Sutton Forest Sand Quarry

I am concerned that a the mine company “Hi-Quality,” 24 EPA NSW penalties and the company director, Patrick Hallinan, is facing 33 new EPA charges. I point this out because evidence-based decision making requires government authorities take note of the poor operating practices and that this previous conduct, is more often than not, a reliable indicator of Hi-Quality‘s future performance.

If approved this proposal will have enormous impacts on the local environment and local community. 
 The range of issues that require your attention include: 
* environmental pollution caused by any water runoff and aquifer pollution due to usual and/or catastrophic events;
* the proposed location of the Hi-Quality mine is at a scientifically noted fragile point of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, a region noted for biodiversity and the unique Long Swamp ecosystem, which government lists as a threatened ecosystem;
* The Hi-Quality mine operations will impact and endanger threatened fauna and flora species identified on the proposed site and surrounds;
* the air and water quality will be impacted causing serious concerns for community health, farming and environmental quality;
* The Hi-Quality mine operations will discharge pollution at the headwaters of the Sydney water catchment;
* There are legitimate health concerns for neighbouring and Highlands residents caused by dust through mining and high-grade silica rock processing and transporting;
* The Hi-Quality mine operations will cause detrimental effects to on-site indigenous heritage rock-cave art, deemed highly significant by the OEH and local indigenous communities;
* Disruption to surrounding bushland, crops, gardens, solar panels and residences pollution;
* The Hi-Quality mine will detrimentally impact the local sandstone. As government is aware, the sandstone has a critical role in the ground water hydrology of the wider area;
* it is known that such mines lower the water table which can affect local water supplies; 
*This mine will cause vibration and light pollution 24/7 disturbing the amenity of local residents, wildlife and The Shine of Our Lady of Mercy, a large church and monastery on the mine boundary, 
* traffic safety and danger with up to 344 trucks a day (250 average), 24/7 for the next 30 years leaving and entering the Hume Highway, 
* the visual horror of a 110-hectare pit replacing native bushland and farmland, 
* there is no need for this mine as nearby Green Valley sand mine extracts token amounts just to keep its licence active. 

This proposal poses another environmental disaster in a beautiful rural and residential community. It further threatens an already endangered swamp wildlife system and Sydneys water catchment system! Surely this alone constitutes madness. It poses a visual eye sore and a traffic hazzard nightmare with more huge trucking transport on an overworked under funded corridor system. The company “Hi Quality” has a disreputable history of environmental mismanagement. Please, please do not allow progression of this hideous proposal.

I object on the grounds that it is not in keeping with the surrounding environment which is essentially a rural residential area. Too many people within the immediate area who will be exposed to dust, also destruction of the environment, Biodiversity. Quarries and Threatened Ecosystems dont match.

It is too close to Sydney
It will affect the wildlife corridor and kill habitat

I object to the proposed Sutton Forest sand mine due to the real risk of environmental damage caused by the mining operation and the associated risk to the fragile local acquifer. Furthermore, the mine operation will give rise to significant traffic volumes which cannot be sustained by the existing infrastructure around the proposed mine site

This proposal was knocked back 5 years ago for a range of valid reasons. None of those reasons have been changed. The proposed development does not make sense.

As a medical practitioner who has served the local Southern Highlands and other rural communities for decades, I with the support of many other medical practitioners, submit a strong objection to the proposed sand quarry development in Sutton Forest, NSW.

This proposed industrial 'development' is in the centre of a residential community.
The people living there range from children to the elderly and the yet- to- be -born.
New residential houses are being built on properties alongside this polluting industrial operation.
It is a growing and thriving community which would be devastated by this development.
Dust, noise, water and light pollution along with the environmental damage would, without questionable doubt, have a detrimental effect on the health of this community.
The dust from this site is a particularly toxic activated silica and many times more damaging than most dust (eg road or farm) in causing disease.
Silicosis is a recognised emerging medical crisis.
Please review;
a) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/silicosis
b) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683189/
c) https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/exclusive-pictures-show-toxic-dust-cloud-coming-from-a-nsw-quarry/irhci8au4
d) https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/workplace-cancer/silica-dust

Increases in asthma, COPD, emphysema, sinus infection, bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and heart disease are inevitable, and stress and mental health disorders would be inevitable with this development.
There has not been an adequate consideration of health issues in this application and a weak attempt to deflect the issue.
Further, the current individual health issues and needs of the individuals in this community have not been considered in the application.
This application can only be rejected as it poses a real morbidity and mortality risk to the community.
Polluting operations like this belong in unpopulated areas.

