South Keswick Quarry Continuation Project

We object to this project that will further damage our environment and contribute to traffic chaos on the local roads.

This project is not in the public interest.

The Golden Highway has no dual lanes between Dubbo and Merriwa and very few areas that OSOM vehicles can pull over to allow traffic flow to continue. The Golden Highway has a history of being blocked in both directions due to fatalities. And now this quarry continuation project proposes to further add to the impending chaos on our local roads. Undoubtedly this project and the projects it is planning to supply will contribute to further fatalities on the local roads and particularly the Golden Highway.

This quarry is an open pit mine, it permanently damages the environment and landscape, and will likely become a rubbish dump for unrecyclable waste when all quarry material has been removed.

Please quantify the amount of diesel that will be used during the life of the project. Please include in this calculation the diesel used in transport of quarry materials as well as the earthmoving equipment and diesel generators used. Please also state the amount of quarry materials extracted that is intended for cement production.

This project will destroy the environment, this project will supply projects that are destroying agricultural land, this project is not in the public interest.

Stop wrecking our environment.

Stop putting more heavy vehicles on the Golden Highway that is already not fit for purpose.

Stop putting the profit motives of private companies ahead of the environment and the community.

This quarry is an open cut mine that will permanently damage the environment.

When all the quarry materials have been mined what rubbish will be dumped at this site? Damaged and obsolete solar panels? Damaged and obsolete turbine blades? Spent batteries? What will leach into our environment and waterways as a result of the dumping of unrecyclable junk?

The continuation of the South Keswick Quarry will have severe and long lasting negative effects on the environment, the community and the safety of road users.

The continued damage to local biodiversity and ecosystem with dust, noise and air pollution is not benefiting the public, the only benefit is to the profit motivated companies involved. The long term consequences for the environment and the community are not being considered.

Undoubtedly the quarry, once exhausted of it's non renewable resources, will become a dumping ground for obsolete and damaged solar panels, turbines blades and batteries. The damage to the environment will then be ongoing.

Our roads are not fit for purpose now, there are no dual lanes to allow safe overtaking of slow vehicles between Dubbo and Merriwa. There are few areas for OSOM vehicles to pull off the road to allow traffic to keep moving, the amount of OSOM and heavy vehicles is about to increase dramatically given the zoning that now allows the industrialisation of our agricultural land.

This project will destroy our environment, while contributing to travel times and road accidents.

I object to the South Keswick Quarry Continuation Project

Extracting 495 000 tonnes per annum for an additional 20 years plus expanding the extraction area will ensure that this "quarry" or rather open cut mine, continues it's environmental destruction. The additional air and noise pollution in the extraction of 7.5 millions tonnes of unrenewable resources will have enormous negative impacts on the local environment, community and economy.

Once the "quarry" - better known as an open cut mine - is exhausted what unrecyclable rubbish will be used to fill it?

Our local roads cannot cope with the current number of heavy vehicles using it at present, undoubtedly this quarry continuation will further exacerbate this problem. In particular the Golden Highway has no dual lanes between Dubbo and Merriwa. When will someone be killed on local roads given the massive increase in heavy vehicles planned in this area?

Stop wrecking the environment.

