Monaro Rock Quarry Project

I object to the project due to the increased heavy vehicles on our roads, the environmental impacts and health implications due to silica dust.

I reject the project under the basis of disruption, pollution and safety!

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed quarry development in Tuggeranong. This project poses significant risks to the health, safety, environment, and wellbeing of our community.

Human Health Impacts

Exposure to silica and ultra-fine dust particles poses serious health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.

Dust and air pollution will reduce overall air quality for nearby residents.


Noise and Community Impacts

I have children with autism who are highly sensitive to loud and unpredictable noises. Noise from trucks, rock crushing, concrete recycling, and blasting would cause them significant distress, impacting their mental health and daily quality of life.

Blasting activities may also pose risks to nearby homes and properties through vibration and structural impacts.


Environmental and Ecological Impacts

The project threatens waterways in Tuggeranong through quarry runoff, which could harm aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

It endangers critically important habitats, including Box Gum Grassy Woodland — a threatened ecological community.

Local wildlife and biodiversity will be displaced and disrupted.


Amenity and Lifestyle

Increased truck traffic on local roads will create safety hazards and congestion.

Property values and overall liveability for residents will decline due to proximity to an industrial quarry.

For these reasons, I urge the Department to reject the Monaro Rock Quarry Project. The long-term costs to health, safety, environment, and community far outweigh any short-term economic benefits.

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.

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.

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.

Concerned about the proposed location and silica dust.

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.

I am significantly concerned about this proposed project. I am a new resident to Tralee intending to start a family in the suburb and am relying on the appreciation of my property for my retirement. The proposed quarry and its negative impacts on its surrounds will inevitably decrease the value of my property. We moved to Tralee to enjoy the benefits of rural suburban living including less traffic, less noise and cleaner air. The proposed quarry will have the opposite effect on all these categories. I have deep concern and fear raising a young family in such close proximity to known lethal silica dust within their environment, a place I hoped they would be able to live, breath and play safety and I now fear than instead of enjoying the quiet and safe streets I will be forced to remain inside during times of major works. If I had known this were the case I may as well have bought an apartment in the CBD to raise a family. Additionally I have significant concerns about my husbands health who has worked as a tradesman for years having being exposed to silica dust and asbestos on many occasions during his career. If this proposal goes through he will no longer be safe from workplace hazards within the comfort and safety of his own home.

Thank you for considering my submission. I trust the right decision will be made for the sake of the safety of the community.

Rachel

I do not want to live near a quarry.

I do not like that this quary has even been proposed. Being in the construction industry and learning so much about scilica dust. This raises so many health concerns for my now new home. Scilica can kill people and with how windy it is out near us this raises major concerns. Is the nsw government going to 100% guarantee that 0% health risks will come to the Tralee community ? Our residence has had plans and promises change so many times since we purchased and now there is a risk that Tralee and royalla could turn into wittenoom in coming years like how the WA government did to those residents.


There are plenty of locations away from residential properties that can keep this isolated and preformed safely and no reason to be so close.

Can you confirm that my family, friends and neighbours will never get scilica? Can you confirm that the trucks will not cause damage to the area? Can you confirm that no dust from the quary would come into the area?

Do not let this go ahead

I believe the project will only help the community - providing much needed jobs to the area!
Bring more people to the area and supporting local businesses.
Will enable essential infrastructure to be completed - road repairs, new buildings.

Community grown is a must!

I object to the proposed Monaro Rock Industries on the following

1. Problems associated with airborne silica particles.
Proper control measures are necessary to capture and remove these fine, respirable particles to prevent serious lung diseases.In Royalla we also have water tanks with roof top collection and bore water to consider.Size of airborne particles is the determining health risk, and can flow 700 metres into the air, and hundreds of kilometres depending on wind.Respirable particles(less than 10 um) are the primary concerns for occupational health.

2. Proximity of the quarries to Royalla Williamsdale Quarry operated by Heidelberg approximately 7 kms as the crow flies from the proposed new quarry Monaro Rock Industries. Holcim Cooma Road Quarry is located 10 kilometres from the new proposed quarry.

3. Air Quality
Royalla will have quarrys to both the north and south only 7 kms apart as the crow flies.Royalla is situated approximately 3.5 kms from both quarries.Canberra southern suburbs of Condor and Calwell etc. will also have air quality impacted.

4. Traffic
An environment study from Williamsdale Quarry (35 DB(A)) application suggest noise contour will encroach into rural residential areas and their initial submission suggest 3,581 vehicles per day from the quarry along the Monaro Highway. So just 10 minutes further along the Monaro Highway more trucks will be coming out of the new quarry, within that short distance plus seasonal ski traffic, is a recipe for disaster.