My opposition goes beyond these obvious health effects (physical and well-being of individuals and communities) and includes environmental concerns, impact on flora and fauna, contamination of waterways that feed into Sydney water catchment, as well as residents drinking and washing water, impact upon Long Swamp Creek and Sting Ray Swamp and so the mighty wave of destruction would go on. I leave this environmental detail to others' submissions however I wish this to be acknowledged as pertinent to my objection.

Note that this is a first and interim submission as DPE has not allowed a thorough study of the documentation.

Please excuse typos.
Yours sincerely
Dr Sara Fergusson MBChB FRACGP - RG

Planning Services
Department of Planning and Environment
GPO Box 39 SYDNEY NSW 2001

Attention: Director - Resource Assessments
This is a submission on the Sutton Forest Quarry Project: EIS SSD 6334

I Strongly object to the proposed sand quarry and believe that it should not be approved. I have many concerns that include but are not limited to the following:

Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy - Penrose Park
As a regular varistor to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy Penrose Park, I am concerned about the effect the Sand Quarry will have upon the Shrine. It will greatly affect the shrine through the noise pollution, taking away from the peace and tranquillity of the place that so many come to seek. The dust will both have an effect on the health of visitors and also dirty the shrine. The increased traffic will make the Shrine harder to access. The mine will also affect the Shrine's water supply, which it needs to provide for visitors.

Environment
The mine will destroy hectares of native vegetation in the Great Western Wildlife Corridor. In a time when we are seeing an increased need to protect our endangered native wildlife, this is unacceptable. The local wildlife, which includes many endangered species, along with the loss of habitat will be subjected to dust, noise and light pollution 24/7 for 30 years.

Water
The open-pit quarry will excavate nearly 40 meters below the current water table and lower the aquifer. In a time when water is becoming an increasingly precious resource, this is again unacceptable. If the quarry is to take so much from the water table, this means less for agriculture, industry and personal use. There are also concerns that the backfill will contain toxic substances that will pollute the water table. There are also concerns about what any run-off might have on the adjacent Long Swamp. All of the above will cause permanent damage to the Sydney water catchment area.

Social
People come to live in the Southern Highlands to seek a cleaner and greener environment to live in. The quarry, through the destruction of the local biodiversity, the pollution of the air and groundwater, the constant noise and light pollution from the quarry itself, and increased traffic, will have permanent effects on the social life of the Southern Highlands and the health of its residents.
In the end, it leaves a visual scar on the landscape that many continue to be dumping places for waste into our environment even after the 30 years of mining have been completed, with an uncertain hope of any real rehabilitation of the area.

This is a terrible proposal for multiple reasons, and I believe that the Department and NSW
Government should reject it.

I strongly object to the proposed sand quarry and believe that it should not be approved. I have many concerns that include but are not limited to the following:

Health implications:
I hold serious concerns regarding the long-term health risks to my young children, my husband, family, friends, neighbours, Highland residents and myself from dust through mining and high-grade silica rock processing and transporting.

Water:
The open-pit quarry will excavate nearly 40 meters below the current water table and lower the aquifer. In a time when water is becoming an increasingly precious resource, this is again unacceptable. If the quarry is to take so much from the water table, this means less for agriculture, industry and personal use. With rain water being unpredictable, and the expense related to trucking water in not always feasible, we rely on access to the bore water and hold serious concerns to the water supply being depleted.
There are also concerns that the backfill will contain toxic substances that will pollute the water table. There are also concerns about what any run-off might have on the adjacent Long Swamp. All of the above will cause permanent damage to the Sydney water catchment area.

Environment:
The mine will destroy hectares of native vegetation in the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, in particular the unique Long Swap ecosystem which is a threatened ecosystem. In a time when we are seeing an increased need to protect our endangered native wildlife, this is unacceptable. The local wildlife (which includes many endangered species such as Koalas), along with the loss of habitat, will result in the wildlife being subjected to dust, noise, and light pollution 24/7 for 30 years. The risk of damage to local Indigenous rock carvings and paintings from the mining vibrations would also be a significant loss to the heritage of the area if the sand quarry is to go ahead.

