Monaro Rock Quarry Project

Submission in Opposition to the Proposed Quarry at Enchanted Hill

I strongly oppose the proposed quarry development at Enchanted Hill near Royalla. My concerns are outlined below.



Key Concerns

Health and Air Quality
Dust and fine silica particles generated by quarrying and truck movements pose serious risks to human health.
Noise, vibration, and light spill will further reduce residential amenity and create long-term disruption for the community.
Traffic and Road Safety
The proposal would generate up to 500 heavy truck movements per day between Cooma and Canberra. This will significantly increase road safety risks for local residents, commuters, and school traffic.
Such a high level of heavy vehicle use will also cause major deterioration of regional and local roads, which were not designed for this scale of industrial traffic.
Water Resources
The quarry will place additional stress on an already scarce and fragile water table.
Extracting large volumes of water for dust suppression and processing risks depleting groundwater supplies relied upon by residents, farms, and ecosystems.
There is also a risk of contamination or alteration of groundwater flow, with consequences that may not be fully reversible.
Environmental Impacts
Vegetation clearing and blasting will damage local biodiversity and habitat.
The visual landscape and rural character of the area will be permanently degraded, undermining the community’s quality of life.
Cumulative and Unnecessary Impacts
There are already multiple quarries operating in the region. Adding another would compound existing problems of dust, noise, and environmental stress, without clear justification of need.
Social and Economic Concerns
Homes near the site will be directly affected in terms of amenity, property values, and liveability.
The long-term costs to health, safety, infrastructure, and water security far outweigh any short-term economic benefit.


Request

For these reasons, I urge the Department to reject the proposed quarry at Enchanted Hill. The excessive traffic burden, public health risks, and threat to water security make the project unsustainable and not in the public interest.

If the project is not refused outright, it must at minimum be drastically reduced in scale, with enforceable protections for residents, water resources, and road safety.



Conclusion

The Enchanted Hill quarry would create lasting harm through dust, noise, unsafe truck volumes, and depletion of precious groundwater. Once these impacts occur, they cannot be undone. I therefore call on the Department to act in the community’s best interest and refuse this proposal.

Thank you for considering my submission.

Please see attached letter outlining my objections to the proposed quarry/industrial site.

Dear Counsellors,
I am writing to formally object to the proposed approval of a fourth quarry on the Southside of our region. As a local Royalla resident, I hold serious concerns about the environmental, health, safety, and social impacts of this development, not only for my family but for the broader community. I outline some of my concerns below:

1. Health Impacts from Silica Dust

One of the most pressing concerns is the airborne silica dust that will inevitably be carried by prevailing winds across our region. This fine particulate matter poses serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
It is unacceptable to expose our community of Royalla and our local neighbouring suburbs including the suburbs of Theodore, Banks, and Calwell, Richardson etc to these potential health hazards, especially when local schools and childcare centres are within the dust’s likely reach.

I am especially concerned about the health impacts given I already have three life long chronic health diseases in addition to respiratory issues. I fear that the silica dust that will travel from the quarry will amplify these issues. I also hold concerns for my parents as they age and my 5 year old outdoor loving son.

2. Noise Pollution and Blast Disruption

The noise generated from quarry blasts, machinery, and heavy vehicle movements is incompatible with the semi-rural, family-oriented nature of our area. The proposed hours of operation are not neighbour-friendly and will severely impact our right to quiet enjoyment of our properties, particularly for families who have chosen this region for its peaceful surroundings.

This is of particular concern to me as my son is already anxious about many things which I’ve worked very hard to help him with. However he is still quite fearful of loud unexpected noises such as thunder and fireworks. I imagine the blasts from the quarry will also contribute to his anxiety (as the noises from large trucks dumping soil on a local block did recently) and this will mean that we are both not able to enjoy our outdoor spaces as was intended when settling in Royalla.

3. Traffic and Road Safety Risks

The addition of up to 500 truck movements per day on an already overstressed, mostly single-lane stretch of the Monaro highway is deeply concerning. This road is already dangerous, especially during snow season and school holiday periods, when delays, risky overtaking, and animal fatalities increase significantly. Adding hundreds of slow-moving heavy vehicles daily will further compromise road safety for all users , including residents, school buses, emergency services, and tourists etc.

