Monaro Rock Quarry Project

Concerns after reading the air quality impact report statement. There is exceedances in relation to PM2.5 around winter to surrounding properties, this is indicating a cumulative affect and creates are higher risk to properties based on the cumulative effect from other surrounding quarries and high wind periods. The report outlines meeting short term air quality for PM10 not PM 2.5. Monaro Rock’s proposed dust management assurances and air quality monitoring programs are not clearly defined and are rely on too many factors such as water supply during dry periods, the effectiveness of vegetation wind breaks and limiting vehicle speeds which can be difficult to monitor and manage regularly and during each 24 hour period. The exposure to increased air pollution particularly repairable crystalline silica is a concern to the surrounding residents and NSW EPA do not provide air quality criteria for RCS which makes it difficult for Monaro Rock’s enforcement and management once the quarry is built and adds further risk to surrounding residents.

I object to the Quarry proposal on the basis of its location near rural residential areas, and its impact on local traffic. The quarry is in proximity to Royalla, Fernleigh Park and Little Burra where there are many hundreds of small acreages. The noise, dust and visual impact of the quarry will significantly impact these residents. Large trucks going to and from the quarry will also significantly impact the single lane traffic on Old Cooma Road. We heard from the ACT Government that there are no plans to offer access to the Monaro Highway. So the trucks will need to share the road back to Queanbeyan with commuters through Googong, causing major problems. I seek rejection of the proposal or at least a significant review of its social impact.

The Royalla Community Association strongly opposes the proposed Monaro Rock quarry and industrial plant. We represent the interests of the community, and at multiple meetings since the quarry was announced, the consensus of the community and association members has been overwhelmingly opposed to the quarry.

This quarry will profit the few at the risk and detriment of the many and should not be permitted in this location. We are not opposed to quarrying or businesses or profit; we are strongly opposed to doing these things when the harm and negative impacts to the community are so great. There is no social license for this proposed Development.

Please deny this quarry and industrial plant in this location.

We oppose the quarry for the following reasons.

FUNCTION AND ZONING
What was originally proposed as a quarry is now an industrial plant including quarrying, concrete recycling, concrete production and asphalt production. The site is proposed on land zoned as C2 and RU2, which explicitly prohibit and exclude developments such as this, preserving the land for conservation and rural living. This alone should be sufficient to stop this development.

TRAFFIC
The proposed intersection to connect to the Monaro Highway will increase the risk to commuters and will increase travel times. The proposed entry to the Monaro is on a crest known to be a high accident zone already. The road already struggles to handle snow traffic, quarry traffic from Williamsdale, and logging trucks. Heavy fog means that travellers may not see entering trucks. We have a genuine concern that people will lose their lives from accidents because of the increased heavy vehicle movements.

Any alternate route down Mates Drive and Old Cooma Road is unacceptable to the community as it puts heavy trucks on the same roads where children walk to the school bus stop and people ride their horses. On a dark winter morning, they will be at increased risk. Some quarry traffic using Old Cooma Road would still enter the Monaro Highway, and this would also endanger commuters and slow traffic.

Up to 500 heavy truck movements per day is an average of around one every three minutes in each direction, 13 hours a day, six days a week. At peak times, it will be a lot more frequent.

The EIS’ traffic assessment was done during COVID when Victoria was in lockdown and many residents were working from home. This is not representative of current and future traffic on that road. Further, the EIS traffic survey was not done during the peak ski season and so does not consider the extra traffic that will be present for those four months of the year.

When the Monaro is inevitably closed due to accidents, all quarry traffic will go by Old Cooma Road, and this has not been considered in the EIS and is not acceptable to the community.

DUST
The quarry will create silica dust, and the community is genuinely concerned that it will not and cannot be adequately suppressed for the 30-year lifespan of the project. There is growing evidence that long term exposure to silica dust has drastic health implications. We are concerned that it will be breathed in by tens of thousands of residents in ACT and NSW, young and old, who may suffer greatly in the long term. Our children live and grow here, and it would be a tragedy that society and government would put the profits of the few before the health of the many residents.

