Monaro Rock Quarry Project

I am a current student aged 14 I live less than 5 kilometre away from where they would like to build the quarry.i strongly believe the quarry should not be built for many reasons but because there are so many I am only going to give a few. The first reason is because it could cause harm to not only my family but people living in near it. The quarry will cause a huge amount of dust,noise and traffic they are just a couple of this that could impact everyone. The dust will blow everywhere even into Googong potentially causing harm to students at my school and googong public school some kids have serious asthma and having dust blow around while playing outside during break could be life threatening because it could cause asthma attacks .The noise will have a massive impact on humans and animals as it will scare animals away causing animals to relocate further away and it can also cause damage to our ears not only that.The main reasons people move away from towns and cities IS BECAUSE OF THE NOISE putting a quarrying right next to where lots of people live is defeating the whole purpose of country lifestyle.Not only with all of that impact us but the traffic will impact many people not only people in Googong but people that don’t live in this area.old cooma road is a extremely busy road putting trucks on it will create longer drive time for people to get from Googong,Queanbeyan,Jerrabomberra to Canberra this will impact many and potentially even emergency services that use that road to get to place quickly.The quarry will impact the glossy black cockatoo’s that are engaged they are a key part of Canberra and Googong area and them leaving will destroy the eco system and the environment.Not only will the dust impacts us it will impact the planes flying over the dust could block there vision and ruin the view for passengers looking over the wonderful country land.The quarry will cause serious problems. we have survived so long without ruining our wonderful environment why ruin it now.If we want to keep people happy safe and healthy I strongly believe the quarry shouldn’t go there. Not only this but there is suspicion people that own Monaro mix sold one of there houses in Royalla because it’s close to where they want to build the quarry showing that they have no empathy for other and only care about themselves. im a 14 year old whoever makes this decision should know that they are not only making it for everyone now they are making this decision for the future generation (me ) I hope you know that we are not going down with a easy fight.

To Whom It May Concern,
I write to express my strong opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry development that is proposed to be located in Royalla NSW. I am a resident of Royalla and chose to live in this quite semi-rural development to improve the health and wellbeing of my family.
I believe this proposal is not based on community need or further requirement for materials, but rather on corporate greed, this proposal presents a wide range of unacceptable environmental, health, and safety risks that will impact my family, my community, and future generations.

Health Concerns: Silica Dust Exposure
One of my most serious concerns is the risk of silica dust exposure. The health impacts of airborne crystalline silica are well-documented, including the potential to cause silicosis, lung cancer, and other serious respiratory conditions. The proximity of this quarry to the residents of Royalla makes it entirely unacceptable to expose thousands of people, including children and vulnerable populations, to these risks. I will not stand by while my family’s long-term health is jeopardized. The residents of Royalla are unable to access any form of town water and rely solely on water tanks, our water tanks are filled from our roof line - under this new Quarry Proposal our roof lines will be covered in Silica Dust.

Irreversible Environmental Damage
The quarry plans to clear 22 hectares of critically endangered box-gum grassy woodland, and 78 hectares of vegetation in total. This is habitat for over 300 species of flora and fauna, which may not survive such destruction. The community is facing a climate and biodiversity crisis, and proposals like this only accelerate the loss of the natural environment we depend on. Once this ecosystem is destroyed, it cannot be replaced.

Unsustainable Traffic and Safety Risks
The proposal includes up to 500 fully laden trucks per day entering and exiting the site via the Monaro Highway and Old Cooma Road. These roads are already heavily trafficked by locals, tourists, and snow-bound traffic as well as logging trucks and movement from the Williamsdale Quarry. Introducing slow-moving quarry trucks will not only increase commute times for residents like my family, but significantly raise the risk of serious accidents. I am particularly worried about the danger to my family, who travel these roads daily. Adding industrial traffic to roads already under pressure is a recipe for disaster.

Water Extraction and Contamination
The quarry intends to use groundwater, raising serious concerns about lowering water table levels and affecting nearby residential bores. Many households in this region rely on groundwater for everyday use, and the potential for wells to run dry due to industrial use is not acceptable.

In addition, wastewater from the quarry will discharge into Tuggeranong Creek, which flows directly through Tuggeranong suburbs and into Lake Tuggeranong. This poses a clear risk of water pollution, threatening aquatic life and recreational water quality for thousands of residents.