5. Environmental Archeology
Will a survey be conducted with the Ngunnawal LALC as all the blocks in Royalla were prior to subdivision?This is a highly sensitive area for the Ngunnawal people and as such their land should be respected.

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.

Royalla is the gateway to the Snowy Monaro region. It's the first settlement that travellers from Canberra and further afield see when travelling south, with its natural beauty and rural ambiance. The proposal to turn it into a rock quarry and cement processing plant is jarring to say the least.
As the project proposal documents note, Royalla is also slated for significant new housing developments - surely a priority for the New South Wales government, and likely to be adversely impacted by the proposed quarry.
Most importantly for residents of the Monaro Highway further south, however, is the impact of the proposal on the traffic on, and condition of, the Monaro Highway. Road damage is increased with the 4th power of vehicle weight, so doubling the weight of the vehicle will increase the damage by 16 x. Eg if a car is 2 tonnes, and a truck is 20 tonnes (10 x heavier) it creates 10,000 times more road damage. According to Appendix 1 to the EIS, '[t]he despatch of quarry products would principally use truck and dog trailer combinations, with a load capacity between 32.5 tonnes (t) and 37.5 t.'. https://www.denenapoints.com/relationship-vehicle-weight-road-damage/
Moreover, increasing the traffic on the Monaro Highway by approximately 500 heavy truck movements per day will create increased congestion and danger to commuters from Michelago and other settlements south of Royalla, many of whom are young families working in Canberra and with children in Canberra schools.
I urge the decision makers not to approve this project.

Although I am not in favour of the project, I recognise that our society demands a wide range of materials to function as it does. Those materials have to come from somewhere and need to be processed somewhere.
My primary concerns are as follows:
1. Traffic flow along the Monaro Highway may be impeded by the number of fully loaded trucks entering the highway. The access for trucks entering the Monaro highway needs to be located where all traffic has good visibility both of trucks entering the road, and of vehicles already on the road. As a regular user of this road, I am aware that there are many places in the vicinity of the proposed access road, where vehicles entering the stream of traffic may have poor visibility of oncoming traffic. This would be exacerbated by heavily laden vehicles slow to accelerate to highway speed.
2. A significant increase in heavily laden trucks will place additional wear and tear on a road that already has many potholes that regularly require maintenance.
3. Has detailed analysis been done on the incidence of Silicosis type diseases in populations living in close proximity to similar quarries and manufacturing processes?
4. The volume of water that will be harvested from surface and groundwater will be significant. The removal of this water and subsequent release of potentially contaminated waste water will have an impact on the environment surrounding the quarry.
5. Management of dust generated on site, will be ineffective, despite the large amount of water that will be used.

Our family decided in 2019 to move from Sydney to Royalla to give our family a better lifestyle outside of the heavy congestion, poor quality air and constant noise that has impacted my family that suffer from these outside influences. We have 3 daughters that all suffer from Autism and ADHD and are sensory to the environment around them, Royalla provides a safe place for our family to shut down from these external influences. When deciding to relocate our family we have had to make huge emotional and financial sacrifices to enable the move here to Royalla, the financial impact to our family could cost us our forever home when the market is impacted by the quarry being so close to our property. We understood that within the local area there was already two quarries that we wouldn't be affected by as the distance was great enough to provide a safe environment for my family. My daughters have just started to learn to drive and Royalla and its surrounds are currently such a perfect space to teach them to drive but we are looking at a proposed 500 truck movements per day 75 per hour onto our country roads, that's more than one truck a minute. I ask you to consider how confronting this would be to a autistic child trying to learn to drive in her community?
Monaro Rock has bypassed the local government and community in an attempt to place a hard rock quarry only a few kilometers from two other hard rock quarries which is only for personal gain with no respect for the local community, flora or fauna and historical significance of our community.
I write to you not with facts and figures, scientific data, political view or a hidden agenda just with a simple plee that you review what the Monaro Rock quarry wants to place into our community for nothing more than personal gain, they have many years worth of hard rock within the two quarries that surround the community. The quarry will destroy our dream for our forever home here in Royalla

This will completely ruin and destroy the calmness of royalla. There are young families just starting out. The Silica dust, excessive traffic, constant noise will be unbearable

I'm very concerned if the quarry goes ahead about all the extra trucks on the roads, it will make the roads much more busy and Dangerous .
Just the snow traffic alone makes it more dangerous , let alone the extra trucks.
I'm also worried about the SILICA dust blowing around which is a health concern.
I know in the construction industry silica is a big problem and causing a lot of health concerns. Thanks Gloria