Traffic Safety and added Danger from so many trucks:
The Hume Highway already has a heavy flow of trucks and traffic each day. It can already be difficult to enter the highway safely from Hanging Rock Road, the Illawarra Hwy and Sally’s Corner. The added chaos of another 250 plus trucks (with numbers as high as 340 a day), every day, for the next 30 years, is a huge concern. There will also be extra noise pollution from the trucks that will affect residents.

Noise pollution for residents.
The Southern Highlands is a tranquil part of NSW and the peace and quiet is the reason many people move here. The noise pollution from the quarry due to mining, rock crushing and the noise created by so many extra trucks on the road is not acceptable. Making the move to the Southern Highlands to get away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, I find it unacceptable that my family may now be subject to constant noise pollution 24/7, 365 days a year for the next 30 years.

Impact to the tranquillity of the Shrine to Our Lady of Mercy:
Like many people who travel to the Southern Highlands to make pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy, we also visit the Shrine regularly. The proposed quarry directly behind the Shrine’s grotto will destroy the peaceful spiritual nature of the place so many come to seek. The dust will both have an effect on the health of visitors and also dirty the Shrine. The increased traffic will make the Shrine harder to access. The mine will also affect the Shrine's water supply, which it needs to provide for visitors.


I wholeheartedly believe this is a terrible proposal for multiple reasons, and I believe the Department and NSW Government should reject it.

Environmental concerns, biodiversity threat, traffic, dust pollution

I strongly object the proposal to build and run a sandmine in Sutton Forest.
I live on Hanging Rock Road and this sandmine will back on to my property. I have many concerns about this going ahead.
I am concerned about air, light , dust and sound pollution that will directly affect me and my family. I am worried that the value of my property will decrease.
The wildlife around where the proposed site is will be heavily affected including many endangered species specific to this area.
I am concerned that my bore water will become contaminated and I will need to find another source of water.
I am also worried for the greater community of the southern highlands, which will be permanently changed from the quiet, rural and peaceful community into a diesel-fuelled cacophony of noise , dust and traffic issues.
This proposal cannot be allowed to proceed and the land under consideration must be re-zoned to prevent mining into the future.

This project has numerous negative impacts including water contamination for the people of NSW. It is a significant loss of flora and fauna and natural habitats and some endangered species. Increased traffic and mining activity does not benefit the local community and most importantly there are long term health risk to residents. This mine is completely unnecessary.

This proposal shows little to no regard for the potential consequences should it proceed.

I own 350 Hanging rock road Sutton Forest which is a property which has three homes which are hired for short term stays. I have spent a lot of money getting my property to where it is today. I am also going through a DA to have my property rezoned to eco-tourism. The proposed project will negatively affect my property and de value the price of my family asset. This is not a project which is needed in our neighborhood. Will they compensate me and my family for the financial damage they are causing?

The proposal pays no mind to community and environmental concerns.

I strongly object to the proposal to develop the Sutton Forest Sand Quarry for the following reasons:
*Environment and biodiversity - the proposed location of the mine is on the most fragile point of the Great Western Corridor which will endanger biodiversity and the unique Long Swamp ecosystem. Additionally flora and fauna will be threatened including a crucial koala habitat. 24/7 noise, vibration and light pollution will also affect local residents, wildlife, and the Shine of our Lady of Mercy.
Pollution - air and water pollution will have severe consequences for health, farming and the environment and put the headwaters of the Sydney water catchment at risk. There is also potential for damage to surrounding gardens, solar panels and residences.
Water supplies - risks incurred by removal of sandstone critical to the water hydrology of the wider area and the lowering of the water table with unpredictable effects on local water supplies.
Traffic - safety and danger associated with up to 344 trucks a day (250 average) entering and leaving the Hume Highway.
There are many unacceptable and serious risks associated with Sutton Forest Sand quarry and it is NOT, by any means, in the best interests of the local residents and environment. I am urging the Planning and Environment NOT to approve the Sutton Forest Sand Quarry,
Barbara McKendry

I object to the proposal because I am worried about negative environmental impacts including on the great western wildlife corridor and Sydney water supply. I am also concerned about the reputation of the operators. 60 metres deep for 30 years places too much pressure on this fragile environment, poses health risks to the local community and may compromise indigenous heritage rock art.