Population Impact and Proximity to Residential Areas
The proposed quarry site is alarmingly close to residential areas not only Royalla residents but the Tuggeranong Valley. Approximately 49,000 people live within 10 kilometres of the site around the greater Royalla area, with projections indicating this number will grow to 69,000 within the next decade. A development of this scale, so close to a growing population, is completely inappropriate and short-sighted. It places industrial operations right on the doorstep of families, schools, and communities.

In summary, this project is inconsistent with the principles of sustainable development and community well-being. It prioritizes short-term profit over long-term health, safety, and environmental protection. I urge the decision-makers to reject the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal in the strongest possible terms.

Thankyou
Toni Shoard

We moved to Royalla for the country living and fresh air. There is already a quarry in Williamsdale which is expanding without community consultation. This quarry is already directly affecting Royalla residents and the expansion of this needs to be reviewed and consulted on. It is an eyesore- now directly in view of properties in Royalla. Another quarry will increase heavy vehicle traffic, live stock and dust. It is not an appropriate location in the Royalla community. A industrial estate would surely be more appropriate.

Please see the attached letter.

To whom it may concern
I, and my family, are members of the Royalla community and have lived there for over 25 years. During that time we have establish a home, grown a family and contributed to both Australia through service and to our local community. We oppose the proposed hard rock quarry at Enchanted Hill near Royalla. In addressing this need for this quarry let us make this quite clear; this is about making money! Not an altruistic venture to save NSW by providing hard rock products into NSW for expanding developments. For the few individuals whom speculated, brought protected land and proposed quarry, it means wealth; for the communities that live in the surrounding areas it means increased ecological damage, long term health issues, noise complaints and reduced resale house prices.
This submission outline our opposition to the proposed development of the following basis:
Environmental Issues and Protection Measures
Noise/blast impact at nearby residences (both in ACT and in NSW).
Visual impacts from external viewpoints.
Impact of the quarry's operation on local ground water supplies.
Erosion and sedimentation impacts on Dunns / Tuggeranong Creek during flow periods.
Air quality impacts to surrounding residents.
Impacts on flora and fauna habitats.
Impacts on archaeology and heritage.
Impact of heavy vehicle traffic.
Socio-economic impacts.
None of the environmental protection measures proposed into the future quarry development plans or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) meet, or exceed, community expectations or really legislative requirements, and often override pre existing Federal and State legislative mandates applied to the land in question. I note that while the initial 2023 submission only covered a quarry, the latest submission discusses concrete batching plant and asphalt manufacturing plant, these additions greatly increase the scope, complexity and likelihood of issues with the surrounding community.
Our opposition to this quarry is based on issues that will affect our family; these are discussed in detail below.
Noise and Blasting
Noise from loaded truck movements along the Quarry entry road onto the Monaro Highway will be considerable noting the frequency detailed in the submitted EIS . This document notes that movements will be, on average 8 truck movements per day (4 return truck movements) initially; however other areas of the Development Application indicate the intent to raise this to over 500 movement per week with an average of 93 truckloads per day ( or on load every 4 minutes approx). This level of traffic will introduce high levels of noise into the local environment.
The location of the quarry site in relation to the nearest residences, (1.2 km from the quarry), and frequent blasting as identified within the proposal EIS (min twice weekly initially (Humphreys, 2025) see table 1), did not provide for either a noise assessment from this blasting nor a vibration (via underground rock formations) impact to nearby residents. Our experience with the Williamsdale Quarry is the hills surrounding Royalla are interconnected and thus noise and vibrations are clearly transmitted this rock layer. Every blast will be experienced by residences in and around the Quarry.
Traffic
As identified in the noise section, truck movements between the quarry site and the Monaro Highway are planned to commence at 8 per day increasing to 500 per week once the quarry is fully established. This figure however was only for the hard rock quarry, not for the expanded concrete and asphalt batching plants that have now crept into proposal. Additionally the proposed road junction is nearing the peak of a hill that has seen more than its fair share of traffic accidents. With truck accidents in high fog conditions occurring at least 5 times since 2018 with nine fatalities in the local area during high traffic periods. The downhill section of this road is considered a Black Spot by Transport NSW.
The Monaro Highway is used by local, commercial and holiday traffic in high numbers, especially during the ski season. The addition of slow moving, heavily loaded vehicles, in a known accident zone defies belief. This will greatly increase the possibility of accidents while trucks are leaving the site and entering the highway. The ingress and egress of heavy vehicles in the proposed volumes will place additional risk to myself and my family every time we use that stretch of road.
Visual
