure on limited groundwater resources.

Given these significant and irreversible risks, I respectfully request that NSW Planning refuse approval for this project.