Stone Ridge Quarry Project

SUBMISSION FOR THE EIS FOR STONE RIDGE QUARRY (APPLICATION # SSD-10432) – EPBS 2022/ 09368

TRANSPORT AND TRUCK MOVEMENTS

It is the cumulative effect of 4 quarries within 10 minutes of each other that is not taken into account in this EIS.

ARDG’s Stone Quarry’s 344 truck movements per day COMBINED with Boral’s East Seaham Quarry’s current and future movements in relation to its application to extend its operations TOGETHER with the truck movements from Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry (when it has business north of Raymond Terrace or Seaham Road is closed) will cause congestion; noise and pollution from diesel particulate. Eagleton Rock Quarry Pty Ltd on Barleigh Ranch Way off Italia Road has yet to lodge its application.

To get the trucks of 4 quarries (Boral’s East Seaham, ARDG’s Stone Ridge, Hanson’s Brandy Hill and the proposed Eagleton Quarry) off Italia Road and the Pacific Highway there should be a freight only rail spur line installed between Hexham and East Seaham.

If the rail siding was south of Italia Road then ARDG could build a flyover over Italia Road for access.

The Government owns land from Hexham to East Seaham adjacent to the Pacific Highway which could be used for this purpose. The spur line could operate similar to the rail freight lines to and from the coal mines in the Hunter.

There is spare rail freight capacity into Sydney even more so when the Brisbane to Melbourne inland rail project is finished. Transport of quarry products in and around Newcastle and surrounding areas could be from Hexham which is designated an industry hub.

With the 4 quarries having a life of 30 or more years and making billions of dollars the cost of a spur line is affordable (especially as the land should not have to be purchased).

A bridge over the river at Hexham would be costly but such costs were paid for road intersections and flyovers by other extractive industries south of Sydney so they could get their licences as well as the coal mines in the Hunter. A bridge for a rail freight line has lesser structural/ engineering requirements than a public transport line.

Should a rail spur line not be feasible then, a question not addressed by the EIS is will the trucks involved in the 344 daily truck movements of ARDG’s Stone Ridge Quarry be owned and operated by ARDG or contractors? Experience with Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry has shown that the most ill-feeling between the community and Brandy Hill Quarry has been created by contractors' behaviour regardless of whether the contractors have signed the Quarry's Code of Conduct or not.

Italia Road is classified a local road by Port Stephens Council. As noted on the Port Stephens Council’s website 2022-2023 “the current safety hazards evident on Italia Road:
- Pavement has deteriorated beyond normal maintenance
- lack or no shoulder width along Italia Road with trees lining the pavement
- current road width approximately 3m travel lanes
- table drains within close proximity of road edge and section with steep batters.”

Council is spending $550k to upgrade the central part of Italia Road. Italia Road is not meant for the traffic it is experiencing now or in the future. It is not fit for the purpose of either heavy truck movements or emergency access to the Pacific Highway for local residents.

From the entrances of Booral’s East Seaham Quarry and ARDG’s Stone Ridge Quarry there should be a four-lane road to allow local residents to move freely on this section of Italia Road and residents should not be stuck travelling behind slow moving trucks which can lead to dangerous driving trying to overtake trucks and cracked windscreens from gravel spilling from trucks. Trucks should have designated lanes.

Quarry trucks should not travel west along Italia Road and this includes those of Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry which travel in both directions.

BOORAL’S EAST SEAHAM QUARRY

“Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Limited would like to introduce you to the proposed Seaham Quarry Project (the Project), which involves continued operations at the existing Seaham Quarry (the Quarry) site, on Italia Road, Balickera in New South Wales.

The Quarry has been continuously operating since 1995 and has a development consent, which allows it to operate until 2035.

However, it is now close to exhausting its approved hard rock reserves, both laterally and vertically. To secure resources in the short term and to allow sufficient time for assessment and determination of the Project, a separate application to Port Stephens Council will also be submitted to modify the Quarry’s existing development consent for a small lateral extension to the Quarry pit floor (Modification 6). Modification 6 does not propose any additional disturbance or changes to operations.

Booral’s East Seaham Quarry Project
The Project will propose a long-term plan for the site, with operations to continue for an additional 30 years, to 2057.

Key project elements (subject to change as a result of the environmental assessment process):

• increasing the extraction area from 26 hectares to approximately 64 hectares;
• maximum production rate of 2 million tonnes per annum;
• frequency of blasting will increase to one blast per week, between the hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday; and
• operating hours to be extended, to 24 hours, seven days per week (subject to noise assessment outcomes).