The proposed quarry is to be situated approx. 2.2 km from Theodore (ACT) and 1.2km from properties in Royalla (NSW) in hilly undulating terrain with intervening grasslands and vegetation patches. While the quarry itself may be obscured (yet to be advised or determined), the quarry access road will be visible from the highway itself for some length. The submitted EIS indicates that the access road will be gravel and sided by colour bond fencing. The proposed level of vehicle movements cannot but generate large volumes dust, and the provision of fencing will not limit visual impacts of both the fencing and dust saturation to the surrounding vegetation.
Extensive dust mitigation to occur to prevent large dust plumes, especially during summer. The nearest residents will be subject to dust plumes and dust blowing into their environment during dry periods from the proposed traffic movements. Dust movement calculations are estimated at 17.5km, this means all communities will be drastically effected by this issue.
Water Management and Erosion Control
The area of the proposed quarry is hilly and feeds into Rocky Creek and Tuggeranong Creek. Measures to reduce the potential for soil erosion include minimising the area to be disturbed at any one time and maintaining an effective water management system and sediment control dams are critical to stop pollution along Rocky Creek and into the ACT. While rainfall charts of the area show relatively low water volumes this is not necessarily the case, with infrequent water flows of up to 60mm over short periods of time. Due to the hilly nature of the proposed location, it is likley that these events that will overcome proposed mitigations and cause major issues downstream for the ACT.
The proposed ground water usage will also have a major impact of surrounding properties due to the commercial usage of below ground water. Local resident are capped at 750K litres of water usage per annum, the Quarry proposes water usage of approx. 24M litres. This level of usage will lower the water table on surrounding properties and may impact the entire Royalla valley. I also note that during the 2017 – 2020 drought that many bores and dams dried up completely with server impact on local fauna and flora and land owners.
Flora, Fauna and Archaeology
Royalla and its surrounds contains Endangered Ecological Communities (Bushfire & Environmental Services, 2008) which are covered by protected listings at the State and Federal levels. This proposal included over riding these protections and further degrades and fragments these communities. This is intolerable in this day and age and we should protect our biodiversity when possible; this is one of times.
Air Quality
Dust and fumes will be generated by the proposed activities on the Quarry site from quarrying activities such as blasting, processing and transport activities. These dust plumes, micro solids and fumes can and will travel large distances despite the proposed mitigations. The recent banning of engineered solid and composite rock table tops, and identified link to Silica exposure issues cannot be disputed. The long term risk of exposure to these products must be considered and given the possible number of people that could be exposed (up to 49,000 ACT & NSW) the liability in the event of this occurring must also be considered. For myself and my family I consider this risk too great and the only sensible option is to deny approval in this location and shift it to one out of the densely populated area, not slab bang in the middle of one.
Project Justification
While perhaps not a key point the justification to allow this to be on economic, social and environmental grounds I question the need for this to be a State Significant Development (and thus bypass local Council controls and regulations). From a socio-economic perspective the operation will not be a new, rather it will be supplemented through the displacement of the current team in Canberra with the extant workforce already existing, this is applicable for both on site staff and transportation drivers.
The argument that insufficient resources exist locally also needs to be questioned. The figures used to determine the need for a new quarry were based on the exit year of Covid lockdown (i.e. not a normal period) and subject to an artificial usage rate. A review of two of the local quarries annual reports shows that one was running at 40% of capacity and the other below this figure. Both reported in excess of 15 years of operation left at higher levels of operation. These reports inform that there is no lack of capacity in the current approved quarries.
Lastly, the perceived benefits to NSW are also in question; while there may well be some jobs created in NSW this is at a loss in ACT. As there is no large scale, construction projects planned for the Queanbeyan Palerang Council area one can only surmise that the rock, concrete and asphalt product produced by this quarry would be used in the ACT minimising any benefit to NSW.
From any environmental perspective, the operation could well destroy critical flora and in the event of issues at the site invite ecological issues into ACT via Tuggeranong Creek with flow-on into the Murrumbidgee River and possibly the Burrinjuck Dam.
Conclusion. I strongly oppose this development.
References:
1. (Bushfire & Environmental Services, 2008)
2. Humphreys, M. (2025). Fromble Corp Pty Ltd. Flyrock Assessment, Bardon Qld.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing in my capacity as a local member for Brindabella in the Australian Capital Territory on behalf of concerned constituents to provide comment on the proposal by Monaro Rock to build a quarry near Royalla, New South Wales.
I have received numerous representations from residents in South Tuggeranong and surrounding rural areas to the south of Canberra, who strongly oppose the establishment of a quarry as outlined in Monaro Rock’s Environmental Impact Statement.
While I have directed concerned constituents to make submissions through the NSW Government Planning Portal, the proximity of the proposed site, under three kilometres from residences in my electorate, and the likelihood that any access road would require use of ACT land, means the impact falls directly on Brindabella residents. I therefore wish to formally record the concerns my community has raised with me.