We already see risky behaviour under normal circumstances, and I fear for my family’s safety as we try to get onto and travel on the Monaro highway multiple times a day to and from school and work.

4. Environmental Destruction of Enchanted Hill

The proposed site threatens not just the tranquillity of the area, but the delicate ecological balance of Royalla’s Enchanted Hill,a location rich in wildlife and native flora. Increased dust, noise, and vibration from quarry activity will disrupt local ecosystems, including critical habitat for native species.

The beauty and diversity of our wildlife and native fora is what has attracted my family to this area. The quarry is likely to impact this significantly. Once lost, this biodiversity cannot be easily recovered.

5. Unnecessary Development

There are already three existing quarries on the Southside of Canberra / Queanbyan region that are not operating at full capacity. Before approving further expansion, these sites should be more efficiently utilised. The current proposal appears unjustified, especially when the needs of Canberra, Queanbyan and surrounding areas can already be met with existing resources.

6. Community Wellbeing and Property Values

Like many families, we made a deliberate decision to move to this region to raise our children in a healthier, more natural environment, one that promotes both mental and physical wellbeing. The presence of another large-scale quarry jeopardises that lifestyle and will almost certainly devalue our homes. It is disheartening to think that the peace and health we sought could be undermined by industrial activity of this scale and nature.

In conclusion, this proposed quarry is incompatible with the needs, safety, and wellbeing of our community. It endangers our health, our roads, our environment, our wildlife, and our way of life.

I respectfully ask: would you want this quarry built in your own backyard?

On behalf of my family and concerned neighbours, I urge the council to reject this proposal in favour of a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for our region. I implore you to please listen to your community’s voices and support us by opposing the Monaro Rock Quarry. Our concerns are significant, real and very valid.

Thank you for your time.
Yours Sincerely,

I am writing to you to outline my concerns in regard to the proposed Royalla Quarry.



As a resident of Royalla for 15 years I have seen many changes in the area. Most are welcomed and at times others have caused concern to residents with regards to visual impacts however nothing proposed has included health risks to residents. My concerns are numerous and this is the first time I have felt the need to express my very real concerns.



My primary concern of the proposed quarry is how it will impact the health and safety not only of the residents in close proximity but all surrounding areas with fine silica dust spreading across the valley, into numerous primary and high schools and to countless residents of Tuggeranong. As an individual who has struggled with respiratory issues I am incredibly concerned for my health if this is to go ahead. The real cost to the health system needs to be considered.

Silica dust will fall onto our roves; this is our only water source for drinking– as the same with all Royalla and surrounding residents. I’m concerned how this will impact us all.



I am concerned if the quarry is approved how it will financially impact all residents. There is no doubt the quarry would negatively impact our property prices. I would never choose to live near a quarry, let alone purchase a property. How will residents be compensated.



I am concerned about the traffic impacts and the inevitable accidents that will occur. As a long time resident the change in traffic along the Monaro Highway has been substantial with Googong’s establishment and new subdevelopments. Snow and coastal traffic sees traffic banked back to the top of the hill. The round about on Johnson Drive is often backed up. Hundreds of trucks entering and exiting daily will see a huge rise in traffic and accidents. It is not built or fit for this!

I believe the traffic observations took place during Covid – if this is accurate, how is this deemed acceptable data???



I am concerned about the noise impacts.

I am concerned about the impact on the environment. I know there are many protected species of plants that inhabit the zoned area.



Finally, I can not understand how two families financial benefit is being placed above thousands of residents health, wellbeing and financial disadvantage. I pray this is stopped and we are not sacrificed for their gain.

Thank you
Amanda Cowley Colbertaldo

I strongly object to the project, and my attached submission outlines my concerns.

I am based in Royalla, and I am a highly competitive horseback eventer, both my high level athlete horse and my old retiree would suffer from the issues with this Quarry, I also spend a large amount of my time outside, meaning things like mass amounts of silica dust would greatly affect my horses and my performance and health and wellbeing. The blasting and crushing would massively impact our beautiful wildlife paradise we have here in Royalla, disturbing our peaceful life, wildlife and our livestock.
I already travel 45 minutes to work on the Monaro Highway, adding up to 500 trucks a day would increase my commute time and mean i get to spend less time with my horses who need me, and more time using expensive fuel in my car.

