Monaro Rock Quarry Project

I strongly object this project as it has dire health consequences particularly for people with asthma and other health complications. I live in Googong and came to this suburb because of its clean air and emphasis on nature. I moved away from Canberra centre particularly for my asthma and now the suburb is about to create a worse environment for me because of the fine silica dust that will spread because of the Monaro quarry. I live very close to where the quarry is proposed to be and I am extremely concerned for my health but have no opportunity to move because of finances. I also run a piano studio here and have established a good customer base so it is very difficult for me to pack up and go. I am currently teaching over 40 children in the area and I am also extremely worried because this project is very harmful for someone with my condition and for the young children in the area. With three schools in the area and many young and upcoming families, this project will have an impact on these children that will affect them for life as fine silica dust accumulates in the lungs over time and there is currently no treatment for silicosis. Even if the children are exposed with small amounts over many years, this all accumulates and severely impacts life quality and expectancy. Googong and the surrounding areas need to be kept clean and provide an alternative for people who are already susceptible to the pollution of the bigger cities and need a place a bit further out for their health. This project gives us few options to live close to Canberra but still have the clean fresh air of the suburbs. In addition to the health consequences, the quarry also has financial implications as fewer people will want to risk their children living near such an establishment, leading to diminishing house value and less people in a bustling developing suburb like Googong and the surrounding areas. There has been so much investment in schools, shopping, etc. that will go wasted because of the diminishing value of the suburb due to this project. I am writing this submission with a heavy heart as these areas are so beautiful and clean and this project will tarnish that beauty. We live next to a damn and significant conservation areas which we need to protect. Investment has been made for hotels so that people can visit these places of nature and beauty. The Monaro quarry project will diminish these investments significantly as no one wants to risk their health. As people with health problems know, health is so important for quality of life and allows us to live and work to our fullest. Please do not ruin the health of people, the beauty of these suburbs all for small financial gain. The long-term impact is dire as there will be less people, less tourism, severe long-term health effects and less business.

There is a very high risk that respirable crystalline dust will be emitted which are cause for great concern for both our family and livestock welfare. The noise disruption and road maintenance required by the possible 250 trucks per day are also another huge concern and are unacceptable. Locals move to rural areas for a quiet healthy life , not to be stressed or in constant fear of health problems for family and livestock. There are already four existing quarries within 30 kilometres of proposed site. That’s surely enough on the local infrastructure. Build elsewhere!

I am objecting to this project on a number of grounds;
These are all extremely important points, in no particular order.
Although there is plans to build an intersection with the Monaro Highway, trucks will turn left out of the quarry at certain times of the day, and then head down Old Cooma Road towards Queanbeyan, this will increase the number of trucks that will use and potentially damage the road. Wait until the electric trucks start using these roads, these trucks will be allowed to carry more payload, and then with the extra battery weight, the damage to the road will be significant. There will be a constant long line up going down the Monaro highway towards Johnson drive roundabout, and serious accidents are going to occur.
If the ACT government decide not to allow an intersection, then the traffic on Old Cooma Road will be chaotic at best.
My house is close to the quarry, and is built on a rock seam, so I am expecting a lot more siesmic activity during blasting and potential house damage occurring, so I am sure that I will be in a dispute about damages, and I am also sure that this process will drag out while waiting for some compensation.
This will have an enormous effect on my family, which is unfair. We moved out here to enjoy the country life, not expecting to put up with some quarry activity.
Royalla is a very windy area, especially in Spring, so the dust that will blow over my property will be a health hazard, The winds can come from all directions, so this will also affect over 40,000 residents in the ACT.
The ACT borders the quarry, but as it is in NSW, there has been NO community contact with the ACT people.
I also use bore water on my property, and I bet that this will diminish if the quarry goes ahead. Not only is it a quarry, but a concrete recycling plant, asphalt production and industrial estate.
No matter how good the safeguards are supposed to be, there will be "accidents, spills, etc " and a paltry fine may be imposed, and then business as usual.
So this is a State Significant Development, but have you considered that this will be a State Significant Health risk???Can you imagine the health risks that can come from silica dust, engineered stone has been banned for that reason, silica dust.
I will have a property inspection done of my house if the proposal goes ahead ( in consultation with Monaro Rock ) and then we will see what damage is done as blasting occurs, I will also have a seisomometer on my property to monitor vibrations.
Local residents near the Williamsdale quarry ( not far away )have had ongoing dust problems and have been advised to have health checks, small comfort if the damage to health is already done.
My drinking water comes from rainfall on the roof, if the roof gets silica dust on it then the water will be of no use what's so ever,
not even for washing, bathing, and definitely not drinking.
And on another note, the other quarries that are close by are not at full capacity, not by a long shot.
I believe that this proposal is short sighted, and only benefits a few , but will endanger the lives of thousands, and I need to mention the biodiversity issues, with endangered flora and fauna, which I believe is Federally protected in this area, or does money trump everything?