Please do not disclose my name on the list of submitters on the NSW Planning Portal

Dear NSW State Planning Department,

Please find attached my updated submission (please disregard previous submission from 29th November).

I am writing from the Sydney Basin Koala Network to object to the proposed Sutton Forest Sand Quarry. The serious impacts of this proposal have not been thought through. It is a disaster for koalas - prime koala habitat would be lost and a wildlife corridor fragmented if this quarry goes ahead.
The 30 year time frame guarantees that a nationally significant koala colony will lose another strategically crucial area to recover from their endangered status. The significant impacts are unjustifiable, can never be adequately offset and should not proceed. Thank you for considering this submission.

Yours Sincerely,
Jade Peace

4 December 2023

To whom it may concern

Sutton Forest Sand Mine - Objection

I write on behalf of the community to object to the proposed sand mine in Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. The proposal has significant risks to local ecosystems and Sydney’s water catchment.

The proposed mine is situated within a critical area of the Great Western Corridor, representing the only native habitat from the Blue Mountains to Morton National Park. The corridor is a sanctuary for both native plant species and diverse animal populations as well as a number of threatened species.

Some of the issues raised by the community about the proposed sand mine are:

• Environmental destruction caused by water runoff and contamination;
• Damage to the Great Western Corridor and Long Swamp ecosystem, areas which are a critical part of the ecosystem;
• Potential harm to endangered flora and fauna;
• Contamination of the headwaters that feed the Sydney water catchment;
• Long-term health risks to residents in neighbouring areas from dust, processing silica and transport;
• Disturbing on-site indigenous heritage rock-cave art;
• Lowering the water table;
• Noise, vibration and light pollution causing disruption and disturbance to locals and wildlife;
• Traffic safety concerns from a large increase in daily truck traffic; and
• The necessity of the mine, as nearby Green Valley sand mine only extracts token amounts, to maintain its active licence.

I share community concern that the environment, residents and Sydney’s water catchment be protected from the damaging effects of the proposed sand mine.

Could you please consider the community’s objections and concerns regarding the proposed sand mine?

Yours sincerely

Alex Greenwich
Member for Sydney

We have lived in the area for the past 20 months, after planning a move for more than two and half years (renovating our house, planning relocations of the children’s needs etc).
Our property is the second last that this proposal backs onto. As such, the works and the effect will have an immediate impact to us. My concerns are for the long term effect on our family.

We have eight children, with our ninth arriving before Christmas. Their health, the community in which they will grow up, and the overall regional way of life is all being put at risk by this proposal.

In particular, the effect on the water table, and the air quality / dust. Essentially what we drink and what we breathe will be directly polluted by this work.

The noise and disruption caused by a 24/7/365 project is equally alarming. Having the proposed number of trucks on the road, attempting access to and exit from the site, will make the roads so much more dangerous. I cannot believe that drivers will travel an extra 30-40 minutes each time to make a turn to come back to the entrance - Hanging Rock Rd will be a truck thoroughfare, despite the promises made to the contrary. Exiting a driveway with a truck barrelling down will leave little room for anything.

We’re vehemently against this project. 22 jobs is not worth the destruction of the natural resources like water (which is irreparable). The destruction of prime native vegetation, the endangered and unique wildlife as well as historical and culturally significant aboriginal art - all of which seems to be of little consideration to the proposers.

We are available anytime to discuss our concerns and will continue to voice our opposition and concerns about the risk to our family. I cannot see how anyone could live with this.

Application SSD-6334 represents an irreversible environmental tipping point that necessitates systems thinking to protect unique ecosystems and with this approach the conservation of Long Swamp, the Southern sandstone recharge bed of The Great Artesian Basin and the Western Wildlife Corridor. This time of polycrisis Climate Change, which is drought, extreme weather events, ecosystem collapse, pollution promulgation and the sixth extinction of species ( unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass extinction is driven by human activity, primarily through the unsustainable use of land, water and energy use) rising seas and temperatures and all of these compounding effects where future water security is at risk and the preservation of clean water systems is now paramount.