Air Quality
There is community concern about the long-term health impacts the quarry’s establishment could have on the residents of Tuggeranong, particularly around Theodore, Calwell, Isabella Plains, and the suburbs of the Lanyon Valley, primarily regarding the potential of human exposure to airborne silica dust, and the emission if benzene from the proposed asphalt plant on site. There is growing scientific evidence that the inhalation of silica dust can result in severe illnesses and disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, kidney disease, and possibly auto-immune diseases. There is also evidence that benzene causes bone marrow failure and leukemia. Many of these diseases often can have a long latency, which means that symptoms and effects can take years to present.
These long-term effects are particularly concerning when considering the location of the proposed quarry. Any silica dust produced by the site could be compounded by the topography of the land between the proposed site and the residential areas of Tuggeranong. The mountain wind gap and Venturi effect because of the location Enchanted Hill, Tuggeranong Hill, and the Rob Roy Nature Reserve between the quarry and residents could cause exposure by silica dust to nearby residents.

Water Security
The proposed site as published in the EIS will discharge water into Tuggeranong Creek. Any heavy sediment from quarry operations that is discharged into the water would flow into Lake Tuggeranong, and eventually the Murrumbidgee River. When it rains, silica dust that has landed on the surrounding hills could turn into run off into Tuggeranong Creek and other water ways.
The Murrumbidgee River system already contends with declining rates of rainfall, lower moisture levels for local soil, and increased drought stress that has placed considerable pressure on the local environment. The Tuggeranong Creek has undergone re-naturalisation work in some sections over recent years in an effort to improve the water quality flowing into the Lake and River and increased sediment in the Creek will have an impact on the work that has already been done. These water ways are habitat for the Murray Cod, which is listed as vulnerable, the Trout Cod, which is listed as an endangered and totally protected species, and the Macquarie Perch, which is also an endangered and totally protected species.

Road Safety
Constituents have expressed worry to me about the significant safety risk the quarry could pose on ACT, and nearby NSW, motorists using the Monaro Highway corridor and surrounding roads. I understand that the current proposal will facilitate up to 200 additional truck journeys daily on the Monaro Highway, adding more congestion to an already busy arterial road.
This issue would be exacerbated by the extra stress placed on the Highway’s traffic during snow season, in which thousands of people travel south of Canberra on the Monaro Highway to the ski fields, which will take them past the proposed site and proposed intersection. The addition of high-volume quarry trucks has the potential to increase traffic incidents and pose further travel delays to residents who rely on the road daily as an arterial route.

Other concerns
In addition to the main concerns listed above, I have received further objections about the impact on local flora and fauna, bushfire risks to the project, the lack of true community benefit from the project, and any noise issues originating from the quarry’s proximity to residences and schools.

I trust that this information will be of use to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in the coming review.

Kind regards,
Caitlin Tough MLA
24 September 2025

As a Tuggeranong resident, I object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project due to its proximity to residential areas and the following concerns:
1. Noise pollution will disrupt daily life, learning or work environments.
2. An estimated 200 truck trips per day will increase congestion, heighten road safety risks, and strain local infrastructure.
3. Silica dust from quarry operations poses health risks to nearby homes, schools, and recreational areas.
4. Quarries have documented environmental impacts and locating one upstream from established communities presents substantial risks to the existing residents of Tuggeranong and the environment.

