Sutton Forest Sand Quarry

I feel it necessary to point out some major traffic management flaws
in the EIS and therefore oppose this proposal. People's lives are at
stake by lack of careful thought and planning. This issue cant be the
`we'll wait and see what happens and then take remedial steps
afterwards' strategy that is present in so many areas of concern in
this EIS.

In the course of my day to day work I spend a considerable time on the
road. Safety is also a major concern in regards to traffic in the mine
site area. I regularly travel on the Hume Highway and The Great
Western Highway and other roads in and around Sydney. Large numbers of
trucks on the road undoubtedly increase the risks of fatalities. An
additional 300 heavy trucks exiting on to the Hume Highway coupled
with the extra influx from the Penrose sand mine spell a serious risk
of road fatality. Even if drivers are constantly monitored for safety,
the sheer number of trucks doing 110 on a two lane Highway greatly
increases the risk of fatal accidents.

The flow patterns for the trucks are hazardous. Trucks entering the
highway whilst accelerating and merging with cars exiting and
decelerating all within 500m of each other is a very dangerous
situation. Visibility would be reduced by the sheer size and numbers
of trucks and the situation would be even worse at night.

It is unacceptable to put a mine site right in the middle of a rural
area that is populated or visited by so many, therefore putting their
health and safety at risk.

This is a dangerous road that connects major cities. There is no room
for so many additional heavy vehicles carrying such heavy loads.

The proposed quarry adjoins the land on which is located the Our Lady of
Mercy Shrine, Penrose Park. The shrine has been a place of worship
since 1984, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over Australia
and overseas. Conducting a quarry on the basis proposed would , I
believe, destroy the quiet enjoyment of the Pauline fathers who reside
at the shrine and seriously interfere with the religious services
conducted there and disrupt the contemplative atmosphere of the
shrine. The quarry works, by their very nature, will cause dust,
noise, and vibration to emanate from the site to the detriment of the
shrine. Clearing of the site will require deforestation of 67 Hectares
of native vegetation with consequent negative effects on the native
fauna and the wildlife corridors. The proposed depth of the quarry is
such that is may interfere with the water table, to the detriment of
the adjoining landowners. Subsequent back-filling of the quarry could
result in contaminants leaching into the long swamp and from there
into the Sydney/Nepean water catchment.
A great deal of work over many years has gone into the building and
development of the Shrine the amenity of which will be destroyed, in
my view, if the quarry is allowed to proceed, For these reasons I
strongly object to approval being given to the application for the
quarry.

I am a horticulturalist and farmer and I object to the proposed Sutton
Forest Quarry Project. I think it is an inappropriate development in
its proposed location and one which could have major detrimental
effects on the immediate and broader environment. The potential
detrimental effects that I am particularly concerned about are:
- detrimental impacts on various native flora and fauna that exist
within the immediate environment
- detrimental impacts on long-term groundwater and surface water
systems
- detrimental impacts on water quality within the broader Sydney water
catchment area.
- detrimental effects for people who live in or visit areas adjacent
to the proposed site.
I consider that there is a major inconsistency between the
government's stated desire and legal responsibility to protect
important habitat areas and the approval of this proposed development.
In particular, there is an incompatibility between the extractive
processes proposed and their longer term potential impact on
groundwater and surface water systems in an area which is a complex
ecosystem in its own right, as well as an important part of the larger
Sydney water catchment area. Various parts of the EIS for this
proposed project indicate that a range of risks regarding water
quality and water flow are not clearly quantifiable due to lack of
commencing data and/or an inability to predict how things may change
if operations were to commence, and I consider it unacceptable - given
what we now know about the importance of preserving functioning
ecosystems - for the proposal to proceed when so many of the risks
cannot be adequately identified or adequately mitigated, other than
indicating that the mitigation plans are, in effect, "to wait and see
what happens". This is clearly an unacceptable level of risk, and is
at odds with the requirement under the catchment management plan that
new developments must be able to demonstrate a neutral or positive
effect on water quality assessment. I also strongly object to the idea
introduced in the EIS that in order to meet the water requirements to
conduct the quarry operations that an additional water capacity will
need to be acquired. It is not fair or reasonable of the proponents to
ask for their allocation to be extended beyond that which is
available.
In respect of negative impacts on flora and fauna of the area, it is
of great concern that the scale of this project will significantly
decrease if not destroy a range of animals within the immediate area.
Habitat removal for this project would also destroy a significant area
of the acknowledged wildlife 'corridor' that bridges habitat areas to
the north and to the south. It is not reasonable to seriously weaken
this important yet quite narrow corridor at this proposed location,
nor is it sensible to do so when there is also an active government
project in train right now which seeks to build up habitat in this
very area for the critically endangered glossy black cockatoo. I do
not believe that the provision of a 'wildlife area' adjacent to the
quarry will account for, or make up for, the greater area of habitat
destroyed by the project and the noise and disturbance that it will
bring.
As a farmer I am very conscious that the land we make a living from
and that feed others is fragile and in need of care. Biodiversity and
healthy habitat is critically important to long-term sustainable
agricultural production. The quarry project proposed is not compatible
with care of our precious land, nor good husbandry of our important
biodiversity. It should not go ahead.

