Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project

Submission attached

Please see attached submission

Submission attached.

Port Macquarie is undergoing a phase of extreme urbanization causing the loss of wildlife habitat at alarming rates. In addition to this, the recent bushfires have put an unprecedented pressure on local wildlife populations. This emergency will not be abating any time soon. Therefore, to be proposing the clearing of 43.1 hectares of native forest vegetation, 0.55 ha of which is identified as the threatened ecological community Subtropical coastal floodplain forest, NR117 (DA, Annex C), just when wildlife are in dire need of refugia from human and natural disasters seems very shortsighted.
The proposed quarry will once again cut into the regions already heavily compromised native vegetation corridor connectivity. A death of a 1000 cuts seems to be Port Macquaries legacy if we don’t stop this unfettered exploitation of the region.
The suggestion that this real and tangible habitat in the Sancrox area can be bulldozed and somehow ‘off-set’ or mitigated by paying into a fund is beyond farcical. Once this habitat is gone, its gone. No amount of offsetting will change that. In addition, it is recorded in the Biodiversity assessment report many hollow baring trees will be destroyed within the Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest association. This does not fall within the offset area, as such there seems to be no provision to consider the loss of hollow bearing arboreal habitat.
The 24/7 operational schedule seems to be punishing for wildlife and residents alike. The already stressed surviving fauna, post bulldozing, will be subjected to the noise, dust and light pollution of a busy quarry everyday of the year for the next 30 years. An insult to injury that will certainly change the areas fauna for ever.

My husband and I purchased acreage and built our family home in Sancrox in 1987 and have enjoyed a peaceful, rural lifestyle for the last 32 years.

The quarry has not been a concern since its establishment, and with the surrounding forest, we have rarely noticed its impact on the local area. However, due to the topography of the land between the highway (and existing quarry) and our property, 7 kms away, on the rare occasions when Cassegrain Winery hosts a musical function we have definitely been impacted by the noise. Hence my deep concern at the prospect of expanded 24 hour quarry operations, seven days a week in addition to the additional proposed concrete batching and asphalt production plants. Given that there are existing plants in the region, which already supply these materials, I fail to understand why such an expansion should be considered necessary at all.

Of greatest concern to me is the impact on the native vegetation and habitat in this area. Over the past 30 years, I have seen the gradual destruction of much native forest vegetation, with large amounts of land recently denuded for the construction of the Pacific Motorway. While I acknowledge the necessity of some development, the Greater Sancrox Area Structure Plan has identified the land to be cleared as medium to high activity koala habitat.

We observed the impact on the local koala habitat during the construction of the motorway with a significant increase in koalas moving to a small pocket of forest near us. We fear that this area will be insufficient to sustain the increased numbers that may have to migrate due to the proposed quarry development, with the consequent destruction of over 43 hectares of native forest vegetation.

I am sure you have received submissions detailing many studies which describe the impact not only on koalas but other native vegetation and wildlife, however as a long term local, I can testify as to the actual real impact of these developments. In addition, given the severe and prolonged drought in our area, and the subsequent catastrophic fires in large areas of native vegetation on the Mid North Coast, I do not believe we should legitimately sacrifice further habitat, when other options are available.

While I acknowledge that there is an “Ecosystem Credit” system paid by developers to offset the recognised destruction of our local native vegetation and the habitat of our local threatened species should this development be approved, this will not help our local flora and fauna after the permanent destruction of their native environment.

Please see the following attachments
1. Cover letter Sancrox Quarry Objection
2. Beaumont Certificate of title
3. Report of King & Campbell (the following attachments refer to this report) "McMullen Submission"
4. "Attachment 1 - Aerial Proposed Quarry"
5. "Attachment 2 North West proposed Quarry"
6. "A3 Except Biolink Sancrox Eco Assessment 2011"
7 "Attachment 4 Groundwater Investigations"
8. "Photos McMullen Land drainage"

I wish to make a formal objection to the Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project. I have lived in the area for eleven years now, as a rate payer and contributor to the community with my children attending school here.
Port Macquarie is a unique and vibrant area - tourists come to visit because of our environmental beauty and wild life, and families come to live here for the same reasons. These are the characteristics that attract people to our area. Don’t allow developers to destroy everything that makes this region great - the kolas are our icon and we need to work together to protect them.

The project ‘over its entire life cycle is estimated to release approximately 48.4 million tonnes of CO2-e into the atmosphere’ – 2.5 million tonnes less than Sweden’s total emissions in 2017 (https://en.wikipedia.org/.../List_of_countries_by_carbon...). The proponent seeks to contribute greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere equivalent to those of an entire country at a time when the planet is warming, and the effects of climate change are affecting all life on earth. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean says "no one can deny" that climate change is to blame for the smoke haze choking Sydney as bushfires burn across NSW. In the state government's strongest comments yet on the link between climate change and bushfires, Mr Kean said: "This is not normal and doing nothing is not a solution". This quarry undermines any actions our community take to adapt to and mitigate climate change for our community health, safety and sustainable economic prosperity into the future.