Hi

I have lived in this area over 20 years raising my children and am now helping raise my grandchildren. We are a multi-generational home and love our life in Royalla. We live 3.5km from Williamsdale Quarry and will be 7.5km from the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry. When the project was first brought to our attention it was for quarrying and processing of hard rock to meet the growing needs of the local construction industry in the Greater Capital region. I was dismayed to find that the project has been expanded to include importing of virgin material, recycling concrete waste material, a concrete batching plant and operation of an asphalt plant. This is a far bigger development than first proposed.
Our predominate winds are north westerlies which will direct the dust from the new quarry our way. I am very worried for the health implication from particulate matter and silica dust. Everything indicates that there is no safe level of silica dust exposure. While procedures can be put in place to mitigate the localised dust generated, it is what happens over an extended period at a short distance from the site, that I consider is impossible to manage. With all the best intentions and practices in place, I believe the developers and operators of this project will not be able to stop the dust from reaching us, leaving us exposed to future chronic and potentially life-threatening health conditions.
Electricity and water are another concern for me. Our domestic and drinking water is from our tanks. Everything used within our home is collected from our roof and stored in tanks. The potential increase in dust on our roof will cause the problems of sediment build up in the water tanks even with the use of first flush diverters (due to the small particle size). We use a bore to water our pet alpacas and for any water usage outside. In our time here we have seen the static bore level drop considerably. The high use of bore water in the operation of the proposed activities will further reduce the water level possible leading to bores drying up especially in summer. We have a grid connected solar system and the dust will reduce the amount of power we currently capture. The stability of our power supply is another concern. The high demand on the power supply from the operation of the proposed quarry will result in instabilities in the power supply causing damage to electrical equipment and pumps used in our homes.
The traffic arrangements is also a concern. I do a school run into Queanbeyan twice a day and have experienced a truck and dog cutting across in front of me at the intersect of Old Cooma Rd and Quarry Rd. This intersection and traffic arrangement is like that proposed for the access off Monaro Highway. The increase in the number of trucks travelling that section of the highway will potentially put other road users at an increased risk of being in an accident. I dread travelling into Canberra or Queanbeyan. Old Cooma Rd is not suited to large number of heavy vehicle movements and Monaro Highway will be an accident waiting to happen if this proposal is approved.
The clearing of the critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland at the site and the need to move Indigenous artifacts as part of the development are also concerning. I was surprised to realise that much needed alignment road works of parts of Old Cooma Rd could not be done due to the presence of endangered trees, but the proposed development of the quarry could clear 22.44 hectares of the endangered Box-Gum Woodland after the proposed purchase of offset credits. We all need to do our part in preserving our flora and fauna and historical artifacts for our future generations.
Lastly, I implore you to stop this project for the protection of the large number communities that live next and near this proposed industrial development in both NSW and ACT. There are too many people whose physical and mental wellbeing will be negatively affected and quality of lifestyle considerably reduced.
Thank you for your consideration.

I object to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project.
I consider that it is too close to residents in my local area and my own home at Little Burra in Googong.
The issues that I have with the quarry project being so close to my home, small acreage with horses, pets and of course my family are provided below.

1. Most significantly I believe that the Quarry management procedures proposed cannot safeguard escape of silica dust and other particles that will significantly and seriously damage my own health, my family health and my horses.
The site is on high ground in an area that is known for strong winds with unpredictable wind direction. It was the case during the bush fires of the Orroral Valley and Beard that the particles contained within adversely impacted me directly with difficulty breathing. Silica dust may be present in lower concentrations, but is known to be extremely toxic, carcinogenic to humans and other animals. I find it difficult to comprehend that anyone would propose a development that will certainly release these particles into the air so close to human population, when we now know how dangerous this event is likely to be.
2. I am very concerned about the location also for the quarry with respect to the volume of traffic predicted on the route proposed. The Monaro highway is already an extremely dangerous road and I have witnessed first hand accidents happening, particularly caused by the bends in that road and overtaking cars with obscured views. The increase in heavy trucks, potentially travelling at much reduced speeds until they accelerate to the road limits is very likely to increase the risk of serious accidents occurring unless the road is fully dualled both down the hill and up the hill. Additionally, a very lengthy slip road will be required , with underpass/overpass for the lorries to join to prevent inevitable serious accidents. In addition, there will need to be continuous maintenance of the road surface which already causes significant risk to road users due to frequently occurring large potholes.
3. I am a resident of a C4 Environmental Living zone and I am very concerned to the damage to the environment and water table that will result from the quarry. The quarry location is proposed in an area that is prohibited for any development of any type. Hence, the quarry management have made a submission under suggested National significance. However, there seems to be no accurate information to support this initiative as being of national significance.
There are already three other quarries in the region and none of these are operating at full capacity. It is believed to be not correct that there will be a forecast deficit able to be produced from the existing quarries to serve the region. This information supplied requires independent validation in consultation with the other quarries.
In addition, as there is not the need for the additional capacity in the region it is not going to generate substantial new jobs, as it will just compete for resources from the other quarries in the area.