I vehemently protest the Sutton Forest Quarry project based on the
sensitive nature of the neighbourhood and the investment that the
community has made next door at the Pauline Fathers Our Lady of Mercy
Shrine.

There are hundreds of sensitive, (many hand made) and much loved
shrines which face being ruined if a mine is made next door.

The Pauline Fathers are an order founded by St Paul the Hermit and
they bought this land to enjoy silence and pray for humanity in its
frailty in need of God's Grace.

This mine will utterly destroy the serene, rural setting so essential
for the religious and the hundreds of pilgrims visiting the site every
month. Noise, air and subterranean pollution will affect everyone
living on and visiting the property and the fauna and fauna so loved
and relished by everyone who spends time here.

The livelihood of the priests and the function of the church will be
critically adversely affected not to mention the value of the property
and the serious negative impact upon the psychology of thousands of
people involved in the building and maintenance of the outer areas of
the shrine.

This is more than a tragedy. It is an unthinkable blight to what has
become a national treasure to the Catholic faithful. The Shrine is
famous throughout the whole country/Australia!

Please I urge you as a visitor to the Shrine who has received so much
from this Holy and Sacred place, along with my husband and daughter -
do not even consider this proposal. There is no where in Sydney to go
to experience its serenity and charm. Please do not deny people in
such need of quiet reflection and peace to make their life - simply -
worthwhile!

What a beautiful place to visit over a weekend. Where else will Sydney
Siders and others go?? There is no place like it in the State and it
must not be wrecked by the approval of a mine next door, so close by.
It will never be the same place again if the proposal goes ahead!

Be assured that there are thousands of people, I'm sure, who share my
view but didn't hear about this proposed mine. The majority of the
people affected would have missed the call for submissions
notification on Facebook, which is how I found out about it.

I object strongly to the proposed quarry.
1. I object to this and any mining process that penetrates the water
table and puts at risk the water supply to Sydney or to the nearby
areas. This sand quarry is clearly going to result in undesirable
waste material flowing into the catchment. The proposed retention
systems will never be adequate, and the risk is permanent.
Contaminated streams can NEVER be restored.
2. I object to any reduction in the wildlife corridor. The Great
Western Wildlife Corridor is a precious resource for all Australians,
not just Bondi residents wanting to sell sand. This corridor should be
enlarged, not trimmed down to suit a quarry.
3. I object to the proposed peak hours of operation, especially
anywhere near a wildlife corridor. The fauna that is likely to move
through that area is nocturnal - and this company plans to start its
quarrying, loading and transporting routine at 4am. A 4am start means
workers and vehicles and noise and dust before 4 am when these animals
would want to be active.
a. See
http://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/services/environment/environmental-information/biodiversity/great-western-wildlife-corridor

"This is a critical corridor for connectivity conservation as many
threatened species including the Koala, Regent Honeyeater, Glossy
Black-Cockatoo and other important ecological species such as Emus
utilise this corridor."

... and..

"The Sutton Forest, Paddys River, Wingello and High Range localities
are where the GWWC is narrowest and highly fragmented and where we
need to focus conservation efforts."

b. The Noise and vibration abatement safeguards and actions are for
the benefit of humans, and notably the Pauline Fathers and their
visitors, while ignoring the effects on more sensitive animals.