I wish to lodge a formal objection to the proposed Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project. My objection is based on the following issues:
1. The unacceptably high level of CO2-e emissions over the project lifecycle
2. The loss of native forest vegetation, including an EEC and 43ha of core koala habitat, which will adversely impact local biodiversity
(a) As a consequence of the recent fires, no more koala habitat should be cleared.
(b) There will be destruction of an identified critical link needed to maintain vegetation connectivity for animal movement
(c) The development will divert a native flora and fauna watercourse to industrial use
3. The inadequate offsetting strategy:
(a) offsetting with a vegetation association (Paperbark) that does not occur in the development site and paying into a fund (i.e. locating the remainder of the offset area anywhere in NSW and not within the local community).
(b) not generating koala ecosystem credits despite the presence of PCT1265 in the development site
(c) of the vegetation associations identified in the project area, two are not included in the proposed offset area
4. Potential significant local noise pollution from proposed 24/7 operations

I understand that Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd were fined $15,000 in 2016 for breaching the conditions of its Environment Protection Licence at the Sancrox Quarry. The fine highlights a flagrant disregard for environmental considerations by this business and an inherent/proven “untrustworthiness” of this business being given approval for further development in this sensitive area.

The proposed ‘quarry expansion’ is more than that! It also includes two new additional operations, concrete batching and asphalt production. There are already other concrete and asphalt plants in the region that have the capacity to service the demand.
The project includes “clearing 43.1 hectares of native forest vegetation, 0.55 ha of which is identified as the threatened ecological community Subtropical coastal floodplain forest (NR117)” with serious and irreversible environmental impact. (Ref: DA, Annex C)
During November 2019 a State of Emergency was declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires. Hundreds of koalas may have been killed. Injured and now homeless koalas may migrate to, or have to be moved onto, the proposed development site.
The Greater Sancrox Area Structure Plan (Port Macquarie Hastings Council, 2014), identifies the land to be cleared as medium to high activity koala habitat. More recently the Draft Coastal Koala Plan of Management 2018 (CKPOM) produced by PMHC identifies the area as core koala habitat. The clearing also destroys an identified critical link needed to maintain vegetation connectivity for animal movement.
Insufficient field work was conducted in 2015, four years ago. A major flaw of the EIS is that it fails to record koalas at six locations and the presence of habitat critical to the endangered Swift Parrot. (Refs: Office of Environment and Heritage Records, 2008 -2013; Ref. DA Annex C)
The environmental impact is serious and irreversible. The proposed development site supports unique biodiversity with a total of 27 threatened species identified so far, including 17 birds and 9 mammals, including 7 vulnerable bats. The native vegetation on site should be retained to combat Australia’s abysmal record of extinction of plants and animals in Australia. (Ref. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/why-is-native-vegetation-important)
Proposed “Ecosystem credits” system of payment by the developer to offset destruction of threatened species does not compensate for the serious and irreversible impact on the natural environment.
Native vegetation in NSW stores a significant amount of carbon. This deforestation and forest degradation will contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and fewer trees in a region can contribute to drought by reducing the amount of local rainfall.
The natural water on the site, currently supporting native flora and fauna, will be diverted to industrial use and North and west alluvial flood plains of the Hastings River and Haydons Creek will be impacted.
The company operating this site has a poor track record of environmental compliance and were fined $15,000 by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2016 for breaches of their water management operational obligations. (Ref: EPA 24.03.2016).
The proposed works impact Aboriginal heritage sites, including a Scar Tree and ceremonial site of “high cultural significance.” (Ref: Annex D, Heritage Report)

The proposed ‘quarry expansion’ is more than that! It also includes two new additional operations, concrete batching and asphalt production. There are already other concrete and asphalt plants in the region that have the capacity to service the demand.
The project includes “clearing 43.1 hectares of native forest vegetation, 0.55 ha of which is identified as the threatened ecological community Subtropical coastal floodplain forest (NR117)” with serious and irreversible environmental impact. (Ref: DA, Annex C)
During November 2019 a State of Emergency was declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires. Hundreds of koalas may have been killed. Injured and now homeless koalas may migrate to, or have to be moved onto, the proposed development site.
The Greater Sancrox Area Structure Plan (Port Macquarie Hastings Council, 2014), identifies the land to be cleared as medium to high activity koala habitat. More recently the Draft Coastal Koala Plan of Management 2018 (CKPOM) produced by PMHC identifies the area as core koala habitat. The clearing also destroys an identified critical link needed to maintain vegetation connectivity for animal movement.
Insufficient field work was conducted in 2015, four years ago. A major flaw of the EIS is that it fails to record koalas at six locations and the presence of habitat critical to the endangered Swift Parrot. (Refs: Office of Environment and Heritage Records, 2008 -2013; Ref. DA Annex C)
The environmental impact is serious and irreversible. The proposed development site supports unique biodiversity with a total of 27 threatened species identified so far, including 17 birds and 9 mammals, including 7 vulnerable bats. The native vegetation on site should be retained to combat Australia’s abysmal record of extinction of plants and animals in Australia. (Ref. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/why-is-native-vegetation-important)
Proposed “Ecosystem credits” system of payment by the developer to offset destruction of threatened species does not compensate for the serious and irreversible impact on the natural environment.
Native vegetation in NSW stores a significant amount of carbon. This deforestation and forest degradation will contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and fewer trees in a region can contribute to drought by reducing the amount of local rainfall.
The natural water on the site, currently supporting native flora and fauna, will be diverted to industrial use and North and west alluvial flood plains of the Hastings River and Haydons Creek will be impacted.
The company operating this site has a poor track record of environmental compliance and were fined $15,000 by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2016 for breaches of their water management operational obligations. (Ref: EPA 24.03.2016).
The proposed works impact Aboriginal heritage sites, including a Scar Tree and ceremonial site of “high cultural significance.” (Ref: Annex D, Heritage Report)

24/7 work is outrageous for homes near by. The birapi scaring tree is in the area also. Also i have seen koala's in this are crossing road in last month. We need to conserve our naturefor them.