Dust will collect on roofs impacting the efficiency of solar panels and requiring more regular cleaning. Dust will be collected into domestic drinking water tanks gathering as sediment, clogging filters and damaging pumps. Dust may also impact pets and livestock and native animals.

Monaro Rock's wind forecast is based on data from Isabella Plains. While this is the closest weather monitoring station, it is in a valley and surrounded by suburbs. By comparison, the quarry site is near the top of a hill and exposed. It is likely that the wind forecasts are under-stated and there will be many high wind days exceeding the EIS’ forecasts that will carry dust in many directions. All wind testing should been done locally on site.

The community is concerned that, despite commitments made by Monaro Rock, procedures won't be effective and the dust will escape. Once the quarry is approved and operating, it is very hard to get traction to fix issues. The only safe way is to ensure the quarry in this location is never approved.

ECOLOGY
The site is nestled into some of the best habitats of the critically endangered box-gum grassy woodland. There are over 300 flora and fauna species here, and the quarry proposes to clear the equivalent of 500 modern residential blocks of box-gum grassy woodland, and overall clear a size of 1440 residential blocks. The QPRC Local Environment Plan has intentionally zoned this area for conservation and government at all levels have in place protections for these endangered ecosystems.

NOISE AND VIBRATIONS
Quarries make blasting and crushing vibrations and noises, and truck movements also create noise. Inversion layers during cold weather can carry the noise for kilometres. Residents near existing quarries regularly complain about the blasting noises and vibrations from that quarry and have suffered structural damage. There's a reasonable chance that noise from this proposed quarry and industrial plant will have a detrimental impact on residents as well as fauna, and a chance of more structural damage to houses, septic systems and concrete water tanks.

ODOUR
Asphalt and concrete production create odours that will carry long distances on strong winds and be an irritant or nuisance for residents in the ACT and NSW. This can be especially impactful for pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and COPD.

LOCATION
There are an estimated 49,000 people living within 5km of this quarry, projected to grow to 69,000 within ten years. The nearest ACT suburban residence is 2.2km in Theodore and the nearest NSW resident is 1.5km away. The closeness to suburban populations and rural residences will increase the impact of dust, noise and odour.

The rhyodacite rock sought by the quarry is readily available between the ACT and Cooma, with plentiful locations where few people live close. While this would increase transport costs, it would impact residents and commuters much less. We believe the primary reason for the quarry's location is to reduce costs and increase profits for Monaro Rock or any future operator. This should not be allowed to happen when the risks and impacts are so high from being close to a large population.

ECONOMIC BENEFIT
The current quarries are under-producing and so currently there is more supply than demand. The revenue made by Monaro Rock would therefore be a loss of the same to another quarry, a near-zero sum game. As such there is likely no overall economic benefit to taxpayers or residents or anyone other than the owners of the company. Given that the risks and impacts are borne by the community, but the profits go to the few, this quarry should be rejected.

NO EXCESSIVE DEMAND
There are five known quarries within a 50km radius of Royalla, NSW, with three of them located within 10km. The two nearest quarries are operating well under their full capacity, and one is considering an application to expand their production. We reject as evidently false Monaro Rock's claim that there is any shortfall in production capacity for years to come.

WATER RUNOFF
Water from the quarry will be discharged into Tuggeranong Creek and find its way into Lake Tuggeranong. Under adverse weather conditions, or if dams fail, there could be impact to the ecology of Lake Tuggeranong. Runoff also impacts the Murrumbidgee and Lake Burley Griffin, residents and the ecology in the ACT.

GROUNDWATER USAGE
The facility aims to use up to 42 million litres of water per year. Residents are concerned about the lowering of water tables and changing the quality of the water, which impacts drinking and managing livestock.

INDIGENOUS ARTEFACTS
The facility contains culturally significant sites including a scar tree and ring tree plus potential archaeological deposits. The community values and is concerned for the safety and protection of these artefacts.