I strongly object to the proposed sand mine on a range of grounds. I am a
resident of the Southern Highlands, went to school here, left to work
and raise a family in Sydney and elsewhere and and about 8 years ago
purchased a house here for my (semi-)retirement.

I am a keen bush walker and environmentalist.

The EIS prepared in association with this proposed mine is totally
unacceptable and lacks elementary research and essential data required
under NSW Government legislation in order to be assessed.

Essentially the thrust of the EIS is; approve the mining proposal and
we'll try to resolve/make good the problems associated with the
environment, traffic, noise, pollution issues, light pollution, loss
of biodiversity as we go along.

I struggle to understand how the Planning Department can permit such a
rubbish document be called an EIS and distributed as it does not
define the environmental impact of the proposed mine.

The data is contained in the EIS is poor, lacks robustness or
sensitivity testing. Any decisions made based on this document would
be little better than guesses. The consequences of a poor decision in
relation to this proposed mine on future generations is terrible to
imagine. The consequences in terms of human, flora and flora and
financial is a risk that would be very costly to locals and of course
the NSW State Government.

My specific objections are that:
- it will significantly reduce biodiversity within the Southern
Highlands and seriously disrupt or effectively destroy the Blue
Mountains to Morton national Park wildlife corridor known as the Great
Western Wildlife Corridor
- an area of more than 70 hectares will be removed from existing koala
habitat. The proposed mine would reduce koala habit by the mine area
itself plus the surrounding land due to noise, light, dust and
traffic. Koalas have been sighted by locals within the proposed site.
- destruction of the Long Swamp and creek as a wild life habitat
(flora and fauna) due to increased contaminants including heavy
metals, silt, rapid pH fluctuations, hydrocarbons etc.
- the removal of sandstone which currently acts as a filter to ground
water entering Long Swamp negatively impacting water quality which
directly feeds the Sydney water catchment area.
- lowering the water table which will impact local residents and
reduce the effectiveness of their agricultural operations leading
possibly to drop in agricultural output.
- there are not enough water licences available to meet the needs of
this mine, unless the water usage an order of magnitude lower than
equivalent sand mining operations. This is not possible given the
mining techniques proposed.
- a range of pollution will be produced, light, noise, dust as well as
mining waste products which will be blown and distributed into the
adjacent land by wind, rainfall and water flows.
- the traffic in terms of heavy vehicles will significantly delay
existing road traffic on the motorway as well as delaying traffic
using adjacent intersections. Given the volume of trucks during peak
periods, delays are estimated to be 10 minutes most days during those
peak periods.
- traffic, noise and dust would also negatively impact the long term
tourist industry. As tourism is the long term lifeblood lifeblood of
the Southern Highlands, it would be counter productive to the area to
take from the local tourism industry.
- jobs associated with this sand mine are minor in comparison to the
local tourism and service industries. And the bulk of jobs associated
with the mine are administrative, based outside the Wingecarribee
Shire. Mining prides itself on the development of new automated and
robotic equipment to minimise the number of workers so any initial
employment would clearly reduce significantly over time.
- when mining is complete in 35+ years, the mine site would be
impossible to restore to a similar ecological state and would never
become suitable for the existing wildlife (flora or fauna) again. This
loss is too great to contemplate. Alternative use of the site as a
playing field or "nature park" with grass and non-locally native
vegetation and unsuitable for current fauna would make a mockery of
the existing protections in currently in place. Studies show once the
top soil is disturbed, it is unsuitable for existing vegetation.

I oppose this proposed sand mine on many accounts. NSW needs our
protected areas to enable our wildlife to survive. Our record
regarding endangered species is terrible. Koalas numbers in this
region are falling dramatically and this proposed mine will reduce
them further.

The same chemical composition sandstone exists closer one to the
surface the closer one gets to Sydney. I would propose that as the
sandstone is required by Sydney for infrastructure upgrades in Sydney,
why not mine the sandstone in Sydney? I note there are many exposed
sandstone outcrops around Sydney Harbour such as Point Piper. Our
Prime Minister has a property there and given he has alternative
lodgings I am sure he would be pleased to assist "jobs and growth" in
Sydney by permitting the mining of sandstone on his property. ask him
please.

Alternatively, I note from my school geography books there is quite a
bit of sandstone in parts of central Australia. Yes the transport
costs may be higher but to preserve our native flora and fauna, surely
alternative locations could be found for a mine?