This project is extremely close to my home and to both of the schools that my kids go to. Less than 5km. Having knowledge and training and working in an environment where Silica and dust in general is a factor, considering the scale of this project, our whole suburb, schools, daycare centres and shopping centres will be exposed to this. I can only foresee major health problems for the southern parts of Canberra inhabitants for the near and further future. Considering that these suburbs are also home to majority families with small and young children. Besides for the dust and particle exposure l, there’s also the noise from blasting and heavy vehicles. The traffic increase impacting people going to and from work. I am confident that those in charge do this project would not want to live in their conditions that they are about to create for the thousands of people living in this area. I am calling on your humanity to do the right thing here.

I am very concerned about the prospect of the Monaro rock quarry. My parents live there and I plan to move home again next year. I am worried about the pollution and silica dust. Also the noise and extra traffic on the roads.

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

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

I object in the strongest possible terms to this proposed quarry and associated rock crushing, concrete recycling and hot asphalt manufacture.
In 2003 we purchased our block (zoned rural residential), designed and built our home and landscape. We are south east and in close proximity to the proposed project.
Issues of major concern are: social and economic; health and wellbeing; traffic; and biodiversity impacts.

Social and economic Impacts. The lifestyle we have built will no doubt be significantly affected by noise, dust, and vibrations. Of great concern is the use of water by the project. We share a bore (we are not permitted a dam) with two other neighbours. We have spent around $9,000 in updating and maintaining the bore. We rely on the water for horses, gardens and firefighting. Having no, or significantly reduced, access to the bore water would no doubt lead to unsustainable living conditions. These impacts can only produce a great risk of decreased house and property values. In other words, impacts on our economic future.

Health and wellbeing impacts. I am gravely concerned about the health risks of silica dust, noise, vibrations, and odour which would be produced as part of the project. The proposed site is too close.

Traffic. At present, anecdotally, the Monaro Highway already reaches full carrying capacity especially with the large increase in traffic in the snow season. The addition of a significant number of heavy vehicles daily as proposed, could create a 'black spot" in road usage and potential accidents.

Biodiversity. The potential loss of habitat, of which there are over 300 species of flora and fauna at this site , appears to contradict the NSW Government's commitment to strengthen prescriptions in the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code.

I would like to express my complete opposition to the approval of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry on Mates Road, Royalla.

My family, along with all other property holders in Royalla, have been alarmed and opposed to this quarry from the outset of its proposal. This groundwave of community opposition has been well documented in both local and national press, and as a former Fairfax editor and journalist of 24 years, I am certain my colleagues will continue to document Royalla’s outrage at every step of this process.

My wife and I chose Royalla for the natural open fields, quietness, safe roads and absence of pollution for our family of two young children. The proposal is completely out of character with Royalla. We already have one quarry at the end of Royalla, which causes great impact through noise, dust and vibrations. There is a rock quarry at the other end of the Old Cooma Road.

To be clear, there is no issue with the regional supply of rock. This is simply a profit grab at the expense of a close-knit community that contributes greatly to the fabric of the surrounding society.

Now working as a scientist, I have numerous, and well validated concerns based on fact.

