Monaro Rock Quarry Project

This is in an area surrounded by houses. New housing development has just been built. The noise from the quarry and trucks is not appropriate for the area. Also the dust may carry across to the Tuggeranong Valley, which could possibly sit in the air, affecting hundreds if people. It is also close to Melrose Nature Reserve, which has a large variety of precious flora and fauna. I don’t think this is an appropriate development for Royalla

My wife and I are residents of Royalla, NSW, and object to the proposed Monaro rock quarry project. My parents are also previous residents having moved to Royalla in 2000. My parents were drawn to Royalla for its proximity to family who reside close by in the ACT. In addition to this, the Royalla area also offered a quiet area free from issues which come from living in the suburbs e.g. traffic, noise, and access to nature. The area was precious not only to my parents but to myself to the extent that on my parents' passing, I purchased their property. The proposed quarry will destroy all the reasons which make Royalla the beautiful area that it currently is. Establishment and operation of the proposed quarry will negatively impact the environment (site is already zoned RU2 and C2 and contains critically endangered box-gum grassy woodland) e.g. clearing of endangered bushland and the resultant impact on wildlife, cause dust/silica dust which can lead to the development of lung cancer, silicosis, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This will also impact residents of Tuggeranong and the surrounding areas. We and the other the residents of Royalla are also dependant on rainwater for our water supply which the dust/silica dust will also impact. The proposed quarry will also generate a huge volume of traffic on roads already unsafe, particularly during periods of increased traffic e.g. snow season. Noise and dust pollution during operations including blasting will also have a huge impact on not only Royalla residents but those in surrounding areas including suburbs within the ACT (approximately 49000 people live within 10 kilometres of the proposed site). In addition to the negative human and environmental impacts the economics of the proposed site, are also questionable given the existence of four quarries within 30kms with sufficient capacity to last 100 years.

Protect the environment

Please do not allow this project to proceed. The proposed quarry is unacceptably close to nearby residences in the township of Royalla and poses a serious health risk to members of the community, both in Royalla and across the border in the ACT's southern suburbs. This project will have a terrible impact on the community, which has already been impacted by other quarries nearby. The silica dust which will be generated by the quarry will pose a risk to the health of residents near the quarry.

The proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project raises the following concerns for me;

- The site is too close to exisiting and potential future residential areas.

- The additional heavy vehicle traffic on the Monaro Highway will cause an increase in travel time when I travel to Canberra Central areas and Cooma. I expect additional intersections will be required for the high volume of traffic generated by the proposed rock quarry will see a reduction in speed limits. Furthermore, I have safety concerns with additional trucks regularly using the Monaro Highway given the high volume of vehicle crashes around the Hume area. I recall in recent years a fatality that involved a truck running into a car at the traffic lights. The additional truck traffic will likely increase noise levels and be an annoyance to me at my residence.

- The release of particulate matter, including silica dust is concerning. While the EIS states the levels are expected to be below acceptable levels, research on this matter is ongoing and being updated regularly. I fear that the increase in particulate matter associated with the proposed rock quarry will have a negative impact on my heath.

- The clearing of over 22 hectares of Box-Gum Woodland will further reduce the volume of this nationally endangered ecosystem, having a negative impact on many flora and fauna species.

Given my concerns I recommend that the proposed rock quarry be rejected.

This project poses a risk to the health and safety of the local community. Blasting, dust, noise and increased traffic are all of concern to me. The impact of property values would also be of concern to residents in the area. There is already a quarry at Williamsdale that is impacting local residents. There is sufficient evidence that the Monaro quarry will impact the community. There is insufficient evidence demonstrating that the need for this quarry outweighs the risk to the community.