Formal Objection to Proposed Quarry Development

I am writing to formally oppose the proposed quarry development in our community. My family and I moved to Royalla to embrace the rural lifestyle, peace, and natural beauty that this area offers. The proposed quarry would irreversibly damage these values and bring significant risks to our community’s safety, health, and environment.

1. Loss of Rural Lifestyle and Community Amenity

We chose to live in this rural area to enjoy the tranquility and serenity that comes with living away from industrial and high-density urban areas. The introduction of constant quarrying activities will drastically and permanently alter our way of life.

- Blasting will bring disruptive explosions and vibrations that will echo for kilometres, disturbing residents and causing unnecessary stress.
- Continuous truck traffic and machinery noise will destroy the peaceful environment we moved here to enjoy.
- The visual impact of an open quarry will reduce the natural beauty of our surroundings and harm the character of the community.

This development is completely incompatible with the existing rural lifestyle and the expectations of those who have invested their lives and livelihoods here.

2. Road Safety Concerns – Especially for Young Drivers

The proposed quarry will add a significant number of large, heavy trucks to our local roads, many of which are narrow, winding, and not designed for industrial-scale traffic. This will substantially increase the risk of serious accidents.

As a parent, I am deeply concerned for the safety of my children, who will soon begin learning to drive. Young, inexperienced drivers will face a far greater danger navigating around frequent, oversized vehicles. This poses an unacceptable risk to not only my family but also to other road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and school buses.

No development should be approved that jeopardises the safety of our community.

3. Environmental Impacts

The environmental consequences of this quarry would be devastating and long-lasting:

- Habitat destruction: Clearing land for the quarry will displace native wildlife and damage fragile ecosystems.
- Dust and air pollution: Quarrying generates high levels of airborne dust, which will impact the health of residents, livestock, and surrounding vegetation.
- Water contamination: Runoff from quarry operations could pollute nearby creeks, dams, and water supplies, harming both wildlife and agricultural productivity.
- Noise pollution: Constant blasting and machinery will disturb both people and animals, disrupting natural behaviours of local fauna.

Our area’s environmental values are irreplaceable and must be protected for future generations rather than sacrificed for short-term industrial gain.

4. Conclusion

The proposed quarry is entirely unsuitable for our community and this location. It would bring irreversible harm to the area’s character, create serious safety hazards, and have significant environmental consequences.

I strongly urge the council and relevant authorities to reject this proposal in order to protect the wellbeing, safety, and lifestyle of the families who call this community home.

Thank you for considering my submission and for taking into account the long-term interests of the residents of Royalla and surrounds

The quary is going to impact the community negatively with increased traffic, environmenyal noise, environmental destruction which will affect endangered gliders aswell as silica dust impacting houses, schools and multiple suburbs within the ACT not just Royalla. When is the environment and pur health going to be prioritised over profit?! Is another quary necessary and if so why do close to houses and schools please reconsider.
Rural residents are hoping to stop empty paddocks being transformed into a million-tonne-per-year rock quarry over their back fence.

A plan for Monaro Rock's proposed quarry in Royalla, on the border of the ACT and New South Wales, has been published online for public feedback.