South Keswick Quarry Continuation Project SSD-61394968 Cease and Desist because Less Is Best in a Climate Emergency, Emergency, Emergency, due to Net Zero EXcess Extraction of Lands Indigenous Australian.
Add, Murray Darling Basin Food Bowl Catchments are Vital To All On Country Next 8 Generations Futures into 500 years from Now.
Cease Now, and Immediately Now, all renewable energy developments Not needed in Australia at all.
Halt All Further processing of and or development of renewable energy developments Immediately Immediately Immediately, and Revere, Honour, Offer Care To Next 8 Generations Food Bowl Catchments, Vital to All On Country Next 8 Generations into 500 years from Now, do you Understand.
Halt All Further processing of South Keswick Quarry Continuation Project SSD-61394968.
Dubbo region is a Sacred Site.
Why don't you know that, planning.nsw.gov.au, who always Claim they " We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians, the First Peoples of Australia. We acknowledge their many Countries, knowledges...." , but NEVER have, or do, Hey. When will you, planning.nsw.gov.au? From Now.
Good.
Halt All further processing of and or development of renewable energy developments Immediately Immediately Immediately upon Macquarie Barwon Upper Tributary Food Bowl Catchments.
Understand?
Do you know what you Eat?
Why are renewable energy developments built upon Food Bowl Catchments? Because you, planning.nsw.gov.au, are Ignorant, Ignorant.
Once upon a time this area was Pristine. Look what you've Done to it, planning.nsw.gov.au, you, yes you, you, office worker you.
Obviously you have Never farmed.
Test your Food, Aussies, from Now, Aussies.
Halt All Further processing of South Keswick Quarry Continuation Project SSD-61394968, and Cease the quarrie outright from 2 years from now - two, two, no more than two. You can go elsewhere, planning.nsw.gov.au, elsewhere.
How about Sydney. There. Get It ?
Dubbo region is a Sacred Site. You should Know that, planning.nsw.gov.au, hmmm, aka State Government Multinationals Global, Correct, stealing Sacred Lands, not theirs, hmmm.
Halt this project Immediately - SSD-61394968 - and Cease all operations of hard rock extraction at South Keswick Quarry From 2027.
No-one can take more than that away from this Sacred Site.
Someone has not asked Permission, Someone, Someones.
Cease and Desist Extraction of 495,000 tones per annum for an additional 20 years, including expansion of the extraction area and extracting from a total resource of approximately 7.5 million tonnes Immediately Immediately Immediately.
You do know why.
Do.
Macquarie River Care for. It's Sacred. Yeah. Hmmm. Don't feel it Cared for, why ?
Wiradjuri got a pretty big region in their name, Wiradjuri.
On Major Macquarie Barwon Vital Upper Tributary Food Bowl Catchments too. What are they up to ? I want to know. Lot of renewable energy developments going up on their Lands, Sacred, yeah. Hmmm. Who gets the say from Wiradjuri people ? Did they give Permission to expand a Quarry for the Next 20 YEARS! Hmmm.
"HEAL COUNTRY " is a map I'm viewing. Hmmm. Heal Country hmmm. Hey. Who is Wiradjuri hey ? Where are the Elders blocking this project please ? Where are they ? It's a Significant Region is Macquarie River Valley. There's not enough National Parks on the Macquarie River Tributaries but why ? Hmmm. Hmmm. Wiradjuri never dug deep for anything. Hmmm. Benelong, Geurie, Boothenba, Darralume, Moriguy National Park, to Burraway to Minore, Sappa Bulga National Park, to Toonga region is Sacred.
C'mon. Who gave Permission for South Keswick Quarry please ? Oops. Who ? Who ? You can't dig there. You should Know that. What are you doing with the rock that comes from here, South Keswick Quarry ? Why will it Still be open for another year ? Well ?
Who has been taking Land without Permission, hm ? Did you know that Dubbo region is Headwaters of Macquarie - Barwon Food Bowl Catchments? Well you better.
Don't dig for too long where you're not supposed to, hey.
You can dig somewhere else but not here anymore. Better find another site and make sure This time you get Permission.
Do you understand Permission ? Well you should, hey.
Who is Responsible ?
Research this area. Go to National Library of Australia. If planning.nsw.gov.au claim " We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians, the First Peoples of Australia. We acknowledge their many Countries, knowledges...." , but NEVER have, or do, oh dear oh dear, what Can you do! That's what's happened...planning.nsw.gov.au never say whose Country it is, hmmm.
Who were they, the Original Inhabitants in "Dubbo" region ? No-one would ever dig up the River there - Dubbo. How are planning.nsw.gov.au doing it ? No Permission it says. Shown you where. Respect it, Lands adjacent to and including the River named Macquarie now recognised as Wambuul, but not by Google Maps yet, why ?
You don't understand what you're doing in this region.
Who are you asking about it, who ? No-one?
Macquarie Barwon Upper Tributary Food Bowl Catchments Protect from Inappropriate renewable energy developments Immediately.
And How On Earth Do You Get Permission to Harm Sacred Region Dubbo, Dubbo, Dubbo. And it is a Sacred Region, Region, and needs to be Respected from Now.
What are you building with Excess extracted rock from this quarry site ?
Renewable energy developments are you? Hmmm. Shame on you.
You, planning.nsw.gov.au, Will be Responsible and Fully Accountable for Everything you do.
RGA servicing major infrastructure and development projects include?? Do RGA ask Elders for Permission to Take from Sacred Lands.
Start Testing Water Quality on the Macquarie River at these Specific Sites please EPA. Thanks.
- Lake Burrendong
- either side of Wellington
- Murrumbidgerie where Little River meets Macquarie River
- Eulomogo Creek Macquarie River Junction
- Talbragar River Macquarie River Junction
- Medway Creek Macquarie River Junction
- Coolbaggie Creek
Save Central West Macquarie-Barwon Upper Tributary Catchments from Industrialisation in the Wrong place, Absolutely.
Look what you've Done, planning.nsw.gov.au.
You've taken away the Pristine Waters of the Macquarie Barwon Vital Upper Tributary Catchments, Vital for Food Production, Australian. Understand that PRIOR to about 1827 Lands now named Central West flowed Pristine Waterways, Pristine.
Stop the Unnecessary Industrialisation of Precious Precious Precious Central West Macquarie Barwon Vital Upper Tributary Food Bowl Catchments, nb , Food Bowl Catchments, Vital to the Australian Economy and needing to be of a Quality Better than now.
Industrialisation of Headwaters of Macquarie Barwon Food Bowl Catchments is Serious if if if RE development continues another 20 YEARS in Central West region!
Save The Central West Macquarie Barwon Food Bowl Catchments from Industrialisation.