I am concerned about the serious implications the proposed quarry poses to my family. Not only is our home a residence it's where we host barbecues, birthdays, playdates for grandchildren and various events associated to family and friends on a regular basis. The proximity of the proposed quarry threatens to severely undermine our ability to enjoy our home.
A major concern is the health risk associated with silica dust, while industrial workers who are required to use protective equipment we and our visitors would be exposed with no means of protection. The long term effects of daily exposure to airborne dust particles that will travel beyond the quarry is of particular worry.
The increased volume of heavy vehicle traffic on the road in this area poses a danger and significant disruption to either Monaro Highway or Old Cooma Road. If the ACT govt. does allow the quarry to use the Monaro Highway for heavy haulage trucks to enter a high speed road the potential for accidents will be immense. If the Old Cooma Road is used the same will happen in addition to the road being damaged resulting in extra cost to ratepayers for repair and maintenance.
The location of the proposed quarry will have damaging consequences for the environment and biodiversity, the landscape supports a range of native flora and fauna. With operation times of 12 hours a day, 6 days a week will produce constant noise, vibration, and dust, it will disrupt habitats and the potential for runoff or pollution into local waterways could impact aquatic ecosystems and water quality.
This is not a theoretical issue for us, this is about safety, health and future of our family and our way of life. A quarry so close to residential properties would change the liveability of our home, with daily risks to health, peace of mind and the environment we cherish.
I respectfully urge the refusal of this development.

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

I object to the proposed Monaro Rock Industries on the following

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community grown is a must!

I am writing in opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry. I do so both as a local Tuggeranong resident and as a teacher at Lanyon High School, which sits within the direct catchment area of the proposal. My concerns are grounded in the potential negative impacts on student health, community safety, and the broader environment of the Tuggeranong Valley.

Health and Air Quality
Dust emissions, including respirable crystalline silica, pose significant health risks. The EIS acknowledges potential dust generation but underestimates the cumulative effect of prevailing winds carrying fine particulate matter towards local schools and residential areas. Lanyon High School has more than 800 students and staff on-site daily, many of whom spend considerable time outdoors for sport and recreation. Increased dust levels would expose children and young people — a vulnerable population — to elevated risks of asthma, respiratory illness, and long-term health complications.

Noise and Vibration
Quarry blasting and machinery noise will carry across the valley, particularly during early morning hours when classes are beginning. Consistent exposure to low-frequency vibration and intermittent high-noise events can disrupt learning and concentration. Students with additional learning needs or sensory sensitivities are especially at risk of adverse impacts.

Traffic and Road Safety
The project forecasts a significant increase in heavy vehicle movements along key arterial routes. Many of these routes service school buses, cycling corridors, and family drop-off points in the Lanyon Valley. The increased volume of quarry trucks raises the risk of road accidents involving young people travelling to and from school, as well as congestion that will affect the daily life of the community.

Environmental and Community Amenity

The quarry site sits close to areas of environmental and cultural significance. Disturbance to local habitats and waterways could have downstream impacts, including sedimentation and contamination of catchments that flow towards the Murrumbidgee River corridor. Visual scarring of the landscape also undermines the amenity of the area, which is valued for its natural beauty and recreational use by families, students, and local residents.

Lanyon High School is not an isolated case: multiple schools, childcare centres, and early learning facilities are located within a few kilometres of the proposed quarry. The combination of air quality, noise, and traffic risks amounts to a significant threat to the safe and effective operation of educational facilities. This proposal places unnecessary additional burdens on young people, educators, and families in our community.

Deficiencies in the EIS

While the EIS outlines mitigation strategies, they remain insufficient and vague in several key areas:
Dust control measures rely on ideal weather and operational compliance without robust independent monitoring.
Noise modelling does not reflect realistic worst-case scenarios of blasting during class hours.
Traffic analysis does not adequately address peak school travel times.
The absence of binding commitments, enforceable penalties, and independent oversight means the community cannot rely on assurances alone.


The Monaro Rock Quarry proposal carries unacceptable risks to health, education, safety, and the environment in the Lanyon Valley. As a teacher at Lanyon High School, I strongly urge the Department to reject this project in its current form. Our community’s wellbeing, and particularly that of our young people, must take precedence over industrial extraction.