In summary, I believe that this is a proposal based on profits desired by the company and its investors at completely indefensible danger to a wide number of residents of both Canberra in the Tuggeranong area, and regional Canberra/NSW.

Dear NSW Planning Authority,

I wish to lodge my objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project (SSD-27223807).

This quarry will have significant negative impacts on the local community and the broader region. The health, environmental, and economic consequences of the project far outweigh the limited benefits. In particular:

Health impacts: Increased dust, noise, and traffic from quarry operations will pose long-term health risks to residents, especially in a growing community.

Environmental impacts: The quarry threatens to degrade the natural landscape, damage local ecosystems, and contribute to ongoing environmental pressures in the region.

Economic impacts: The projected benefit of approximately 30 jobs is minimal compared to the potential decline in property values, amenity, and the attractiveness of the area for sustainable economic activity such as tourism and agriculture.

The application also fails to properly account for the growing size of the community and relies on poor assessment assumptions that understate the true scale of the impact.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project and urge the NSW Government to reject this development application in the interests of protecting the health, environment, and long-term prosperity of the region

I live on Conder, right beside the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve (https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park/tuggeranong-hill-nature-reserve) with my husband and my daughter who is aged 1 year 8 months old. My husband and I moved into this house which backs onto the Reserve in 2022. I had not been made aware of any community consultation on this project until a friend of mine posted about this on Facebook yesterday.

I note that this project is proposed for New South Wales, and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared on that basis, however the EIS completely fails to take into account the impact on residents of Conder, Theodore and Banks in the ACT, as well as the impact on biodiversity in the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve which is only separated from the proposed project site by the Monaro Highway. Despite being less than 2km away, the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve is not even mentioned in the EIS at all. While the EIS has apparently been limited by the ACT/NSW border, I note that birds and wildlife are not constrained by such arbitrary lines.

I am deeply concerned by the EIS' finding that "there are likely to be significant impacts to Commonwealth-listed Box-Gum Woodland and to Gang-gang Cockatoo foraging habitat, Key's Matchstick Grasshopper habitat, and Small Purple-pea habitat."

The Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve is also critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland, and in addition to the species mentioned in the EIS, is also home to a large area of Drooping She-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) open forest (including old-growth patches), a food source for the vulnerable Glossy Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami).

My family spend a lot of time recreationally on Tuggeranong Hill walking and running with our daughter and our dogs, and frequently observe many native flora and fauna including Glossy Black-cockatoos, wombats, echidnas, and many other species of birds and marsupials. My husband has even observed "echidna train" mating behaviour as recently as this winter. I am very concerned that the impacts on these species in the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve due to blasting noises, air particulate and destruction of habitat have not been outlined. Destruction of Box-Gum Woodland in the project site may result in more species moving to Tuggeranong Hill, creating higher demand for resources and more animals being hit by cars as they cross the Monaro Highway due to displacement from their habitat.

I am also deeply concerned about the impact of noise and dust particulate on my family. The EIS acknowledges that "Respiratory risks for children and vulnerable individuals: Children and those with respiratory conditions may be more susceptible to dust exposure." My daughter spends a significant amount of time outdoors on the Tuggeranong Nature Hill Reserve, in our backyard, walking in the community and while at day care in Conder. In fact, we run together as a family to day care with my daughter in a running pram several times a week and enjoy the nature and fresh air to and from drop off. I am very concerned about her potential exposure, no matter how small, to silica dust.

I am also concerned for my husband who runs ultramarathons and trains daily in the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve.

My husband works from home full-time, and I work from home on a part-time basis, and I am concerned about the impact of blasting on our mental wellbeing and productivity. One of my dogs in particular is very frightened of thunder and I am concerned about the impact of blasting noise on him if this project goes ahead.

I do not support this project at all, and consider the EIS has manifestly failed to take into account the neighbouring population of ACT residents and the impact of native wildlife sharing the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve corridor with the project site.

A good project to assist the region's continued improvement and expansion.

Dear NSW Planning Authority,

I wish to lodge my objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project (SSD-27223807).

This quarry will have significant negative impacts on the local community and the broader region. The health, environmental, and economic consequences of the project far outweigh the limited benefits. In particular:

Health impacts: Increased dust, noise, and traffic from quarry operations will pose long-term health risks to residents, especially in a growing community.