We object to the extension of the extraction area and the increased lifespan of this quarry :
1. With the expansion of Dubbo suburbs, the quarry will now be adjacent to a residential area
2. It is on land currently reserved for private recreation - which is very important given the residential area adjacent to the proposed site and forms a barrier from the heavy industrial area on the other side.
3. When approvals are given for a time period, the community expects it to be decommissioned and rehabilitated and the eyesore removed, extending it for an additional 20 years is unfair to the community.
4. The community was already disappointed when after approval the extraction rate was increased by almost 100% resulting in increased traffic and noise. Further modifications should be denied.

I object to extending the life of the operation of the quarry and extending the extraction area as it is so close to a residential area.

Note*******
As per phone call Jarrod Blane this is an updated version not the first summitted and to allow my name to be public.

I am the landowner Tom Warren 10R wellington road Dubbo noted as S7 in the location of the receiver's plan.

NOTE I have a couple of open cases with EPA and Resource regulator in regard to this site that are yet to be finalized.

EPA

I have ongoing correspondence with Dubbo EPA in regard to blasting events which have exceeded blasting limits on two occasions during the last calendar year per quarry records

Also, nine blasts, as per my independent blast monitor, are being reviewed by the EPA, these blasts fell outside of the 5% variation window as per the quarry license.

I have been told by Elliot (Dubbo EPA officer) that he is drafting up a letter of recommendation for independent blast monitoring to be conducted on an ongoing basis for this site. This has arisen as a result of analysis of my independent monitor results compared to the results as provided by the Quarry. The comparison is between the Quarry lunch box style monitor compared to my concrete pilon monitor as provided and installed by my third-party professional.

I am unaware of a formal EPA or Umwelt report related to this issue in the documents contained in the original increase in production
Project and the subsequent continuation and modification project currently being assessed,

I am most concerned the continuation and expansion project will further place my assets at risk at point S7 assets/home and livestock if blasting limits and procedures are not modified.