1. Air quality: dust, and dust containing silica, poses a danger to my family and my neighbours. Control measures will not control all dust. This is impossible from a straight scientific point of view. Beyond the site itself, dust will come off the high number of trucks proposed. Even with covered loads, dust emanating from moving trucks that have driven through quarry sites is a documented certainty. This proposal will impact the health of residential citizens.
2. Additional traffic:
a. Monaro Highway – this stretch of road has required numerous repair works in recent years and it not equipped for the influx of extremely heavy traffic, particularly over the busy snow season that runs from June to September each year. An inspection of the area around the proposed intersection will clearly show that extensive and expensive maintenance work will quickly be required as damage is inflicted. Damage to the road will cause safety issues for all drivers. The site of the quarry adjoining the Monaro Highway is notorious with local road users for the significant fog that settles in the morning and in late afternoon, making visibility only a metre or two in front of your vehicle. This is because this part of the Monaro Highway is at the crest of the hill that lead down into the Tuggeranong Valley. I worry that B double trucks turning onto the highway will not be seen by drivers travelling at 100km/h along that stretch of road with visibility so low during these foggy periods.
b. Old Cooma Road: it is highly unlikely that truck drivers will take the longer route of the Monaro Highway to get to the Queanbeyan region. Faced with deadlines and profit margins, they will take the shorter route of Old Cooma Road. This is a two-lane, winding road that cannot handle the heavy traffic at even a third of the rate proposed. Such use would destroy the road, be dangerous for all the residents using the road, and kill a great deal of wildlife. This proposal will impact the safety of the users of two of Canberra’s main arterial roads.
3. Depreciation of land values: We work very hard like many Australian families and are deeply concerned by the current and future impacts of depreciation of our home. Our home is our nest egg, of which its value will allow us to retire without the need for government support. It will also impact our ability to help our children set themselves up as adults. Beyond that, we carefully purchased our property in good faith, noting the zonings, and believing this was our best chance for a good investment. This proposal will financially impact all Royalla land owners – except for the quarry owners.
4. Light and dust pollution: I build and use some of the largest amateur telescopes in Australia from the pristine skies of my property. I am an experienced amateur astronomer, and former associate editor of Astronomy Technology magazine. I directly contribute to the scientific research that feeds into Australian and international professional observatories such as the Backyard Observatory Supernova Search (BOSS), a collaborative program of amateur and professional astronomers in Australia and New Zealand who use highly advanced astronomy equipment to discover and study supernova. The light pollution alone will badly degrade the darkness of the sky, and dust will further degrade seeing conditions to the point where it is doubtful I will be able to contribute research. This proposal will impact important astronomical research that is part of a larger international effort.

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

We strongly object to this project proceeding.
The project will adversely impact the region for the next 30-50 years. The project adversely impacts road safety, biodiversity, environmental water quality and important downstream areas, business costs, resident health and quality of life for not only us but also across the region. Compounded by existing quarries around the region and the increased pollution produced, the impacts are unacceptable.

Please see my attached submission for the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry.

Good afternoon,
I write as a very concerned resident in relation to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry on Mates Road, Royalla.

My husband and I were born and bred in Newcastle, otherwise referred as "Steel City". As middle-aged people now and with young children, the ongoing effects of our childhoods growing up amidst dust from the BHP Steelworks at Mayfield, the dust from the uncovered trains rattling to Newcastle Port from the Hunter Valley's numerous coalmines, as well as the lead poisoning from the former Pasminco lead smelter in Boolaroo, Lake Macquarie, is truly not known at this stage. This is of particular concern as my older sister (aged 49) has been diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease, which causes lifelong inflammation of the heart's arteries. There is much evidence globally linking Kawasaki disease to lead poisoning. My older sister was exposed to lead while playing in the dirt in my parent's backyard of their home in Speers Point in the late 1970s. Speers Point is the neighbouring suburb to Boolaroo, NSW. In the late 1970s, Pasminco was a thriving plant, employing many locals.
My parents moved from Speers Point to another Lake Macquarie suburb across the lake to ensure a cleaner environment for my older brother and myself. When my husband and I took redundancy from our journalism careers with Fairfax Media in Newcastle and pursued more-secure government work in Canberra, ACT, we chose Royalla for the space, quietness, safe roads and clean air that it could offer us and our two young children. My parents were particularly pleased that we had chosen a quiet country haven away from the heavy industry of Hume and Queanbeyan in which to raise our family.