Local residents have known about plans for the quarry since 2021, with the latest proposal showing the quarry would take up 545 hectares and sit less than three kilometres from homes in Tuggeranong in Canberra's south.
But residents in the township of Royalla across the border in NSW are even closer, with some homes neighbouring the project's boundary.

the noise impacts of the quarry, as well as truck traffic, dust emissions and possible home devaluation.

"Quarries are normally out in the sticks where there are no residents," Mr Tine said.

"They want to propose one right in the middle of our little estate here … it's just not right."

We all object and agree with this article.

Leave our beautiful land be and allow us to breathe easy.

Objection to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project (SSD-27223807), Royalla NSW
To: NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Cc: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC); NSW EPA; Transport for NSW; ACT Government
Project: Monaro Rock Quarry – extraction up to 1,000,000 tpa for ~30 years
________________________________________
1) Summary position
I oppose the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Royalla. The project is inconsistent with the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022 (QPRLEP 2022), fails to meet objectives of the Palerang Development Control Plan 2015 (as amended 2022), and is strategically unnecessary given the two existing regional quarries already operating.
I request the Department refuse this application. Alternatively, it should be referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for public hearings due to the scale, cross-border significance, and level of community objection.
________________________________________
2) Key grounds of objection
A. Health and dust (silica risk)
• Extraction and crushing of 1 Mtpa of hard rock will generate respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a proven health hazard.
• The EIS does not adequately model worst-case meteorology or cumulative emissions.
• The prevailing winds carry dust toward Royalla and Tuggeranong, exposing thousands of residents.
Request: Independent health risk assessment for RCS; real-time monitoring with public dashboard; stop-work thresholds.
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B. Traffic, road safety and Monaro Highway
• The quarry will generate up to 200 truck movements per day, impacting Monaro Highway (a classified arterial road).
• QPRLEP cl.7.18 requires development near arterial roads to minimise visual and acoustic impacts and protect road function. This proposal fails to do so.
• The DCP requires safe access design for classified roads — not satisfied by the current haulage plan.
Request: Cap truck numbers, ban haulage in school peaks/weekends, require left-in/left-out with acceleration lanes, GPS-based compliance reporting.
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C. Biodiversity and water
• The site and surrounds include habitat for the Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, Striped Legless Lizard and other endangered species.
• QPRLEP C2/C3 zone objectives require protection of ecological values and water quality. The scale of clearing, blasting and runoff risks direct conflict.
• Tuggeranong Creek and local bores are at risk from sediment and groundwater drawdown.
Request: Targeted threatened species surveys; avoidance buffers; strict groundwater and surface water controls; independent ecological peer review.
________________________________________
D. Noise, blasting and amenity
• Thirty years of blasting and crushing conflicts with the Palerang DCP General Provisions (Noise, Amenity, Landscaping).
• Residents and livestock will experience ongoing disturbance.
Request: Shorter operating hours, stricter blast vibration limits, independent compliance auditing.
________________________________________
E. Visual impact and scenic protection
• QPRLEP cl.7.14 Scenic Protection requires consent authorities to minimise visual impacts and incorporate conservation measures.
• The quarry would cause permanent scarring of a rural landscape valued for its amenity and cross-border vistas.
Request: Independent visual simulations from ACT and NSW vantage points; enforceable rehabilitation benchmarks.
________________________________________
F. Existing supply and strategic need
• There are already two major hard-rock quarries servicing the ACT/Queanbeyan region:
1. Holcim – Cooma Road Quarry (NSW), a significant regional supplier.
2. Boral – Mugga Mugga Quarry (ACT), Canberra’s largest hard-rock quarry.
• QPRLEP cl.7.16 even recognises the Cooma Road Quarry in its buffer provisions, proving Council already accounts for its long-term role.
• The proponent has not demonstrated unmet demand. The project is primarily about vertical integration, not community need.
Request: Independent alternatives and supply analysis comparing existing quarries’ capacity; refusal if no overriding demand is proven.
________________________________________
G. Cumulative and cross-border impacts
• The district already hosts quarries; adding another compounds dust, traffic, noise and amenity loss.
• The ACT population directly downwind will bear impacts but has no planning consent authority.
• The Palerang DCP requires cumulative impacts to be considered when assessing large proposals.
Request: Comprehensive cumulative impact assessment across ACT and NSW quarries and haul routes; IPC hearing with ACT Government input.
________________________________________
3) LEP / DCP non-compliance summary
• QPRLEP 2022:
o C2 / C3 objectives conflict with quarrying.
o cl.7.14 Scenic Protection, cl.7.16 Cooma Road Quarry buffer, and cl.7.18 Arterial Roads are not satisfied.
• Palerang DCP 2015 (amended 2022):
o Part B General Provisions (biodiversity, roads/parking, stormwater, erosion, landscaping, waste) not met.
o Variations inconsistent with LEP aims are not permitted.
________________________________________
4) Relief sought
1. Refuse SSD-27223807 due to non-compliance with LEP/DCP and lack of strategic justification.
2. Alternatively, refer to the IPC for full public hearings.
3. If approved despite objections, impose strict conditions: truck caps, RCS monitoring, threatened species protection, rehab bonds, independent audits.
________________________________________
5) Closing
This proposal is inconsistent with the local planning framework, unnecessary given two existing quarries, and imposes unacceptable cumulative impacts on a densely settled cross-border community. I respectfully request refusal.