My insurance company has already accepted a claim for repairs as a result of quarry blasting damage to my home.

I request that the Consultants acting for the quarry sit down with me at a suitable time to arrive at an acceptable solution for this very serious issue.




Resource REG/LIVESTOCK Issues/SECURITY FENCING

A section 155 resource regulation has been issued by Tom Richards (resource worker) about clams of being in the so-called exclusion zone that is on the Dubbo neon solar farm and the parcel of land that in in between the solar farm and the quarry boundary. This includes the road accessing the concrete plant as that is our family property. I go in that area on a regular basis to check my livestock and I have watched blasts from time to time with only some 100 odd meters away.

There is no exclusion zone and this has never been discussed.

At one point I invited EPA out to my house to watch a blast to witness the impact of the blast on my home and to witness how much it moves being only several 100 meters from the blast site. I was across the paddock at that time EPA visited and they watched how it was conducted and watched me being only 40mtr away from the quarry boundary moving sheep. On that particular visit the monitor indicated the blast was well over acceptable limits as per the monitor located close to my house at site S7.

After suppling my evidence to the resource regulator, Tom had quoted me after his review "Yes the EPA have identified you to be very close to the blast on your own family place along with people mowing in the solar farm to the blast but it doesn't hold up in the court system without photos or supporting documents." with my reply of isn't an authority body good enough for legal standings" with reply of "no nothing will stand up in the courts unless they have footage".

Modeling shows in the report submitted with blasting with their avg kg of explosives the "approximate minimum blast distance to receivers" shows no modeling for our family land including the solar farm. We run sheep on the solar farm and the strip of land to the south of the solar farm.

Please note there has never been an exclusion zone considered nor negotiated with respect to blasting operations. So there is no requirement to adhere to any directions during blasting. This may create severe risk to stock and personell operating in this area.

I request that ongoing third party monitoring be commenced immediately on the land impacted by the blasts. This would be immediately beside the quarry as there is nil buffer nor exclusion zone surrounding the quarry site.

No one has ever negotiated nor contacted me about an exclusion zone or no go zone in relation to the blast area. This also applies to staff working in our solar farm land and adjacent land.

There is no documents supporting that there is and exclusion/buffer zone within our family farm areas with this extension application.

Note
The case is still open with the EPA and has not be addressed nor resolved.

I have also raised the topic of security which is totally inadequate especially as my entry point will soon be open 24/7 during the construction of two new solar farms adjacent to the quarry site.


The bitumen road is on our family land with a right of way for people to access the concrete works. We have more solar farms going in adjacent to the quarry. There with large numbers of workers due to start construction shortly using that road and I am not taking responsibility of people stopping on the road and hopping over the small farm fence or gates to look at the quarry site.
The quarry site should be security fenced to protect and minimize people entering the site.

NOISE AND VIBRATION

I believe with the modeling of the blast over pressure and vibration results in the Muller Acoustic noise and vibration assessment some data is not correct.

The closest receiver for blasting is the neon solar farm and there isn't any modeling to show that on page 32/88 in the report and the land between the solar farm the quarry. As per the EPA license they can't exceed 115db(l) and 5mm/s which being only some 50mtr away they would not be able to keep under the required levels. which goes over the live stock safety levels.

Either way, I consider my third party installed monitoring system would be superior to their quick set up monitor system currently being used by the quarry. The quarry monitor rests slightly in the ground whereas mine is bolted down to concrete as a permanent fixture as per regulations which gives a 24/7 live monitor recording.

VEGETATION

Over the last few years there has been a increased growth of Box thorns growing on the bund walls within the quarry site.

It has only become an issue to use this year with the noxious weed now starting to pop up on our side of the fence that I'm continually spraying out.

This aspect needs to be addressed as it doesn't seem to outlined in any reports relating to this continuation project.