Respect existence, or there will be resistance. The Hume Coal project
is being resisted, so will this proposed sand mine.

I wish to submit my OPPOSITION to the proposed sand mine at Sutton
Forest. There are far too many environmental impacts, and it affects
me and my family personally, as I have outlined below.

Environmental
A sand mine at Sutton Forest will pollute and damage the upper and
deeper ground water systems that are heavily relied on by local
residents and farmers in the area. Their livelihood relies on a source
of pure clean uncontaminated water. The effects of any contamination
(no matter how big or small) will reach Sydney's water supply as the
mine site drains into Long Swamp creek, a Nepean catchment area for
Warragamba Dam

To clear a huge stretch of land in the only vegetated habitat corridor
shows total disregard for the environment. Our native animals rely on
this track of land to move between regions around The Blue Mountains
in the north to Bungonia in the south. Human impact on native habitats
have huge consequences both short and long term. Mining in large open
pit mines is a threat to the biodiversity of this area and a safe and
undisturbed habitat corridor is only way of protecting our native
species. This cannot be another case of human need and greed to the
detriment of the environment.

Personal
The proposed sand quarry is adjacent to our family property. This is
the place I visited my Gran and Pop while they were alive, and I still
feel their spirits close to me when I visit the property, now under
the management of my uncle.
This directly impacts our family. This is our sacred place, a place
where four generations have worked and played and created memories. A
filthy noisy destructive mine and tip just 60 metres from our family
home, completely shatters that.
I have a baby girl, and I want to instill in her a sense of
responsibility to care for the environment. I want to pass on to them
a world that is sustainable. I also want her to be able to visit the
tranquil, beautiful farm that I grew up visiting.

Thank you for taking my concerns into consideration.

Siobhan Dongés

I wish to make known my extreme displeasure regarding the sand mine
beside the Pauline Fathers Monastery at Penrose, NSW. The mine will
cause much environmental destruction to animal habitats, noise
pollution, and air pollution. Most importantly, the mine will destroy
much of unque qualities of the adjacent Catholic Pauline Fathers
Monastery; noise pollution from machines, trucks and explosions, dust
pollution, visual pollution from tree clearing, increased winds due to
tree clearing, etc. All these types of pollution will have a highly
damging effect on what is a tranquil spiritual refuge for thousands of
people annually. The benefits that the Monastery brings to thousands
of people, and therefore to our society, cannot have a price put on
it. The sand mine will severely damage the function of the Monastery.

I am submitting my OPPOSITION to the Sutton Forest Quarry Proposal.

It is a sad world we are living in that we need to rally together to
fight such disgusting capitalist greed. When will people learn you
can't eat money. And for the sake of some sand we are considering
turning a beloved neighbourhood area into a rubbish pit. Literally.

Sand mining operations are out of place in this native bush/ rural/
residential area. Not only will it have a devostating impact on the
locals, who have been living there for generations, but the proposed
deforestation and habitat destruction should be enough to squash this.

I work for an agricultural industry that is taking significant steps
in our ambitions to employ world class sustainability practises. In a
world today where so many have been short sighted for a short term
monetary gain, if we don't act now, we are at risk of destroying
things beyond repair. Don't let this be an instance of that.

Sustainability is a key priority for many top tier businesses, it is
even a subject being taught in universities. How can something with
such a negative environmental impact be considered. It's sand.

Thank you,

I am concerned that the proposed sand mine at Sutton Forest Quarry will
adversely affect the air and water quality in The Southern Highlands
region. Additionally, noise pollution will infiltrate quiet
residential farms and a significant place of worship. The native flora
and flora will be severely affected. Increased traffic on the Hume
Highway will increase to a dangerous level. There will be a huge
impact on tourism through air, sound , water pollution and the extra
heavy traffic generated by the mine.

The removal of sandstone and its critical biological role in filtering
water will affect the purity of water not just in the area but the
water flowing into the Nepean Catchment area which forms part of The
Sydney water supply. We should be confident that our water supply
remains clean and free from contaminants and should not be under any
threat at all from contamination

Polluting the local water supply and clearing 63 hectares of native
bushland and as a consequence harming the native flora and fauna, some
of which are diminishing in numbers or endangered, is an environmental
decision that cannot afford to be considered.