I object categorically to this project. My reasoning is in the attachment.

We chose to purchase in a rural residential area in 2009 where we could have nature, silence, watch our children develop and grow organic vegetables and cattle. I have reviewed the project information; I disagree with the quarry and have several concerns with their EIS.

Need? Monaro Rock has not proved there is a need for an additional quarry. The Monaro Rock EIS asserts that the existing quarries in the greater ACT area can only meet supply for 13 years yet it later states that the ‘quantity of reserve rock held by operating quarries are not published and generally treated as confidential.’ Without independently verified evidence that the quarry is required, within a specific timeline, for a need in NSW, it should not be considered.

Traffic. The figures of 2021 are not valid and provide a distorted view of the volume of traffic using Old Cooma Road and then turning onto Monaro Highway. The traffic data was collected in 2021 when Googong township was only part way through its growth. Since 2021 there has been considerable growth in Googong, Mt Burra and Mt Campbell and a marked increase in the number of vehicles using Old Cooma Road. I can attest to the increased traffic as it takes several minutes to wait for a gap in the traffic to safely leave my driveway at 0815 each morning.

The following excerpts from public websites indicate the scale and growth of the Googong area:
‘The masterplan for the [Googong] township is well underway and includes give connected neighbourhoods set to host around 18,000 people in 6,500 homes over the next 15 years. Work on the second neighbourhood, Googong Central, begain in 2018 with infrastructure to support the growing region and 1,800 homes for 4,500 residents. Googong North is already home to more than 2,500 people.’ (Invest in Googong near Queenbeyan, a new community | DPN)
‘In addition to the hotel milestone, a site has now been settled for the Town Centre’s main retail centre with Coles Group Property Developments. The retail centre will feature a Coles supermarket and more than 20 specialty stores. Once complete, the Town Centre will also include a medical centre, gym, library, community centre, petrol station, childcare, and more, creating a one stop destination for both residents and visitors. These significant advancements come as Googong, which celebrated its 10th anniversary over the last year, continues to expand. The township is now home to over 8,000 people with over 18,000 at expected at completion.’ (GOOGONG HOTEL COMMENCES CONSTRUCTION)

Quarry heavy vehicles exit directly onto Monaro Highway. Allowing the quarry traffic to exit directly onto the Monaro Highway will relieve pressure on Old Cooma Road. However, I foresee that the NSW Government will approve the quarry, but the ACT Government will not approve direct access to the Monaro Highway. Monaro Rock will then send 25 truck and trailers per day on Old Cooma Road at 100km/hr from 0600-1700 six days a week. As the houses along Old Cooma Road have driveways which exit directly onto Old Cooma Road, the increased risk of vehicle accident will be very high as the heavy quarry vehicles will not be able to stop quickly as residential cars emerge from their hidden driveways. The children need to cross Old Cooma Road to catch the bus to and from school, and increased traffic, particularly heavy vehicle traffic poses a risk to the children’s safety. Direct access onto the Monaro Highway for quarry traffic must be a mandatory requirement of any approval of the quarry.