As a resident of Royalla, and whose property overlooks the proposed quarry, I am deeply concerned. My main points of concern are as follows:
1. Air quality - as outlined above, this is of utmost importance to us given we are from Newcastle and grew up with heavy industry on our doorsteps.
Additionally, we currently already have two existing quarries nearby - one located within Royalla itself, and the other being Holcim, located off Quarry Road, Queanbeyan. My understanding is that both of these quarries are not operating anywhere near their capacities, and have decades of life left yet. I question why, despite the rapid growth of the Googong township that I have personally witnessed since September 2018, and of which Googong neighbours these existing quarries, why both of these existing quarries have still not needed to expand their operations to anywhere near their capacities to meet the demand for new dwellings. It is clear that, with the existing two quarries nowhere near their capacities despite Googong's unprecedented growth in recent years, that a third quarry is currently not needed to service the demand for new dwellings.
2. Additional traffic - for those who live in Royalla, most use the Monaro Highway as our quickest link to the city and work. Using the Monaro Highway can get us into the city and logged onto our computers within 25 minutes. The initial draft plan proposed using Old Cooma Road, however, this plan was edited to enable the proposed additional 500 trucks per day to access and exit the site from the Monaro Highway. As a resident of Royalla who uses the intersection of Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway daily, I am particularly attune to the dangers of this intersection.
I have grave fears for an additional 500 trucks on this stretch of road, and given it has a marked 100 km/h speed limit. I would like to add that the 100 km/h zone is simply what is marked for the stretch of road, not what cars and trucks currently using this highway currently adhere to. From June until the end of September during the snow season, it is particularly busy trying to access the Monaro Highway, and this is at all times of the day, not just during morning and afternoon peak times. I fear that having the addition of trucks onto the highway would result in an increase in fatalities in this already very dangerous stretch of road.
3. Depreciation of house values - like all Australian families, our dream has been to own our home. We were lucky enough that Canberra offered us the opportunity to rebuild our lives after redundancy and find steady employment. We have worked very hard like many Australian families and are deeply concerned by the current and future impacts of depreciation of value on our home. Our home is our nest egg, of which its value will allow us to retire without the need for government support.
4. Degradation of roads - we have lived in Royalla since September 2018 and have watched the expansion of the Googong township. The damage to the roads particularly between Fernleigh Drive, Googong, and Wellsvale Drive, Googong, is particularly of concern. This road is thin, disintegrating and is exposed to heavy traffic including B double trucks servicing the new Googong expansion opposite Fernleigh Drive. Sometimes driving along this very narrow and pot-holed road while passing a large truck in the rain with my two children in the backseat and also keeping an eye out for kangaroos is very stressful. I fear that the same level of degradation of the Monaro Highway will occur. The Monaro Highway is exposed to local commuters from Royalla, Michelago and Cooma driving to Canberra, and snow traffic for four months of the year., of which Old Cooma Road is not exposed. An additional daily load of 500 trucks will only increase degradation of the highway.
5. Noise - my understanding is that the extraction of rock will be done without blasting. While I understand and accept this, I would like to point out that the logistical equipment needed to transport the material including large B double trucks do make noise. From my front, side and rear veranda I can hear the cars driving on the Monaro Highway. The addition of 500 trucks turning into and out of the quarry onto the Monaro Highway will undoubtedly result in additional noise to my property, particularly when this involves the acceleration and deceleration of B Double trucks, which weigh in excess of 60 tonnes.

I am strongly opposed to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Royalla due to the above mentioned reasons.

I am writing to express my concern and opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry.
We have lived at 1466 old Cooma Road Googong since 2002. We moved to the area when this part of Old Cooma Road was a stretch of dirt road to the Monaro Highway. We considered it to be, and still do, our little valley in the quiet countryside. Things have certainly changed over the years which have benefited the area and population as a whole. But this latest proposal will certainly not be a benefit.

Impact on our working life
• The quarry is located just over Beatty Hill which boarders our property. As an artist, (www.michaelalaurie.gallery) the noise from intermittent blasting, numerous large trucks travelling long Old Cooma Road and machinery operating in the quarry will be very invasive and disturbing.
The inevitable dust carried by the very strong winds which sweep across the hill and this valley throughout the year, will impact my studio in ways I hate to think about. My art materials, quality fine art papers, printers, art scanner, and computer will be adversely affected. I don’t wish to wear noise cancelling headphones during my daily workday. Why should I have to. And I do not want to have to spend thousands of dollars on building a dust proof workplace. And I should not have to replace my expensive equipment on a regular basis due to damage from dust and possible electricity problems caused by the quarry and its other operations.
• My husband’s Yuzu orchard will be very adversely affected by dust and pollution settling on the leaves and the annual fruit production which will be going to market.