Submission approved by
Committee of the Royalla Community Association Inc.
23 September 2025.
President and Secretary
The Royalla Community Association Inc

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 wish to Object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project application number SSD-27223807.
The objection is based on the following:
1. Although the build up to maximum extraction and haulage is graduated, with-in a short time 150 laden trucks per day means 300 truck entry/exists per day for 30 years, given that trucks create most of the airborne dust this will be an ongoing traffic hazard especially on windy days over the B23 Monaro highway.
2. I reside approx. 4K North of Williamsdale quarry the dust level is greater than the maximum annual average of 10 µg/m, this is demonstrated by the dust levels found on outdoor furniture and in the swimming pool.
3. Royalla Solar Farm is an asset that delivers real benefit to the overall population, it’s quite and clean, I am concerned the dust level will impede the panels performance over the 30 years, I can testify to the loss of Solar power generated due to dusty panels living by the Williamsdale quarry, with quarries both North and South at nearly equidistance to my property, I've got no chance!
4. As the project develops the stock piles of stone and spoil will increase and the landscape will start to change, this encroachment is clearly demonstrated by the Williamsdale quarry where quarried material has been deposited above the hillside vista and is visibly growing every year.
5. Ironically the location of the proposed quarry is known as Enchanted Hill and Beauty Hill, if successful the beneficiaries (the few) will spoil yet another area with total disregard to the health and wellbeing of the local population (the many) while the few reap the benefits the many lose through house/land/wellbeing depreciation.

As discussed with Carl Dumpleton on 15 Sept 25 I would like this submission to replace submission number SSD-27223807. I mistakenly wrote my address, Gmail and phone number in the original submission. I do not want this information provided to the applicant or public forum. I'm happy to have my name and suburb released. I have attached my submission as a pdf to ensure formatting is maintained.
Additionally some more information is provided in this attachment so please disregard the original submission. Sorry for the additional work this has created.

I am writing to register my formal objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry in Royalla. As a resident of Banks with family in Calwell, Theodore and Michelago, and as someone with existing heart and lung health problems, I am gravely concerned about the documented risks this project poses to community health and road safety.
​
​My most significant concern is the health impact of airborne dust, specifically Respirable Crystalline Silica, which will be generated by the quarry.

​The project's own Environmental Impact Statement acknowledges that "respirable crystalline silica may be generated during those activities." While it claims the impacts will be "negligible," this provides little comfort. Community groups have highlighted that silica dust can travel up to 16 km and remain in the air for up to 12 days, especially in windy conditions. This places Tuggeranong suburbs, including the school my children attend in Calwell, well within the potential fallout zone.

​A factsheet from Monaro Rock itself confirms that exposure to RCS can cause silicosis, a permanent and debilitating lung disease, as well as being linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. For my family, with my pre-existing conditions and my elderly in-laws' vulnerability, this is not a theoretical risk. It is a direct threat to our health and quality of life. The opposition group notes there are 18 schools within 17km of the proposed site, putting thousands of children at risk.

​I am also deeply concerned about the traffic impact on the Monaro Highway. This road, particularly the stretch from Johnson Drive, is already inadequate and frequently congested. If the trucks will not be using the highway, this generates more issues, as local roads around Royalla are not designed for such heavy traffic.

​The proposal documents state the project will generate up to 500 heavy vehicle movements per day. This volume of truck traffic on a highway that is already unfit for purpose is unacceptable. The community group "No New Quarry" has rightly pointed out that this will require a major new intersection to be built, but the safety and flow of the highway will be irrevocably compromised.

​Adding this level of heavy vehicle traffic will lead to:

​- Increased accident risk for commuters, school buses, and local residents.
- ​Severe congestion, extending travel times and impacting daily life for thousands of Canberrans and their neighbors in NSW. ​
- Accelerated deterioration of the road surface, leading to higher maintenance costs and more hazardous driving conditions.

​The existing infrastructure cannot safely absorb this dramatic increase in heavy vehicle movements. To approve this quarry without a prior, comprehensive upgrade of the Monaro Highway would be a negligent disregard for public safety.