Noise / Blasting/ Vibration. The proposed quarry will decimate the silence of our rural lifestyle with explosions. I live within two kilometers of the proposed quarry and the dynamite blasting in the quarry will be triggering for my husband and I who have completed multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan where we endured rockets and explosions. We were very conscious of the requirement to reside in a quiet neighbourhood when we bought out house in 2009. We considered the impact of the two rock quarries in Williamsdale and Queanbeyan, looked at prevailing winds, hills and valleys before deciding to purchase. The Monaro Rock EIS acknowledges that noise cannot be mitigated for those of us who live closest to the proposed quarry.

Bird life. This noise, blast and vibration will disrupt the native birds who live in Royalla or seasonally move through the area. We have cultivated tree shelter belts on our acreage and a garden free from fox and cats to allow the birds a sanctuary. Monaro Rock will destroy this.

Dust / Rain water / Tank water. The Monaro Rock EIS acknowledges that the impact of dust cannot be mitigated for those of us who live closest to the proposed quarry. The Monaro Rock EIS states that ‘changes to the conditions necessary for a clean, reliable water supply may disproportionately affect their lifestyle.’ Monaro Rock is referring to the dust that they will generate, which will land on our roofs and sheds and then collect in our rainwater tanks. It is not a ‘lifestyle’ to collect rainwater to drink, it is function of living in a residential area that has not been supported with town water or town sewage. My family and our animals drink this water, and it will be a considerable and unreasonable expense to buy water from somewhere else in NSW and have it driven to our house. Clothes will not be able to be hung in the fresh air, rather will need to be dried inside using a dryer. Will our vegetables be safe to eat and what of the impact on the grass which our cattle eat? It is unreasonable to minimise and dismiss this significant impact on our lives and our wallets.

The Monaro Rock Social Impact EIS identified that Royalla has a strong community spirit based on our quiet, rural, environmentally friendly existence. The Monaro Rock EIS has not proven there is a requirement to build the quarry, they have not mitigated the dust and noise pollution, and they will increase heavy traffic in the area. The noise and disruption from the Monaro Rock quarry will destroy our piece of heaven and we deserve better treatment. The quarry should not be approved.

The project will harm significant wildlife and protected species in the area. It will also cause significant disruption to nature and the local community in that area. I would not like to see a short term quarry built there that will affect centuries old flora and fauna including the protected legless lizard.

As a resident living close to this project in Gordon ACT, I am concerned local residents will be exposed up health risks caused by air born silica. The estimated average of 95 trucks per day with entry via the Monaro Highway is also concerning, on an already congested and dangerous road. This project is too close to residential areas and will cause financial loss to Royalla Home owners.

I am writing in strong support of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry development.

This project represents a significant opportunity for our region, both economically and socially. By establishing a local source of high-quality rock, our Canberra community and surrounding areas will no longer need to rely so heavily on material being transported from interstate. This not only ensures greater security of supply but also reduces transport costs and the environmental impacts associated with long-distance haulage.

The quarry will directly create multiple new jobs and provide flow-on benefits through local businesses that support the project. Both companies behind this proposal have a proven track record of employing local people and contributing to our community. Their ongoing success translates directly into stronger employment outcomes, economic stability, and greater opportunities for families across Queanbeyan–Palerang and the wider ACT region.

In addition, having such a modern and well-managed plant within our council area will position Queanbeyan–Palerang as a leader in sustainable resource development. This project will strengthen our local economy, enhance regional self-sufficiency, and provide lasting benefits for years to come.