Approvals process
The Project will be assessed as a State significant development (SSD), under Part 4 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission is the consent authority for SSD applications.

A Scoping Report is currently being prepared which will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) along with a request for the Secretary’s environmental assessment requirements (SEARs). An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will then be prepared, in accordance with the SEARs issued for the Project. As part of preparing the EIS the following studies and impact assessment investigations are anticipated to be required and are currently scheduled to be completed in 2023.”

Booral’s plan to extract 2Mtpa equates to +400 truck movements per day. This combined with ARDG’s 344 truck movements per day together with Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry truck movements and local truck traffic and the proposed Eagleton Quarry’s truck movements could see +1,000 truck movements per day on Italia Road which is designated a local road. A rail freight line is preferred.



LOCAL FLOODING AND ROAD CLOSURES

The EIS for ARDG’s Stone Ridge Quarry does not take into account that in 2007; 2015; 2016; 2021 and 2022 all roads to access Raymond Terrace and Maitland/ East Maitland except Italia Road were closed due to flooding. All roads but Italia Road were affected by major river systems in flood and low-lying topography. In 2015 the roads were closed for 6 days. It was longer in 2007.

According to Pt Stephens Council in July 2022 local roads were closed with water ingress on 10th July 2022 as follows:

“Road Closures
Newline road Eagleton
Six Mile Road Eagleton
High Street Hinton
Old Punt Road Hinton
Seaham Road Seaham
Newline Road Seaham
Clarence Town Road Woodville
Italia Road OPEN”

And this was just ‘minor’ flooding of the Hunter, Williams and Paterson Rivers impacting the low-lying areas of Raymond Terrace, Seaham, Wallalong, Hinton and surrounding areas.

Again, flooding in March 2021 with flood waters impacting the same low-lying areas and Italian Road being the only road open.

On 6th January 2016 the Port Stephens Hunter Police District published:

“ Seaham Road closed
Newline Road Raymond Terrace closed
High Street Hinton closed
Clarence Town Road closed
Italia Road open”

In 2007; 2015; 2016; 2021 and 2022 the residents of East Seaham; Seaham; Brandy Hill; Wallalong; Butterwick; Woodville; Dunns Creek and Glen Oak PLUS trucks from Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry and Booral’s East Seaham Quarry were all trying to access the Pacific Highway from Italia Road. The cumulative traffic of two quarries; local residents; local emergency services; Council workers and two local plant hire businesses and the associated road safety was extremely bad.

Italia Road is the link to Seaham from the Pacific Highway to Seaham for those wishing to access local communities. When roads are closed Italia Road is the only way to access the Pacific Highway for residents to attend appointments; seek medical assistance; get to supermarkets and hardware stores; go to work, etc.

There will be more meteorological events resulting in flooding. The Hunter is prone to severe east coast lows.

When local roads are closed ALL truck movements from ALL quarries using Italia Road should cease for the duration of any road closures due to flooding or other emergencies such as fire and this should be a requirement of their Licence to operate.

HOURS OF OPERATION

There has to be a balance between the needs of industry and the needs of local residents for peace and harmony. 24 X 7 or even 24 X 5 operations are not conducive to the health of the community which is what Booral’s East Seaham Quarry is seeking.

For quarries to operate within daylight hours is fair and reasonable. That’s 10 hours (Winter) -12 hours (Summer) X 5 or 6 days per week, daylight hours only. This should apply to the ARDG’s Stone Ridge; Boral’s East Seaham and the proposed Eagleton quarries.

The cumulative effect of all three quarries operating beyond daylight hours, especially the noise of truck loading and crushing/screening, would be intolerable especially during enhanced meteorological conditions.

ALL quarries should operate within daylight hours.

I object to this project on the inadequate assessment of the traffic impacts
See attached document.

I lead koala conservation research projects, and koala science at the University of Newcastle. My research team has led the development of the drone methods now being adopted widely to locate koala populations across NSW by government and private industry.

My research team is currently conducting broadscale drone survey operations for koalas and coexisting species to estimate abundance across the Port Stephens Local Government Area. Our research project incorporates Wallaroo State Forest, and we will complete a thermal drone survey that captures the subject site of the proposed development as part of our research permit that covers State Forest Tenure. Data in Wallaroo State Forest will be collected during August, and may allow for an understanding of the potential for impact to the remaining Port Stephens koala populations, in the context of the broader landscape. Once collected our data and expertise may ultimately be relevant to understand the potential for the Stone Ridge Quarry project to impact the Port Stephens Koala Population.