​The evidence presented in the project's own documentation and by community advocates clearly shows that the Monaro Rock Quarry poses an unacceptable risk to the health of my family and the safety of our community. The potential for irreversible lung damage from silica dust and the certainty of dangerous traffic conditions on the Monaro Highway far outweigh any purported benefits of this quarry.

​I strongly urge you to prioritize the health and safety of your constituents and reject this proposal.

I object to the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal (SSD-27223807).

As a resident directly impacted, I believe this project presents unacceptable risks to safety, health, environment, and public finances. The EIS relies on incomplete studies and assumptions, leaving costs and liabilities to be carried by government and local ratepayers. This is inequitable, inconsistent with planning law, and not in the public interest.

Road safety and cost shifting
Up to 200 quarry truck movements per day are proposed to merge onto an already high-risk Monaro Highway corridor. This will endanger commuters, freight and tourists. The EIS assumes upgrades but fails to identify funding sources. It is unacceptable for road costs or accident liabilities to be pushed onto council rates or residents.

Requests:

Government fund and conduct an independent corridor safety review of the Monaro Highway before any determination.

Guarantee all road upgrades and accident liabilities are met from state infrastructure budgets, not council rates.

Pause determination until liability allocation is resolved in writing.

Air quality and health
The EIS shows exceedance of PM2.5 standards and admits uncertainty in toxicity values. Fine dust will directly harm children, elderly, and vulnerable residents. This creates a public health liability if the project proceeds without independent validation.

Requests:

EPA to run independent baseline and real-time monitoring with automatic shutdown triggers.

NSW Health to conduct a cumulative quarry health impact inquiry.

Pause approval until these reviews are complete.

Noise, blasting, and amenity
Noise and blast studies are described as preliminary, with reliance on compensation after the fact. This contradicts the precautionary principle in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Requests:

Commission independent peer review of noise and blast modelling.

Require a government-appointed ombudsman for monitoring and complaints.

Pause approval until a cumulative regional quarry impact study is completed.

Water security
The quarry intends to excavate to 100m and install a new production bore. Drawdown and contamination risks are significant, especially in a drying climate. Surface water assessments are based on “average” conditions, ignoring flood variability.

Requests:

Fund government-led baseline groundwater and surface water studies.

Establish enforceable public thresholds with automatic suspension if exceeded.

Pause until a regional water security plan is finalised.

Biodiversity and federal triggers
The project impacts Box-Gum Woodland and Pale Pomaderris. Offsets are speculative and may never be secured. This likely requires referral under the Commonwealth EPBC Act, which has not been resolved.

Requests:

Secure offsets in perpetuity and locally before disturbance.

Commission a government biodiversity audit to test feasibility.

Pause approval until EPBC referral outcomes are finalised.

Questionable economic need
Two other nearby quarries already supply the region. The economic case here is speculative duplication. Approving a new site without testing true demand risks breaching the “public interest” test.

Requests:

Require Treasury to conduct an independent market need and value-for-money review.

Direct Infrastructure NSW to confirm whether existing quarries can meet demand.

Reject the project if duplication is confirmed.

Conclusion
This proposal creates disproportionate risks for minimal public benefit. The EIS leaves key issues unresolved — safety, health, climate, biodiversity, and market need. It is unfair for ratepayers to subsidise corporate profit through hidden costs.

I respectfully request that the Department refuse the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal.

A detailed submission with references is attached.