INCREASED BLAST TIMES AND SECURITY

I do not understand why there has to be an increase for the blast times????.if there is no increase of production. Why is there a need for increased blast times???

There is a need to validate the requirement for increased blast times as this is not addressed in the consultants report .

Consultants have not contacted me at all with respect of gaining permission to come onto my land or that of my family to conduct specific monitoring tlo support the current application. This needs to be addressed as no real data has been recorded in relation to the current application.

In view of the practical and observed outcomes, I do not consider desk top modelling to be adequate on this occasion as the quarry is close to residential areas.

There have been a couple of occasions where blast holes have been left charged over a weekend and or extended times which poses a massive risk to stock and personell in the event of an unscheduled and unplanned blast.

Last Friday 21/3/2025 was a case when blast holes were left charged for a couple of days due to management issues as result of poor weather conditions.

A blast was booked for the day in question, despite rain being forecast.

The holes were left charged with explosives for a couple of days while concrete trucks were operating as normal right beside the blast area.

We were unaware that these holes were left charged with explosives and we were working in the risk area. We have sheep currently lambing in the area and that placed those sheep and ourselves at considerable risk.

This was an unacceptable high risk practice.


DUST

While the quarry does take some steps to reduce internal road dust, significant dust is generated from within the site.

This dust is a combination of micro dust as well as larger particulate dust, especially during times of blasting.

I do not believe there has been an adequate dust assessment study undertaken in respect to this project.

I invite members of the assessment team to visit the site during a blast and during normal operations of the quarry to inspect the level of micro dust being generated.

There is significant dust being deposited in my land and also within the solar farm onto the solar panels.

A formal assessment of the impact of this dust is required given the project is long term. The dust levels are significant despite modelling which says it is not a problem

Dust on the solar panels is very visible, and it does impact production levels.

This will also pose a problem for the approved new solar farm which is about to commence construction in the very near future.

I invite members of the assessment team to visit my property too inspect the professional blast monitor which I have installed.

I would like the consultants to view the impact and level of dust being generated by the quarry.

I am not totally against the project but believe there are several very important aspects of the project which have not been adequately discussed, researched and agreed.



Tom Warren JNR
0431 055 904

Note as discussed on the phone there is two Tom Warrens father and son living around the quarry site.

Superseded

Dear Sir / Madam,
Please see attached letter in objection to SSDA-6134968.
kind regards,
Marian Higgins, Planning Approvals Manager NSW & ACT

I raise grave concerns about several safety and health issues relating to the continuation quarry project. These concerns relate to the ongoing welfare of personnel and stock currently grazing on land to the north and east of the project. Concerns also exist for the long-term safety of personnel within and outside of the quarry site.
Development of the adjacent land for new and approved solar farming as well continued grazing is at risk to stock and personnel health risk caused by visible particulate micro dust being generated from within the quarry site.
This dust continues despite suppression measures on crushing, blasting and transport activities. I consider these measures to be inadequate for the control of dust on site. An audit and significant on-going monitoring is required for this site.

I had spoken to Alex from Umwelt after the public consultation at the Dubbo RSL Club and raises these issues but despite several attempts, I could not again raise him and he has not provided the information requested and discussed at the time.

ISSUE ONE relates to the level of dust and micro dust being generated from the quarry which drifts over my property to the north and east of the quarry site. This dust which is produced by crushing, operational and transport activities varies a lot from day to day from very very dusty to almost nil.

Significant dust is always created when blasting occurs and depending on the wind direction this dust goes into my land.

I requested assurance and results from studies to determine if this dust was a risk to personnel and livestock as it has been proven in recent studies in America that basalt dust may be a significant risk in the development of lung cancer especially mesothelioma. This request has never been met!!.