For these reasons, I fully support the approval and development of the Monaro Rock Quarry

After being in the construction industry for over 20 years and learning about silica dust and its harm to people it’s a silly idea,
There already 2 quarries in approximately a 5 kilometre radius, to me it’s all about money at everyone else’s cost. The community should not be exposed to a third quarry and its environmental impacts within such a small area

I wish to Object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project application number SSD-27223807.
The objection is based on the following:
1. 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 a health hazard especially on windy days it’s too close to the B23 Monaro highway.
2. Williamsdale quarry is only a few Kilometres from where I live and the dust level is greater than they estimated in their application this is demonstrated by the dust levels found on outdoor furniture etc. especially when it rains, with two sites this will increase and there are no checks, post approval to monitor.
3. Royalla Solar Farm is also too close to the quarry; the dust level will reduce the panels performance over the 30 years.
4. Stock piles of stone will be visible as they are at the Williamsdale quarry where quarried material has been deposited above the hillside and is increasing every year.
5. If successful it will be another eyesore spoiling another area of Fauna and Flora while a few reap the benefits the many lose out through health, house and land depreciation.
6. The operating hours 06.00 Hrs to 18.00 Hrs will increase the already high level of animal mortality let alone the increased noise and light pollution from headlamps during Winter.

I am writing to oppose the proposed Royalla quarry.

As a resident of Theodore, my residence is less than 5km away from the proposed site. I am concerned about air quality issues arising from the quarry for all residents in adjacent valleys to the quarry, as well as the likelihood of run-off entering Tuggeranong creek. Substantial remediation work is underway in downstream catchments of Tuggeranong creek which will be undermined by the introduction of sediments, particulates and other contaminants from this proposed quarry.

The increased traffic on the Monaro Highway is also an issue for residents of Eastern Tuggeranong given its use as a major connection to other areas of the city, and from the noise to residents in Chisholm, Richardson, Calwell, and Theodore as well as residents of South Jerrabomberra and Royalla.

Refer Attached

I am writing to you to express my concerns about the proposal to develop a further rock quarry in the immediate vicinity of our property in the Royalla Station Country Estate.

We already have 2 quarries in close proximity to our homes, and 1 a bit further removed between Nimmitabel and Cooma. I question the need for this quarry. These quarries are not operating at full capacity, so there is no excess demand and there is capability to achieve further economies of scale.

I am concerned for my health, and for that of my partner and neighbours. Operation of a quarry produces dust which can cause cancers. This is very well known. It can also affect air quality.

I am concerned for the beautiful environment we have out here; the impact on flora and fauna. I understand that we have both on the critically endangered list.

I am concerned about the effect of quarry operations on ground water/water table. Quarrying uses a significant of water. The water table here has dropped significantly over the recent years.

i am concerned about the increased traffic movements as trucks enter and leave the quarry. My understanding is that there will be up to 200/250 movements a day. The amount of road kill out here is already horrendous.

I am concerned about noise pollution from blasting and other quarry activities.

I am concerned that land which has been zoned for a specific purpose can easily be re-zoned for other purposes if money is to be made or vested interests considered.. I would have thought that declaring something as critically endangered would be enough in itself to prevent any destruction of the environment!

I am concerned that management/owners can make unsubstantiated claims to argue their case. For example, 'there are no significant concerns of nearby residents which need addressing'. 'And the quarry will significantly reduce the cost of construction for housing an other projects]. ] And that 30 new jobs will be created' (will they be local people?)

I am concerned about the integrity of the proposal when it is claimed that the local community has been consulted. There are 500 homes in Royalla. Some 126 leaflets were distributed here. How they were chosen is unknown. But areas impacted by the quarry, using a 10 k radius, extend from North Fyshwick in the North to Carwoola in the East to Calwell/Condor in the West and to The Angle and Williamsdale in the South. It is unknown whether any of these areas were consulted.

I am concerned that the venture will not adhere to all the rules/regulations and requirements that they will have to follow to operate.

I am concerned about the fairness of this whole process. The quarry proponents have had significant time and professional resources to put together their proposal. We have 28 days to respond to lengthy and complex documents for which most of us would be unskilled to fully understand and contribute the required amount of time and dilgence.

y And lastly I am concerned because I feel like Im being treated with contempt in respect to how my opinions are sought, heard and dealt with. It feels like the attitude is "We'll just build a quarry. Doesnt matter that it is near houses. They might complain but we have resources to fight them. And we know the processes to be followed and any 'noise' will soon pass. They'll give up."