Impact of our home and way of life
• Dust from the quarry will impact the efficiency of our solar panels and we will therefore incur extra costs for cleaning the panels to keep up the efficiency.
• Dust from the quarry will impact our drinking water. We are not on town water, so all our drinking water is collected from rain falling on the roof of our house and shed. Dust will be washed off the rooves during rain and when frost in winter melts and contaminate our drinking water. Are they prepared to put filtration systems on every water tank in the region?
Dust from the quarry will impact the air we breath each and every day. Our health will be compromized.

Impact on the area
• Old Cooma Road is noted by the NRMA as one of the most wildlife accident prone roads in NSW. There is a natural wildlife corridor along Jerrabomberra Creek which crosses under Old Cooma Road. Heavy vehicles will plough through wombats and kangaroos as they cross the road causing great danger.
• Trucks and vehicles entering and exciting both Monaro Highway in ACT and Old Cooma Road in NSW, will pose danger, extreme damage to roads and added air and noise pollution. The possible 500 daily trucks driving at 100Km an hour on our stretch of Old Cooma Road will cause disruption and be dangerous on the road, at intersections and at our drive which is just over the crest of a hill. The traffic congestion at the two intersections will be huge especially as the Dunn’s Creek project is years off even getting started.

Impact on the environment
• Disruption to the water table and risk of environmental damage to Jerrabomberra Creek, its wildlife and flowing downstream to Lake Burley Griffin.


• Past behaviour is an indication of behaviour moving forward. Sheep owned by the owners of Beatty Hill and the land proposed for the quarry show disrespect to both their animals and neighbours. Their animals are neglected – unshorn and diseased. Completely abandoned. Over many years we have repeatedly asked them to help maintain fences to prevent these same sheep looking for pasture on our land and that of many neighbouring properties. The response is yes, yes, yes but nothing happens. We are currently asking for the assistance of the council rangers to help resolve this issue. I can only be led to believe that this same lack of concern for other people and their land will be carried forward with their latest venture. This land is now marked as NSW biodiversity protected land area to offset the pollution caused by the quarry. A sign mysteriously appeared on our boarder fence informing us of this development. Will the current owners be responsible for maintenance of bordering fences to stop their sheep along with feral pigs and deer? Will they be concerned for this bushland when the vegetation becomes covered in dust?
• Building a quarry so close to a major solar farm in ACT is an act of selfish disregard.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed quarry development. As a resident living in close proximity to the proposed site, I have significant concerns about the impact this project will have on the health, safety, environment, and overall wellbeing of our community.

1. Noise and Dust Pollution
The operation of heavy machinery, blasting, and truck movements will generate constant noise and dust. These impacts will significantly reduce the quality of life for residents and pose health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.

2. Air Quality and Health Risks
Dust emissions from quarrying activities and increased truck traffic are well documented to worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Prolonged exposure poses unacceptable risks to community health.

3. Traffic and Safety Concerns
A quarry of this size would bring a substantial increase in heavy vehicle movements on local roads that are not designed to support such traffic. This raises concerns about road safety, congestion, and the long-term damage to local infrastructure.

4. Property Values and Community Amenity
The presence of a quarry will inevitably reduce nearby property values. The industrialisation of the area will also diminish the amenity of the local community and permanently change the character of the landscape.

5. Environmental Damage
The quarry will disrupt local ecosystems, destroy wildlife habitats, and may have long-term consequences for soil stability and water resources. The environmental costs are far greater than any proposed short-term benefits.

6. Blasting and Structural Risks
Blasting activities will cause vibrations that may damage nearby homes and water tanks. This also creates stress and anxiety for residents, especially when events are unpredictable.

7. Long-Term Impacts
Approving this quarry will set a precedent for further industrial developments, resulting in ongoing environmental degradation and further loss of community amenity.

For these reasons, I strongly oppose the approval of this quarry development. I urge the Council and planning authorities to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of the community by rejecting this application.

Thank you for considering my submission.