I am concerned this micro dust poses a very big risk to my livestock which graze on land adjacent to the quarry site.
Also I am concerned a large number of personnel, who will be commencing construction work very soon on a new approved solar farm to the east of the quarry site, will be exposed to a very significant health risk caused by exposure to this micro which for all intention purposes is the same as the risk for silica dust.
In addition, a new permanent business site to the north of the quarry will soon be commencing. This business will be a solar panel and solar equipment recycling and reuse facility which will employ several full-time staff on site.
The vacant land to the north and east of the quarry site is currently being evaluated as a future solar farm in addition to the already approved solar farm.

ISSUE TWO relates to the absence of a security fence around the Quarry site. At the moment there is a standard agricultural fence around the quarry site which provides no security at all for the quarry site.
Once construction of the solar farms and the recycle business commences the site will be effectively open to the public 24/7 via a private road on my property.
It would be very easy for personnel and a member of the public to jump the low fence and enter the quarry site with the significant accident risk associated.
I raised this security issue with Alex quite some time ago but did not receive a response.
Security fencing was never considered part of the quarry development which I believe was a grave error.

ISSUE THREE, there has never been any negotiation nor imposition of an exclusion zone on the land surrounding the quarry site as per the requirements of the Dept of Mines and the EPA.
Therefore, there is no reason for staff or personnel outside of the quarry site to restrict activities during the day during the normal quarry operations or times of blasting.
Quarry staff have no legal right to restrict access especially during times of blasting.
This may place these staff members at considerable risk especially during blast times which vary and are irregular in timing. This also applies to staff associated with the daily operations of the existing solar NEOEN farm to the north of the quarry site which according to my calculations is in violation of the standards for exclusion zones per the Mines Act.
This will be stated to staff associated with construction of the solar farms and the operation of the recycling business.

I sincerely hope these issues will be addressed and rectified prior to any approval process for the project extension. Photographs of the dust issue can be provided on request if required.

I wish to submit this objection as it will effect many people in my area and other areas that are residential areas. The noise, vibration and speed of these vehicles is totally unacceptable.

I am an owner occupier of a house on Sheraton Rd Dubbo. I have recently moved back to my house from a farm location, which I have resided for the past 5 years. Since I have returned to my residence, I have experienced the increased trucks /traffic noise passing my residence especially at 5 am on Monday mornings. Residents are not allowed to use their mowers until 7:00 am Monday to Saturdays, planes are not allowed to land in Sydney until 6:00am so why should trucks be allowed to travel through residential streets at 5:00 am – and many trucks. Trucks are speeding up to 60k/h from the roundabout and breaking to slow towards the roundabout. The speed limit has not changed to a 50 km limit as it is with all other residential streets. This has increased my anxiety and health concerns. I also notice the damage to the roadway from the trucks using this residential road and increase in dust entering my property, and I am unable to leave the front door open for natural breeze due to the noise. And yes, I do see, hear & feel the b double trucks driving past my house from the Quarry. Some trucks are signed but not are not.

The proposed Haulage from the Quarry will increase up to 300 truck movements per day 20 truck movements per hour from 5:00 am Monday to Saturday. Although school zones prohibit trucks from 8:00 am, this only causes extra movement prior to this time. This number is unreasonable. It is unclear if another access roads has been explored (ie land to the back of the Quarry) to bypass residential areas.

I am disappointed the EPA have not been requested to conducted testing of the air quality from this Quarry. Concerns have been raised at other Quarries and earthworks regarding toxic chemicals including asbestos & silica content (re Sellicks Beach SA, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Great Western Highway project). The results of blasting & drilling at the Quarry’s have caused health issues for workers and community members. The residential area in Keswick is moving closer to the Quarry, and air quality need to be addressed.

You may say I should sell up and move to another location if I have a problem. No, I love my house & property and I do not want to relocate. Big businesses should not be allowed to impact the health and lifestyle of community members.

This expansion should not occur, and I object to the continuation project being expanded. The project will impact many lives in our community. Letter drops are only provided to a small section of the community; however, this project affects many others who are simply not aware of the expansion.