Environmental impacts: The quarry threatens to degrade the natural landscape, damage local ecosystems, and contribute to ongoing environmental pressures in the region.

Economic impacts: The projected benefit of approximately 30 jobs is minimal compared to the potential decline in property values, amenity, and the attractiveness of the area for sustainable economic activity such as tourism and agriculture.

The application also fails to properly account for the growing size of the community and relies on poor assessment assumptions that understate the true scale of the impact.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project and urge the NSW Government to reject this development application in the interests of protecting the health, environment, and long-term prosperity of the region

I strongly object to the proposal for the Monaro rock quarry, asphalt plant and concrete recycling due to the negative impact it will have on the environment, the local community, and the overall well-being of our region.
We bought our property in 2019 for the semi rural peaceful, clean air, and tranqil environments away from industrial areas. We have been told that you cant do this with you land. I have found out the jumped council rules and regulation and we all have to abide by and went to federal law. This is really sad that they can even do that. Had i have know we would never have moved our life from here to live our Royalla dream. We love Royalla the way it is. Its unique and should be considered prestige.
The development of the quarry creates risks for the native wildlife habitats, increases dust and noise pollution, and a massive rise in heavy vehicles on rural roads poses a safety hazard, reducing the quality of life for all nearby residents. Therefore, such industrial activity threatens the natural landscape, and it can also affect the local water sources, the agricultural land, and the cultural heritage sites.
Health issues, in royalla we have huge winds that travel through and the silica dust will become more of a problem. We already have more than enough quarries in the area. I am at riskm of lung health issues and the harm of silica dust can make this worse for me. I get bronchitis and asthma from my environment already. I worry about these effects on my lungs.
Heavy traffic. Whether its the proposed 150 or the 500 movements a day from the EIS. There is already a huge impact on Old Cooma Rd and pot hole issues, trucks driving in the wrong lane and these roads being small. The company said that it part of a code a conduct not to use this road. How do they stop them. I have teenagers getting licence and the forseeable 500 trucks a day is frightening with an increase of accidents and safety issues to all of us. Who pays for all the road maintance will it be the property owners in our council rate as we have already had huge increases. I feel its also dangerous for monaro highway to be an exit rd turing right out of it especially with all the snow traffic.
Water table- we use boar water and are worried about the consequence of the proposal and them affecting out water table.
This proposal is both harmful to the community and the environment therefore, it should not move forward. We are also concerned it will affect our property values of our houses. Since the quarry met people in 2021 and addressed the community. People have been highly concerned and moved away from the area and their dreams. I dont want this to be us. I want to keep Royalla the way it is.

We act for Sandra Walsh, the owner of 223A Alderson Place Tralee NSW 2620, which is comprised of a number of lots including Lot 151 in DP754912, her most southernmost paddock. Our client operates a significant sheep farming enterprise with approximately 700 sheep grazing freely across her land. She has managed this operation solely since 1993.

We are writing on behalf of our client to formally object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project proposal (SSD-27223807) currently on exhibition on the NSW Planning Portal. Under this proposal, Monaro Rock Pty Ltd seeks development consent to establish a new hard rock quarry in Royalla on land located adjacent to the ACT/NSW border, approximately 5km north of the intersection of Monaro Highway and Old Cooma Road.

In my client's view, the Application is in its current form is unacceptable and should not be supported as it will cause unreasonable noise, air quality, water, and visual amenity impacts—not only to her land being within an environmental conservation zone, but also to the surrounding community. In addition, the Project is wholly incompatible with its surroundings and the local area.

Attached to this submission is our client's formal objection to the Project. We ask that you take these matters into consideration when considering the subject application.

Objection to the Monaro Rock Project, Royalla, NSW

I’m a resident and property owner immediately adjoining the proposed Monaro Rock Pty Ltd Quarry on the Northern end of Royalla, NSW. This submission constitutes a formal objection to Development Application SSID-27223807.

Due to the lack of community engagement I have only just found out about the proposal by Monaro Rock Pty Ltd to construct and develop a new hard rock quarry in Royalla, NSW, on land located adjacent to the ACT/NSW border, approximately 5km north of the intersection of Monaro Highway and Old Cooma Road. The Project would be developed in stages and would have a maximum extraction rate of 1,000,000tpa and an expected Project life of 30 to 35 years.