To whom it may concern,
I am writing as a concerned resident of Tralee to express my profound opposition to the proposed Royalla quarry, asphalt, and concrete plant. This project poses a clear and present danger to the health, safety, and environment of our community, and the process for public feedback has been woefully inadequate.
My Core Objections
Health and Air Quality: The plan to introduce a massive new source of fine particulate matter, including silica dust, into our air is deeply concerning. Given that our region already suffers from poor air quality due to bushfires and winter wood smoke, this quarry will only exacerbate existing health issues, particularly for our most vulnerable residents—our children and the elderly. The long-term health consequences of breathing these pollutants are simply not worth the risk.
Water and Environment: This project threatens our most precious resource: clean water. The proposed operations risk contaminating our groundwater and local waterways, which are part of Canberra's drinking water catchment. Furthermore, clearing land for the quarry will destroy critical wildlife habitats and significantly increase the risk of bushfires in an already fire-prone area.
Traffic and Safety: Our roads, especially the Monaro Highway, are already congested and unsafe. Adding a constant flow of heavy quarry trucks will inevitably lead to more accidents, increase road damage, and disrupt daily travel for thousands of commuters.
Lack of Public Benefit: The promised economic benefits, such as a small number of jobs, are minimal when weighed against the severe and irreversible costs to our health, safety, and environment. The primary beneficiaries of this project are the operators, not the local community.
Property Values and Quality of Life: The presence of this quarry will negatively impact the value of our homes and the overall quality of life in our neighborhood. No one wants to live next to a source of noise, pollution, and increased traffic, and this project will make Tralee and the surrounding suburbs less desirable for future families.
My Call to Action
I urge you to consider the immense and irreversible damage this project will cause. This is not just a commercial development; it is a decision that will affect the well-being of our community for generations. Please act now to:
* Formally oppose this project and reject the application.
* Insist on an extended public submission period to allow for genuine community consultation.
* Commission an independent review to fully assess the health and environmental risks.
The people of Tralee, and all affected communities, deserve a safe and healthy environment. Please do not fail us.
Sincerely,

Resident of Tralee

Dear Taimus,
​My name is Andrew, and I am a concerned resident of Tralee. I am writing to strongly oppose the planned quarry, asphalt plant, and concrete recycling facility in Royalla. This development poses an unacceptable threat to the well-being of our community, and the limited public consultation period has not allowed for proper consideration of the significant risks involved.
​Key Concerns
​Impact on Air Quality and Health: The proposed facility will generate substantial amounts of fine dust, including crystalline silica, which is a known carcinogen. Our region already experiences poor air quality from bushfires and winter wood smoke, contributing to high rates of respiratory illnesses. Adding this new source of pollutants will severely impact the health of all residents, particularly children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.
​Threat to Water Security: The operation of a large-scale quarry could contaminate our groundwater and disrupt crucial water flow. With increasing drought and water scarcity, it is irresponsible to risk the long-term integrity of our drinking water catchment.
​Increased Traffic and Road Safety Issues: The Monaro Highway is already a dangerous and heavily used road. A constant stream of heavy trucks will only worsen congestion, increase the risk of accidents, and cause further wear and tear on our road infrastructure.
​Environmental and Bushfire Risks: Clearing natural bushland for this project will destroy vital wildlife habitats. The industrial activities and heavy machinery required for the quarry also present a heightened risk of fire ignition in an area that is already highly susceptible to bushfires.
​Limited Public Benefit: The promised jobs and access to materials do not outweigh the potential for widespread and long-lasting harm. The financial gains of this project will primarily benefit the operators, not the local community, which will bear all the costs.
​Proximity to Residential Areas: The site is located dangerously close to our homes and local schools. This places countless families and their children directly in the path of the negative impacts from noise, traffic, and air pollution.
​Decline in Property Value: This development will negatively affect the value of our homes. The health and safety risks associated with the quarry will make the area less desirable for families, leaving residents who have invested in this community with a significant financial burden.
​Call to Action
​I urge you to take a stand for your constituents and take the following actions:
​Oppose this development: Use your position to formally object to the project.
​Request an independent review: Advocate for an independent assessment of the project's health, environmental, and safety impacts.
​Extend the submission period: Push for a longer public consultation period to allow the community to provide meaningful feedback.
​This is a critical moment for our community. The future health and safety of our families and children are at stake. It is our duty to protect them from irreversible harm. Please do not let future generations look back and say we failed them.
​I trust that you will make the right decision for your constituents.
​Sincerely,
​Andrew
Tralee
0447385507