I strongly object to this project. The social and environmental impacts are overwhelmingly against this project getting approval from the NSW Planning Minister.
The number of trucks daily on our roads, the noise, blasting proximity to residential areas and most importantly the dust which would impact the health of our children kilometres from the site is horrifying.
It is about time health concerns, particularly of young children, take priority when assessing projects such as this.

The Project would provide a reliable, long-term supply of high-quality construction materials to support infrastructure and housing development in the Queanbeyan-Palerang and ACT regions.

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed concrete quarry near local schools, particularly given its proximity to my workplace, a public school. The location of the quarry presents significant health risks, especially for individuals like myself who are severely asthmatic.

As an asthmatic, I am deeply concerned about the dust pollution that would be generated by the quarry. My school does not have air conditioning, which means windows must remain open during warmer months to provide airflow and cool the classrooms. This unfortunately, makes us highly vulnerable to airborne pollutants, including dust from the quarry.

Concrete quarries release harmful dust, particularly silica dust, which poses serious health risks. For individuals with asthma, exposure to dust can trigger severe respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and nasal irritation. Inhaling these fine particles can cause airway inflammation and exacerbate chronic conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In addition, the presence of other toxic substances, such as lead and zinc, in quarry dust further heightens the risk to respiratory and overall health. Given the close proximity of the quarry to schools, the potential for widespread exposure is deeply troubling. Residents and students living and studying in this area would be at significant risk, particularly during periods of high dust activity, which could have long-term effects on their health and well-being.

I urge you to consider the impact that this quarry could have on vulnerable populations, including children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. The health and safety of the community must be prioritized over industrial development, particularly when the risks are so clear and the consequences potentially life-threatening.

Please see attached submission below.

I write in support of the development application lodged for the Monaro Rock Project. This proposal presents significant social, economic, and environmental benefits for the Queanbeyan-Palerang and ACT regions and demonstrates a balanced approach to meeting both community and industry needs.

Strategic Resource Access

The project will secure long-term access to a strategically located hard rock resource. With strong demand for aggregates and road construction materials in both Queanbeyan-Palerang and the ACT, this project provides an essential supply chain to support sustainable growth, infrastructure renewal, and future development across the region.

Efficient Resource Recovery

By maximising efficient resource recovery within the defined Extraction Area, Monaro Rock ensures responsible use of finite natural resources. This approach reduces waste and promotes sustainable practices, aligning with industry best standards and government objectives for resource management.

Environmental Responsibility

The development has been designed to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, with clear commitments to meet all regulatory criteria and uphold community expectations. Strict environmental safeguards and monitoring will minimise impacts on air, water, biodiversity, and the surrounding landscape, ensuring that the natural character of the area is preserved.

Consideration of Community and Land Use

The operation acknowledges the diversity of existing land uses and the importance of community amenity. Careful planning around noise, traffic, and visual management demonstrates that the project will be considerate of nearby residents and compatible with broader land use planning objectives.

Health and Safety

Monaro Rock has committed to ensuring that the health and wellbeing of its workforce and the surrounding community are not adversely affected. Safety protocols, dust and noise management, and strict compliance with workplace health and safety legislation will remain central to operations.

Economic Benefits and Employment

The project will stimulate the local economy through the creation of direct employment opportunities, as well as indirect supply opportunities for local contractors, service providers, and small businesses. This economic activity will provide long-term benefits to the region, contributing to community resilience and prosperity.

Operational Efficiency

By operating in a cost-efficient manner, Monaro Rock can provide competitively priced, high-quality construction materials that are critical to supporting infrastructure projects. This efficiency will deliver long-term value to both government and private sector partners reliant on stable, sustainable material supply.

Conclusion

The Monaro Rock Project represents a well-considered, responsible, and beneficial development for the Queanbeyan-Palerang and ACT regions. It delivers on the dual objectives of securing essential construction resources while protecting the environment, supporting community amenity, and contributing to regional economic development.