Initially my submission was not intended to be a comprehensive review of the 16 (EIS) documents commissioned by Monaro Rock Pty Ltd to support it’s application. Instead focusing on #2 Monaro Rock_EIS_App N - Aug25 - Social – REDACTED document authored by Landscape Research positive and negative impacts.

In scrolling through Appendix B Air Quality Impact Assessment prepared by Northstar Air Quality Pty Ltd on page 97 of the Mitigation and Monitoring section advises that Should chemical suppressant be the dust control method of choice, then its effectiveness would be reviewed and additional suppressant applied as required. Exactly what chemical suppressant is to be used and what could be the short – long term environmental / human impact ? Is this going to be another PFAS issue right on our doorstep.

Going back to the Social EIS which was completed in July 2025 Landscape Research, the lead author of this Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report declared that:

Positive impacts:
1. Local supply of construction materials supporting regional infrastructure
2. Modest employment and supply chain benefits
3. Potential financial and in-kind contributions to community projects
4. Long-term site rehabilitation and land restoration benefits

Negative Impacts:
1. (pre-mitigation)Amenity-related impacts (dust, noise, blasting, vibration, traffic)
2. Health and wellbeing concerns (respiratory health risks, stress)
3. Community fears about water reliability, environmental degradation, and loss of rural character
4. Reduced sense of agency and trust in government/quarry operators
5. Concerns about cumulative impacts and property devaluation.

As the positives are only defined as Modest or Potential there is not a lot for the residents, general public to benefit from this proposal. Conversely the negatives will have effect a far greater number of residents, native flora and fauna.

In balancing my view I applaud the creation of up to 200 jobs and being able to source local raw materials for many projects within the Canberra region.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Areas of Objection:
1. A large area (approx 22.5 hectares) of natural vegetation will be destroyed. Also a great number of flora and fauna, many hundreds of species will be endangered.
2. Dust carried by the prevailing westerly winds( particularly silica dust) will be deposited on house buildings, rainwater tanks, swimming pools, water drinking infrastructure, including school facilities, contamination of home produced vegetables.

3. Traffic will be a major concern due the huge increase in haulage heavy vehicles. Increased travelling times will be an issue for commuters, including drop off for school. This will also have a damaging effect on the state of the roads due to the weight of vehicles. Noise pollution of heavy haulage vehicles using air brakes will be huge, also going up hill on Old Cooma Rd and Monaro highway.
4. Proximity to residents is a vital point. Approximately 50,000 residents who live within 10 km will be affected. There have been a number of studies conducted from quarries in the US of huge contamination with health issues being highlighted of early deaths and subsequent closing of such mining facilities.
5. Ground Water extraction of some 40 million litrers will be needed for dust suppression, as well as, production of concrete and asphalt . This will not only affect water to catchment areas (e.g. Googong dam) but will impinge on local watrer courses. Also local residents dams will lose their water supply.

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

Objection to Proposed Quarry
Dear Member,
I am writing to formally object to the proposed quarry development.
As a local resident and parent of two young children, I am deeply concerned about the serious impact this development would have on the health, safety, and overall wellbeing of families in the area.
1. Traffic and Road Safety
The increase in heavy vehicle traffic, particularly large quarry trucks on our already busy and often narrow dual roads, poses a significant risk to residents. These roads are not designed to handle such volumes or sizes of industrial traffic.
One of my children is due to begin learning to drive shortly, and the prospect of navigating alongside large quarry trucks is deeply worrying. The potential for accidents increases with the addition of slow-moving, heavy vehicles on routes used daily by families, school traffic, and young, inexperienced drivers. The risk to life is simply too great.
2. Health Impacts – Silica Dust
Another major concern is the generation of silica dust from quarry operations. Silica is a known health hazard, particularly dangerous to children whose lungs are still developing. Airborne silica dust can travel significant distances and be inhaled even by those not in close proximity to the site. With two young children, I cannot accept the risk this poses to their long-term health.
There are also concerns about dust affecting nearby homes, gardens, and public spaces — reducing air quality and negatively impacting our standard of living.
3. Impact on Community and Lifestyle
Beyond the health and safety risks, the quarry would also fundamentally change the character of our community. Increased noise, vibrations from heavy machinery, early morning operations, and dust pollution will make it a far less pleasant and healthy environment to raise a family.
I urge the council to consider the lasting consequences this development would have on residents — particularly children — and to reject the quarry proposal in the interest of public health, road safety, and environmental responsibility.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Kylie Slade

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