This land forms part of a very narrow corridor where animals and birds
can move freely from North to South. They need this safe corridor for
their survival. Noise, blasting and light from the mine will scare
animals, make it difficult for them to hear each other or any
predators approaching. Cutting down the trees and clearing the lower
foliage layer, as well as the removal of stumps and rocks will
detrimentally affect the animal and bird population. Dust covering
leaves of plants stops photosynthesis and polluted water or none at
all due to the lower water table, will result in plants that will fail
to grow or die.

Too often in Australia we `shut the gate after the horse has bolted'.
We talk the talk about conservation but don't take the necessary
action needed to protect our native species. This proposal is
unacceptable. Don't let this area become another area that has been
totally decimated.

The proposed sand mine will bring with it a significant increase in
heavy vehicles on the Hume Highway. Access into private properties at
the entrance to the quarry road will be severely impacted. I have been
a constant visitor to one of the properties that share the existing
driveway from the Highway to the farm gates. Their beautiful driveway
that meanders through bushland and then beautiful lilac fields will be
gone. Apparently the entrance to their rural property will be along a
cement walled Quarry access road that they must share with sand trucks
entering and exiting from the highway. This is totally unacceptable to
expect long time residents (now four generations) to totally alter the
way they enter their property. This is unacceptable that their safety
is put at risk.

In addition the walled quarry road would mean that instead of looking
out onto green rolling pastures my friends would look onto a 3.9m high
concrete wall. This is hardly what `rural' means and once again, total
unacceptable. How is it even possible to put in a submission that
impacts so much on others? Respect for others and others belongings;
that is the basis for a society that works well together. Why is it
that some feel they have the right to dictate to others?

My line of work is tourism. Tourism in this area generates and
provides employment for thousands of Australians. This needs to be
compared against the very small number that will actually be employed
by the mine. Loss of tourism in this area would have severe economic
implications for not just the local residents but for the Australian
Government. Thousands of people visit the Southern Highlands each year
for a variety of reasons. The emerging wine industry in this area
attracts tourists from Sydney, Canberra and the South Coast. The area
is popular as a wedding venue and as a result thousands of people
visit the area and spend their money there on hotel stays, food, etc.

Tourism gives businesses more revenue giving our government more tax
dollars. Without tourism industry Australia will lose millions of
dollars and businesses in this area will no longer be a viable source
of income

Tens of thousands of tourist visitors per year visit the religious
site at Penrose Park, a property that directly backs onto the mine
site. Interference to the regular pattern of worship will be a reality
if the mine goes ahead. The Grotto, containing the Statue of Our Lady
of Mercy is located just metres from the proposed rock crushing
processing plant. The celebrations that happen here are significant.

The monastery, run by the Sacred Heart Fathers, contains around 43
small chapels built by people from a variety of cultures. It is a
place where many nationalities come together to worship Many pilgrims
make the journey to the Shrine to worship and stay the weekend in the
Southern Highlands area. This is not only a religious experience but a
social and cultural one as well. This coming together of people from
different cultures promotes an understanding and acceptance and
reflects the multicultural demographic of Australian society.

By looking at the link below, a clear understanding of the importance
of this area as a centre needed for religious, social, cultural
reasons as well as the tourist dollar.
http://penrosepark.com.au/history/

I am urging you to strongly reject this ill thought out submission. It
has serious impacts on the residents of the highlands, the place of
worship visited by thousand of tourists a year, the native flora and
fauna and the air, serenity and water of the area. Stamp this as
Unacceptable.

I passionately OPPOSE the proposed sand mine at Sutton Forest. I am
devastated that such a thing could even be considered - the impact to
the local flora and fauna is horrific. Endangered and threatened
species will lose their habitat and there will be deaths.
Pollution to air and water is unavoidable should this ill-thought
scheme go ahead. I would like a government that prioritises clean air
and drinking water.
I would like the chance to vehemently oppose this proposal. Had it not
been for the live stream by Southern Highland News
at the Public meeting, I would not have even been aware of this
proposal. How upsetting that we are pulling together last minute to
rally against a project a majority of the population would oppose
given the chance.
Please say a firm 'NO" to this sandmining development. To say yes
would be to the abandon common sense and ignore the environmental
concerns, of both humans and animal and plant life. It would be
political suicide. And for what? A few jobs until the sand runs out.
Think long term, and place what makes this country so beautiful - its
biodiversity, its bush, its wildlife - as your priority.
PLEASE