For these reasons, I strongly support approval of this development application.

I think it will create more jobs locally. And provide construction materials for the ongoing expansion of the ACT and surrounds.

I am writing to express my strong support for the Monaro Rock Quarry project. This project represents a significant opportunity for our community, both in terms of economic development and environmental stewardship.

The Monaro Rock Quarry project promises substantial benefits for our local community. One of the most significant advantages is the creation of additional jobs. The project will generate employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases, providing much-needed jobs for local residents. This will not only boost the local economy but also improve the quality of life for many families in our region.

Moreover, the project will contribute to the growth of the local industry. By producing high-quality aggregates, the Monaro Rock Quarry will support various construction and infrastructure projects in the area. This will lead to increased demand for local services and suppliers, further stimulating economic growth. The development of additional infrastructure, such as a concrete batching plant, asphalt plant, and concrete recycling facility, will provide valuable resources for local construction and maintenance activities, enhancing the region's industrial capabilities.

The project's commitment to environmental responsibility is also commendable. By sourcing water from the Project Site and prioritizing dust suppression, the Monaro Rock Quarry ensures that air quality is maintained, protecting the health and comfort of nearby residents. The dedicated private access road to the Monaro Highway addresses community concerns about noise, traffic, and disruption, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to minimizing the project's impact on local residents.

In conclusion, the Monaro Rock Quarry project is a well-planned and thoughtfully executed initiative that promises significant benefits for our community. I fully support this project and look forward to seeing its positive impact on our local economy and environment.

Best regards,

I am writing in support of the proposed quarry development at Monaro Rock Project. The project represents an important opportunity to provide essential construction materials for the region while supporting local employment and economic growth.

The noise, dust and debris, traffic and manufacturing processes associated with this project will greatly impact the safety, health and well-being and quality of life of the Royalla, Tuggeranong and Googong communities. The proposed hours of operation are excessive, as are the quantities of explosive materials to be used, rocks to be extracted and other soil and materials to be disturbed. Fauna and flora will be also be severely compromised, not just on site but in surrounding areas.
Notwithstanding the horrendous potential of airborne particles of who knows what that will be created and dispersed during and possibly beyond the hours of operation, the issue that will in my view most impact our safety and routine of our day to day lives is traffic - I cannot imagine that the horrendous impact and incidence of accidents and near misses on the Monaro Highway, and the number of animal collisions on the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway, is not known to planning and other government authorities.
As the wife of a (now deceased) politician representing this part of regional NSW I have travelled hundreds of trips on the Monaro Highway - all seasons, all times, all conditions, all destinations. This highway has its perilous reputation with good reason, and the current roadworks at Hume aren’t going to make an iota of difference to the behaviour of temperamental drivers during the snow season, commuters on slippery surfaces in the winter, mad overtakers coming from the coast in summer, and increasing numbers of Googong residents just trying to turn right at the Old Cooma Road in broad daylight or a murky dawn to get to work.
I fear I, and many families, shall have to limit younger drivers’ road use should this quarry be approved - one has to exercise pretty stringent judgement before letting a teen driver run into Calwell or Queanbeyan for groceries on any heavy traffic days at present….the presence of monstrous quarry trucks would rule this option out completely. The road taxes to be imposed on the vehicles are ludicrously small, and that revenue will go nowhere near repairing the damage to the roads that they will cause.
As I’ve driven all over this region for many years I’ve seen lots of places that would be worth investigating as potential quarry sites, with far, far fewer vulnerabilities than the current location. Selfishly, I believe that the services I shall eventually need to stay in my home will not be provided at Royalla if the quarry is here - employers will exercise their OHS responsibilities to staff and forbid placements in this region.
It remains my belief that the developers of this project should be obliged to nominate an alternative location further from residential housing, and served by safer roads.
Thank you for the opportunity to register this opposition. Anne Molan