RESPONSE TO STONE RIDGE QUARRY EIS
TRANSPORT
The road transport of quarry products from the proposed ARDG Stone Ridge Quarry as well as the cumulative effect of the other quarries (Boral East Seaham, Eagleton Quarry, & Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry) within minutes of the proposed Stone Ridge Quarry is an issue that affects local residents of Balickera, East Seaham, Seaham and surrounding areas, as well as all road users beyond just the intersection of Italia Road and the Pacific Highway.
This has not been dealt with in the EIS for Stone Ridge Quarry.
The volume of existing and future truck movements along already congested roads in the Lower Hunter and into Sydney to the points of both dispatch and where they will be used is already threatening the safe and attractive life-style and the environment of this semi-rural area by way of noise, pollution from heavy vehicle emissions and carriage way dust.
ARDG’s Stone Quarry’s submission of 344 truck movements per day COMBINED with Boral’s East Seaham Quarry’s current and future movements in relation to its application to extend its current operations TOGETHER with the truck movements from Hanson’s Brandy Hill Quarry (when it has business north of Raymond Terrace or Seaham Road is closed) will enhance existing congestion; noise and pollution from diesel particulate. Eagleton Rock Quarry Pty Ltd has yet to lodge its application and declare its truck movements. Boral East Seaham Quarry proposes “maximum production rate of 2 million tonnes per annum” that could be over 400 truck movements per annum. So, within a short period of time there would be +1,000 truck movements along a local country road and at the intersection of Italia Road and Pacific Highway.

To get the trucks of 4 quarries (Boral’s East Seaham, ARDG’s Stone Ridge, Hanson’s Brandy Hill and Eagleton Quarry) off Italia Road and the Pacific Highway there should be a freight only rail spur line installed between Hexham and East Seaham.

Such rail spur lines are used to haul quarry products into Sydney from the south of Sydney and from the coal mines in the Hunter to the Port of Newcastle. Of note is the Gun Lake Quarry decision and the LEC Conditions of Consent_2017_108663 is section 29, about a 10-yearly review of rail alternatives.

Rail must be used once the volume bound for Sydney exceeds a combined threshold for ALL quarries in the Seaham/ East Seaham/ Karuah and Balickera and associated areas including the trucks from the sand mines located in Port Stephens Council which use the Pacific Highway. Any quarry in the local area should pay a contribution to NSW Government, for the eventual provision of a rail line to service ALL quarries in the area including Karuah and Brandy Hill eg $1/tonne or more OR agree to build a private rail freight line at their expense.

The quarries have a life of +30 years and will make millions of dollars so the cost of a spur line is affordable and economical when road congestion, pollution, noise and dust as well as ongoing road repairs are considered.

Until a rail spur lie is built then (1) no haulage trucks from any quarry should use the western end of Italia Road for arrivals or departures, unless servicing local jobs along local roads.
(2) Only left turns should be made out of Italia Road and no right turns for ALL trucks, requiring the slip/acceleration lane to join northbound highway traffic, and a 180 degree turn at the next interchange if heading south. Local residents should still be able to turn right off Italia Road on to Pacific Highway and not be delayed by slow moving trucks.
(3) There should be only left turns into Italia road from the northbound lane of the Pacific Highway and no right turns southbound across northbound traffic on the Pacific Highway for ALL trucks, requiring a similar extended deceleration/turning lane from the south.
(4) When Seaham Road, East Seaham Road and Clarence Town Road are closed due to flooding and Italia Road is the only local road open then ALL truck movements along Italia Road should cease until these Roads are open.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The needs of the local community and the needs of industry must be balanced for the welfare and harmony of the community. For quarries to operate within daylight hours is fair and reasonable. That is 10 hours (Winter) and 12 hours (Summer) for 5 or 6 days per week of daylight hours only. These hours of operation should apply to ALL current and future quarries in the area.

The cumulative effect of Boral’s East Seaham Quarry and the proposed Stone Ridge Quarry and Eagleton Quarry operating beyond daylight hours, especially the noise of truck loading and crushing/screening, would be intolerable especially during enhanced meteorological conditions.