I wish to submit my OPPOSITION to the proposed sand mine at Sutton
Forest. This quiet rural area is not the place for a sand mine of the
proposed size. There are far too many impacts environmentally and
socially to accept this proposal.
Polluting and damaging Long Swamp and its aquifer (by overflow and
leaching mud and finings from the pit) will affect not just the local
residents and the native flora and fauna but on a clean water supply
to Sydney as it is part of the Nepean water catchment area feeding
into Warragamba Dam.

It clearly states in the EIS that there is a possible threat to the
endangered ecological community from `land clearing, pollution and
eutrophication, erosion and sedimentation and changes to water tables
and surface flows caused by drainage works or altered flows in the
catchment" 5.6.6.1 is full of `could' and `may' which is a totally
unacceptable potential threat to our environment. We should be moving
towards cleaning up our waterways rather than placing extra burden on
them. Past experiences from mining `accidents' and the idea that a
company will remediate and fix a problem after an event is opening the
door to more environmental pollution. A wait and see attitude is just
not good enough for the people of NSW and Australia.
It is unacceptable to put a mine site right in the middle of a rural
area that is populated or visited by so many, therefore putting their
health at risk. Dust from the mine site poses a serious health threat
to the community. It is well documented that the adverse health
effects of airborn dust include diseases such as asthma, silicosis,
fibrosis and cancer. The winds in this area are very strong and dust
particles will be blown across vast areas of the Highlands posing a
huge threat to not only people who live in the area but to those
visiting. Both long (over years) and short term (hours or days)
particle exposure pose a serious threat. This is not a safe place for
this mine.

To clear a huge stretch of land (63 hectares) in the only vegetated
habitat corridor shows total disregard for the environment. Our native
animals rely on this track of land to move between regions around The
Blue Mountains in the north to Bungonia in the south. Human impact on
native habitats have huge consequences both short and long term.
Mining in large open pit mines is a threat to the biodiversity of this
area and a safe and undisturbed habitat corridor is only way of
protecting our native species. This cannot be another case of human
need and greed to the detriment of the environment
Mining in the Sutton Forest are will adversely affect the biodiversity
of the area. This area is located in the Great Western Wildlife
Corridor and therefore it is important that this area remain untouched
as it is an important vegetated habitat for many of our native
animals. The endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo requires this stretch of
native vegetation for nesting and feeding as it requires very specific
environmental conditions. This cannot be another case of humanity of
wiping out another species.

Sand mining operations are out of place in this native bush/ rural/
residential area. The deforestation, habitat destruction and
biodiversity erosion due to a sand mine in this area can not be
considered.
ht

Australian wildlife are so pure and unique that have survived thousands
of years of evolution and we're wiping them out in a single lifetime.
This is our land, our life force. And you're destroying it and our
future.

I am very concerned with the lowering of the water table and the impact
it will have on the fauna and flora of the landscape and in addition
the impact it will have on bores.
Truck movements are of great concern on the safety and impact on the
roads, adding to considerable noise levels.
The mine operation will severely impact local residents with noise and
pollution.

I have concerns about continued removal of raw materials. There are many
other options for sourcing this product

I am strongly opposed to this proposed sand quarry in Sutton Forest.
I will start with quoting the NSW Planning Department's mission
statement that "developments should have a neutral or beneficial
environmental impact".
The remainder of my submission includes the gist of my wife's
submission.
I am appalled that the proponents have had several years to plan this
development, whilst the general public, such as myself as a resident
of Sutton Forest, had about 4 weeks to study the complex EIS.
As a result of such a short period of time, and apparently a refusal
to allow an extension of time as requested by Wingecarribee Shire
Council, my submission will be very short, though based on my personal
knowledge of the local environment having had eight decades of deep
interest in geology and the natural environment.
I believe that the water table, the Sydney water catchment and nearby
precious, ecologically important swamps will be irreparably damaged,
both by the extraction process and the proposed rehabilitation.
I believe that the critical habitat corridor from the Morton National
Park to the Blue Mountains, which has received tax payer support will
be compromised, as will the endangered flora and fauna such as Koalas,
and the Glossy Black Cockatoo due to loss of habitat; noise, dust and
light pollution.
Although there are not very many residential properties near the
proposed site, there is an important religious facility which welcomes
25,000 visitors/tourists per annum. Tourism is important to this
district.
The plethora of large truck movements on the Hume Highway is of
considerable concern to me.
Having spoken with several quarry, mining and hydrology experts, I
believe that this EIS is is grossly inadequate and I urge the
Department and NSW government to reject the proposal.