I retired out here. Its beautiful. I love it. Why can someone come and destroy it? If we need the hard rocks so desperately, go find it somewhere removed from residential areas.


Thank you.
john hyland

I have concern that there is inadequate data in informing two areas of the EIS submission.

1. Air Quality Monitoring.
This is the primary concern by residents by my reading, and upon reviewing the submission I note the lack of wind monitoring and modelling on the site itself. The close proximity of the site to receptors (housing) at less than 2km, along with proposed dust generating activities of blasting, crushing and handling of siliceous lithologies is, in my opinion, a high risk situation that should have monitoring and modelling at the point of the proposed dust generation. Monitoring is currently informed from stations several kms away, where topography is likely to have local impacts on wind dispersal.

2. Vibration and structural damage to housing.
I did not locate any studies on the potential vibration caused by drill and blast activities in the submission. The submission discussed flyrock only. Reviewing the geological map within the hydrogeological studies, it appears that the quarry is wholly contained within a hard rock volcanic unit that extends to the receptors (houses). In addition there are indications of east-west fault lines that could channel vibrations through hard rock caused by blasting towards these receptors. I recommend that the submission address this risk. Housing may not be designed to mitigate vibrations from blasting, leading to cracking in structures and potential damage to utilities such as gas lines, if the vibrations have not been assessed and may impact these areas.

As a local resident I have a number of concerns about this project.

1) The need? There are multiple quarries around the area that are operating well below capacity.
2) The Roads. The roads are already strained, particularly the Monaro Highway at the Calwell Roundabout with 'Snow Traffic' and it could not cope with the increased volume of trucks. The roads already in bad repair will be further impacted by the trucks weight and wider turning circles. Old Cooma Rd is also very busy and dangerous. As a member of the local Rural Fire Service Brigade I have attended a lot of car accidents caused through impatient drivers speeding around slow agricultural traffic and colliding with local fauna.
3) Ground Water. I am a young farmer (32) trying to make my way in the agriculture industry that is becoming increasingly challenging to make a living. With residential development impacting water run-off and an increase in consumption coupled with periodic climate fluctuations impacting the volume of ground water available there is a real risk that even if the quarry don’t use the ground water for dust control and excavation the water quality could be effect with their practices. The Googong Dam is a water supply that is already impacted by the other quarries in the area, another quarry without an economic need is senseless.
4) Air Quality. It is widely known that the air quality in the area is already impacted significantly in winter due to the ACT wood heating practices. Silica dust will contribute to this poor air quality. The dust will also effect the cleanliness of local private and commercial solar farms in the area.
5) Blasting. As a veteran of the Iraq campaign who has diagnosed PTSD as a result of being rocketed, I moved to the country for the serenity to assist in my recovery. I moved South of Canberra to avoid the Majura Training Area where explosions often occur on the High Explosive Range and I can still hear them from Royalla. Blasting from the Monaro Rock Quarry will be much larger and closer which will be obviously be louder and have a greater impact on my life. I know there are a lot of local residents that have served or are still currently serving that this blasting would impact.
6) Community benefit. There seems to be a lot of cons to this project for the community but not a lot of benefit. I don't understand why this project is even being consider for the benefit so few. Why don't we revisit the proposal when one of the other existing quarries closes or is running at capacity.

I moved to this area to live a quiet life which would provide my family and my pets a rural lifestyle away from.the noise and pollution of a suburban environment.
The proposed monaro rock quarry is going to take this away from me and my family.
We will be exposed to silica dust particles noise from blasts and concrete and asphalt plants also the added road danger and damage from.a large number of trucks traveling on roads not built to carry such a large volume of traffic.
The value of the property I have worked hard to purchase and maintain as a single parent will be lost, This was to be a legacy for my children
The environmental impact on local flora and fauna also needs to be considered
in the decision-making.
There are already 2 other quarry 's in the area which are not at capacity so why introduce a third one.
Please take all these concerns into consideration when making decision to allow The Monaro rock quarry to go ahead

I am appalled this project has even reached this stage. The detriment to the surrounding communities is fully disregarded by people looking to cash in.