Conditions for transport and hours of operation should be consistent for Stone Ridge Quarry, Boral East Seaham Quarry and Hansons Brandy Hill Quarry and any future quarries in the area.

On the basis of the issues cited above I object to Stone Quarry Ridge.

I object to the Stone Ridge Quarry project. Please see submission attachment.

To the Director, Resource Assessments, Jessie Evans,
EcoNetwork-Port Stephens is a grassroots community-based environmental and sustainability network comprising 27 community and environment groups and eco-businesses with a focus on sustainable planning. We are non-party political and do not donate to political parties.
We object to the Stone Ridge Quarry proposal SSD-10432, EPBC ID: 2022/09368, LOT: 1, DP 724372; LOT: 36 and 65, DP: 753200; LOT 540, DP: 1207159 on the grounds outlined in the attached document.

Please see attachment for full submission. We strongly oppose this proposal due to it's significant and irreversible impact on koalas.

I consider that the project should not proceed as the Environmental and Biodiversity adverse impacts cannot be mitigated due to it being located in three crucial biodiversity corridors essential to allow for migration of endangered species due to climate change.

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I am concerned for the health and safety of residents on Italia Road from the atmospheric pollution due to dust from the mining, water pollution and the number of trucks passing along this narrow road. I am also concerned about the forest decimation as this area is a koala corridor and a habitat of birds and wildlife. Even before this happening wildlife is often killed by passing traffic.

I lodge my objection to the Stone Ridge Quarry project on several grounds which include;
Impact on the local community uses of the Wallaroo forest areas by visitors to this unique habitat of many species of native flora and fauna. Australia leads the world on mammal extinctions so we need to not adversely impact on animal habitat.
Impact on the safety of NSW road users due to the foreseen generated increased heavy vehicle movements transporting products on the Itallia Road and the highway from Karuah to Sydney.
The increased danger to native animals due to the increased road traffic. Again, Australia leads the world on mammal extinctions so we need to protect them , not expose them to harm..
The generation of noise affecting the local residents and the native animals in the Wallaroo forested areas. Australia leads the world on mammal extinctions so we should be decreasing the human impacts on native animal environments such as the Wallaroo forest.
The potential negative impacts of blast vibrations on the nearby convict built Balickera House and the native animals in the Wallaroo forest areas. As illustrated by recent whale stranding not enough is known about the impact of noise and seismic vibrations on animals
The generated dust causing adverse health effects of the local residents. Several papers have been published researching the increased cases of emphysema in humans around mining areas.
The generation of dust polluting the drinking water of residents in the area of the proposal. Dust can pollute at times the drinking water of the residences in the surrounding area as their many source of this precious resources is via the collection of rainwater in storage tanks for drinking, washing and effluent treatment. Dust can be generated on occasions by rural agriculture and even natural wind events blowing dust from inland Australia. I have lived in East Seaham for over 35 years and noticed that the cleaning of house gutters and rain water storage systems has revealed an increase in dust build up has increased over the period in line with the increased number of gravel quarries and associated activities in the Seaham and Karuah areas.
The deforestation caused by the proposed quarry will further impact on climate change. The best method of converting carbon dioxide and returning it to the soil ids by the process of photosynthesis. The fact that the company proposing this quarry states in the media that “the trees have been logged for over a hundred years” or have stated at community information sessions that the trees in the area are “low quality and not suitable for logging” indicates their sales benefit but does not decrease the need that our planet requires them to reverse the impacts of climate change. Recent world events indicate the importance of humans changing their activities and protecting the forests.
In closing I believe I have provided valid reasons for not approving this project. I have not heard at the community information session or seen in the printed or television media a valid reason for another quarry to supply market requirements that cannot be met by existing quarries in the Seaham / Karuah areas.
Kind regards,
Steve Larsen – 348 East Seaham Road, East Seaham NSW 2324
Email - [email protected]
Mobile – 0488 023 234

Thie is an appalling project. My detailed reasons for objecting are contained in the attached letter

Whilst I understand the need for construction materials I object to it being sourced by the clearing and destruction of vital habitat for the survival of native plants and animals, particularly in light of the growing effects of climate change.
I do not live in the area but can imagine the impact of increased usage of heavy haulage vehicles on roads that were never designed to take the loading and frequency of movements.
I note with some alarm that the proponent claims the quarry activities are "unlikely" to effect koala habitat.