Significant destruction of natural habitat, adverse effects of airborne
particulate - aggravating childhood asthma of local community. Also
concerned about noise and increased traffic (Trucks) on Hume Hwy.
Majorly concerned and protest this development due to the known
outcomes of mining on ground water quality and subsequent harm to
health of local community. STOP THIS MINE and respect Nature

I am a land owner in berrima medway area .
My concern is

The effect this project will have on the water table
We also have a coal mine project that is a threat to our ground water
that we rely on for stock water

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed sand mining
operation in Sutton Forest. The proposed quarry will have unavoidable
impact on the local environment including risks to the local waterways
and ecosystems that are not acceptable. It is a beautiful area that
deserves protection.

I am particularly concerned with the impact on the threatened species
in the region that will result from clearing parts of the Great
Western Wildlife Corridor and from the noise from the 24 hour
operation of the plant. The risks are too great and I do not see a way
that they can be mitigated to a reasonable level.

This region and its community should be protected, not exploited.

I have known about this project for some years now. Initially, we were
approached by the Sutton Forest Quarry owners about putting access
through my property for the trucks to pass from the quarry, through 2
other properties and up to the road near the Shell Service Station.
This access was to pay sufficient compensation to offset the negatives
of the project. However, when the EIS was released, we found that a
completely DIFFERENT proposal was put forward. The owners did not
communicate with us at all about the changes. So, now we will have all
the negatives without ANY compensation. I was never in favour of this
project, but felt I was coerced into signing the contract for access.
I was told by the owners that the project would inevitably go ahead
and that I would get no compensation if I didn't agree to sign. So,
reluctantly I signed. Now I find that the owners will not be needing
access through the property because they are building an overpass on
the Hume Highway. So, all of the owners of the adjoining properties
(my neighbours) that were to be compensated will now not be. This
distresses me greatly.

The land value will be affected. With the initial proposal of access
through my property, the property value would have been enhanced as a
substantial income would come with the property. So, the owners will
be making millions while I lose money on my property - how is this
just? I was here first, they can go find some other site that doesn't
impact on people.

My property is used to almost full potential at the moment. We agist
horses and cattle at the property, my daughter runs a small organic
farm there and hosts guests in the farmhouse accommodation and there
is also a small cottage on the property where an older lady lives with
her little dog. My daughter would like to further develop some areas
to offer more accommodation. This would be very unlikely to happen if
the mine goes ahead. The Biosecurity Officer at the Council believes
that the Southern Highlands might become the next food bowl for Sydney
- Sydney is losing its small market gardens at a rate of knots due to
housing development. Mining activity in the area would put a stop to
developing any agricultural interests in the area. Good, clean air,
water and soil is required to grow good quality, clean food. Where
will Sydney get its food from? China?


I live in Sydney but visit my property a couple of times a week to
take water from the bore, as the water is superior to Sydney water. I
believe this water has great health benefits to me, an elderly man. I
also use the bore water to irrigate my garden as many of the dams dry
up over summer. When I visit the property, it takes quite a while to
cross or get onto the Hume Highway as it is now...imagine an extra 400
trucks a day! What will happen to the Bruce Kingsbury VC area? Will it
be moved? Will there still be a rest stop for traffic to stop at? Too
many unanswered questions.

I'm concerned that the EIS is not thorough. In our investigations, we
found that the owners of the various pipelines (water, gas and
telephone) that go past the quarry site have not been consulted! This
is unbelievable! Imagine not consulting the gas pipeline owners that
you will be using explosives near the pipeline!

I have major concerns about this project. Not just how it affects me,
but how it will affect the neighbours and the Southern Highlands in
general. The negatives of this mine far outweigh any small benefits.
Please consider the many concerns from the community when assessing
this ghastly project.