Kind regards,
Hayley Bennett

I object to the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal (SSD-27223807).
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) leaves critical matters unresolved, pushing risks and costs onto government and local residents. This is inequitable and contrary to the precautionary principle under NSW planning law.
Road Safety: The Monaro Highway corridor where the quarry trucks will merge is already dangerous. Adding up to 200 trucks daily will increase accidents and fatalities. The government must fund an independent safety review and guarantee upgrades are state-funded, not charged to ratepayers.
Air Quality: The EIS admits PM2.5 exceedances and uncertainty in health risk values. Dust exposure will harm children, elderly, and vulnerable people. EPA-led monitoring and a NSW Health review are required before any approval is considered.
Noise & Blasting: The assessments are preliminary and rely on after-the-fact compensation. This breaches the precautionary principle. Independent peer reviews, a government-appointed ombudsman, and a regional cumulative impact study must come first.
Water: Excavation to 100m and a new bore risk groundwater drawdown and surface water disruption. Government-led baseline studies and enforceable suspension thresholds are needed. Approval must be paused until a regional water security plan is complete.
Biodiversity: The project will damage Box-Gum Woodland and Pale Pomaderris. Offsets are speculative and federal EPBC referral unresolved. Offsets must be secured locally and upfront before disturbance.
Economic Need: Two existing quarries already meet demand. Duplication is unjustified and fails the public interest test. Treasury and Infrastructure NSW must verify actual demand.
Climate Obligations: The quarry has not been tested against NSW’s net zero targets. Approving such a project risks undermining statutory climate law.
Requests:
Independent government reviews of road safety, health, water, biodiversity, and market need before determination.


Written guarantees that residents will not bear hidden costs for road upgrades, health impacts, or environmental losses.


Rejection of the project if offsets, safety, and market need cannot be demonstrated upfront.


This proposal creates long-term harm for short-term private benefit. I respectfully request the Department refuse the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal.
A detailed submission is attached.

Kind regards,
Matthew Bennett

The project is should not be approved for a number of reasons;
It is based in a high conservation value area of Box Gum Grassy Woodland
It will affect the amenity of local residents through excessive heavy vehicle movements
It will cause significant dust and noise pollution, particularly high silica dust
It will draw down on limited ground water resources which became unavailable to many residents during the last drought with bores running dry.
There should be sufficient aggregate resource in the existing local quarries already

Richard Lindsay
59 Whisperer Place Royalla, NSW 260 23/09/2025
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Re: Objection to the Proposed Monaro Rock Quarry, Royalla
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a resident of Royalla, and I am writing to strongly object to the proposed Monaro Rock quarry. My family and I chose to live in Royalla because of its clean environment, peaceful rural lifestyle, and strong sense of community. This quarry threatens all of that, and I ask that NSW Planning reject the application on the following grounds.
Personal and Community Impacts
1.
Health and Dust Concerns As residents, we will be directly exposed to silica dust generated by blasting and crushing. Silica is known to cause serious long-term health conditions, including silicosis. Dust does not stay within quarry boundaries — it will travel to nearby homes like mine, coating surfaces, contaminating rainwater tanks, and posing risks to my children, neighbours, and animals.
2.
Noise, Blasting and Vibration Quarry blasting and crushing operations will shatter the peace of our community. Vibrations can cause property damage, including cracks in homes, while also distressing livestock, pets, and horses — animals many residents, including my family, rely on for our way of life. Constant industrial noise will rob Royalla of its quiet rural character.
3.
Operating Hours and Amenity Impacts The proposed quarry intends to operate six days per week, with product despatch from 5:00am to 6:00pm. This schedule means trucks and industrial activity will begin before dawn most mornings, creating unacceptable noise and disturbance for residents of the housing estate that directly borders the proposed site. Early morning truck movements, reversing alarms, and heavy machinery will disrupt sleep, family life, and wellbeing.
4.
Traffic and Safety Risks An estimated 200 fully-laden quarry trucks per day will travel along the Monaro Highway and Old Cooma Road. As a Royalla resident, I already see traffic risks in the area. The increase in heavy trucks will make our local roads more dangerous, particularly for families, cyclists, and school buses. The dust and diesel emissions from these trucks will also harm our air quality and road safety.
5.
Water Impacts on Local Residents Like many in Royalla, I rely on rainwater tanks and groundwater. The quarry proposes to extract groundwater, which risks lowering the water table and drying up existing bores. Stormwater and wastewater from the quarry will run into Tuggeranong Creek and
eventually into Lake Tuggeranong, degrading water quality and creating downstream pollution issues for residents and the broader community.
6.
Biodiversity and Habitat Loss The quarry would clear approximately 22 hectares of critically endangered box-gum grassy woodland, along with 78 hectares of vegetation. This land is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. As a resident, I value the biodiversity and natural beauty of this area — it is part of what makes Royalla special. The destruction of this habitat is both permanent and unnecessary.
7.
Amenity and Property Values I invested in Royalla because of its unique lifestyle and environment. If the quarry goes ahead, property values will drop, the peaceful amenity of our homes will be destroyed, and residents like myself will be left to live with the constant impacts of dust, noise, heavy traffic, and early morning disruption.
Conclusion
As someone who calls Royalla home, I urge NSW Planning to listen to the residents who will live with the consequences of this quarry every single day. The cumulative impacts — dust, noise, traffic, biodiversity loss, water risks, and reduced amenity — are too great.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the proposed Monaro Rock quarry be refused.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Lindsay
Royalla Resident