I object to this project on environmental reasons as if this project were to go ahead it would result in major negative impacts to the natural environment and would not be in the public interest, let alone the interest of the flora and fauns. To destry 79 ha of state forest which is held in trust for the public should never be allowed to be considered, let alone developed. If this project went ahead the impact upon the koala and other species would be disastrous as their habitat would be greatly reduced thus affecting their longevity.
The project would also greatly affect the adjoining Wallaroo National Park and its important biological values.
The public have had enough of quarries being built or expanded on lands that affect flora and fauna and this needs to cease.
We are custodians of the land for future generations, and it is not our place or your place to ruin and destroy these lands.
Thank You

My major objections to the Stone Hill Quarry proposal result from the significant negative impact on both local residents and on wildlife. This will be exacerbated by the proximity to two existing quarries with expansion plans.
The nearest residents are very close (1km away) and will be highly affected by noise, dust, traffic and other considerations.
The operating hours appear excessive. With proposed hours of operation having trucks moving from 6am to 10pm 6 days per week (6am to 3pm Saturdays) and quarrying from 6am to 6pm (6am – 3pm) Saturdays.
Traffic
The wider community will be affected by traffic generated by the quarry, with peak traffic of 30 trucks / hour – a truck every two minutes! The roundabout at Raymond Terrace / Masonite Road is already difficult to navigate. Peak hour and holiday traffic already queues through Hexham and Heatherbrae and adding so many more trucks will make this even more hazardous and negative. Additionally there will be impacts on other users of Italia road, who are trying to access the Pacific Highway to head north.
The proposal to left turn only from Italia Road to Pacific Hwy involves a 22km detour via Tarean Road interchange for every truck leaving the site, which seems highly inefficient. The roadworks proposed to manage some of the traffic flow is dependent on all three quarries operating.
It is not clear whether the impact on Karuah residents using Tarean Road of the generated traffic has been considered properly. It does not appear that that community, along with the local council have been consulted.
Wildlife
Clearing 139 Hectares of State Forest is identified to cause significant impact to listed threatened species and ecological communities, including koala. This is clearly such an outrageous proposition that it is hard to find the words to respond. Koala and the other listed species are on the brink and need every chance to not be wiped out from one of the remaining areas where they are managing to thrive. Since the Brandy Hill Quarry expansion the koala hospital has noticed an increase in admissions from that area and this quarry would have the same result of killing and displacing koala and other threatened species. It is clear than there is no justification for pursuing this proposal.
Minimal benefit
On balance there is no benefit to the local community that would warrant the negative effects and destruction of habitat within the State forest. Only 10 full-time jobs are proposed to result from the quarry. The major benefits will accrue to the company operating the quarry in the form of profit.

Please do not allow this quarry to proceed

How can we approve projects in a state forest when we know it contains koala population and are complaining about lack of koalas.
Also how does all these extra trucks get onto main highway to Queensland the intersection is already dangerous and Booral also proposing extensions and extra truck movements
I don’t necessarily disagree with approval but what about the environment, residents and traffic implications. I believe these concerns have not been met first

Whatever will help protect our water security

I object to the project on the basis of environmental degradation caused by, but not limited to, forest fragmentation, long-term heavy vehicle haulage using fossil fuels and a lack of regard for the needs of future generations. I do not agree that my children need more development using quarry products and concrete at the expense of bushland, clean water and habitat.

Many thanks

Stone Ridge Quarry's proposed site exists on State Forest area, in the midst of dry and coastal climate corridors for the area and the State Forest connects up to moist climate corridors nearby. These corridors are vital for the movement of species in our warming future.

Removing connectivity in a vital area, that has been developing for decades after logging would be unwise, offsets will take decades to form shape that is similar and does not account for the old remnant trees that exist and the hollows of dead trees. Our State Forests should be held up to a higher standard in a time period where there are more than a handful of other proposed quarry sites in more desolate areas and creating more yield.

A landscape-scale approach must be taken for the approval of these sites, there are sites that will have a higher yield of stone and have far less impact than the site proposed on top of quarries in the area that are seeking expansion that would be able to meet demand for stone materials. We must consider the continued small cuts adding up if we are to protect our biodiversity into the future.

I object to this proposed quarry as it will only add to the fragmentation of our natural ecosystems and wildlife for the purpose of continuing the environmental damage caused by development ( gravel for building of roads and housing).
Environmental preservation and regeneration is paramount for our future generations to have a healthy and sustainable future on the planet. More quarries is not the solution, and especially one in such a sensitive and fragile area.
Thank you