Please refer to the attached submission.

As a local resident living in very close proximity to the proposed Monaro Rock quarry in Royalla, I strongly object to this project. The proposal raises serious concerns that will directly and severely affect the physical and mental health, safety, lifestyle, and wellbeing of my family and many others in the community, along with financial security (home values will reduce significantly if this development goes ahead). I have listed my concerns in the attached PDF file. Thank you.

Please find attached a submission outlining my strong opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Enchanted Hill.

This project poses significant risks to our community — including heavy truck traffic, dust and silica exposure, destruction of critically endangered habitat, and long-term impacts on water resources and amenity. It will affect not just Royalla, but the broader region and, for ACT recipients, commuters and residents across Canberra.

Please see attached objection document

Refer attached

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

The main objection lies in two places:

1) the confidence in the project to be held to the mitigation tactics outlined. Time and time again we see these projects approved and then no one holds to account the proponents to stick to the obligations made
2) As someone who lives in the identified social impact area, the consultation undertaken on this project could hardly be called extensive. The SIA references a range of activities but zero detail is given on where and when they took place and the first ai heard of this was 8 days before the submissions close on a local Facebook page. This does not give confidence in the transparency of the proponent.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development of the Monaro Rock Quarry.

This development would have significant negative impacts on my family’s capacity to live safely and peacefully in our home which we purchased in 2023 as a safer environment to where we previously resided.

As a person living with significant physical and neurological disabilities, in addition to PTSD, the impact of developing a quarry so close to our home would be particularly detrimental for my health and my capacity to remain housed, access and contribute to the community and maintain safe employment.

Additionally, I rely on NDIS supports to maintain my health and wellbeing so I can continue working my job which I am fortunate enough and only able to access from my own home. These supports have voiced concerns over their reduced capacity to work safely in the valley during certain times of the year where the air pollution is particularly harmful and with the addition of the a nearby mining facility exacerbating these issues.

The Tuggeranong Valley's geography makes it particularly prone to temperature inversions, which trap air pollution close to the ground. The potential for silica dust from the quarry to become airborne is a major worry for my family, as several members and support workers suffer from severe asthma. The increased dust particles in the air would exacerbate their condition, posing a serious health risk that is compounded by the valley's tendency to hold on to pollutants.

Additionally, the proposed mining operations would introduce new sources of noise pollution, including the inevitable blasting and the constant movement of heavy machinery. We already experience significant noise pollution traveling across the valley from the Monaro Highway. The addition of quarry-related noise would compound this issue, creating an unbearable sensory environment that would severely impact my well-being and ability to function within my own home. This is not a matter of inconvenience; it is a direct threat to my capacity to maintain a safe and stable living environment.

Furthermore, I am deeply concerned about the environmental impact, particularly on our local waterways. The Tuggeranong Creek, which runs through Calwell, has recently undergone significant rehabilitation efforts. The potential for runoff and sedimentation from the quarry to pollute this creek would undermine all the work that has been done and would have a devastating effect on the local ecosystem.

Finally, the disruption to local wildlife is another major concern. The quarry's operations would inherently displace local wildlife, driving them towards the notoriously dangerous Monaro Highway and into various residential areas increasing the risk of road fatalities and property destruction.

In light of these significant health, safety, and environmental concerns, I object to the development of the proposed quarry and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to provide this submission. Thank you for your consideration.

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.