Sutton Forest Sand Quarry

I am writing as we are very concerned about the environmental impact of the above project.
We are worried about the impact on the Great Western Wildlife Corridor and the devastating impact it will have on the native flora and fauna
We are worried about the air pollution from dust, and water pollution from the aquifier pollution / Sydney water catchment
We are worried about the impact of removing sandstone on the water table
We are worried about the devastating impact it will have on the local communities: noise / traffic / dust / damage to crops / vibration, as well as the visual horror of a 110 hectare pit replacing native bushland.

Why do we need a new mine, when the nearby Green Valley mine is hardly extracting any sandstone?
We don't see the need for this project, especially in this location.

Environmental concerns, dust pollution, water issues, traffic

The proceeding of the Sutton Forest Sand Quarry project creates grave environmental impact concerns.

As per attachment

I have a commercial flower farm which boarders this proposed sand quarry. I am enormously concerned about the effects this sand quarry will have on my flowers, this will definitely have a negative impact on my business. Dust and flowers DONT mix. On researching the effects of dust on plant , the dust particles settling on leaves reduce photosynthesis and creates leaf drop. So I will have reduced production and the quality of the flowers will be reduced. My income will be affected as a result of this quarry.
Also concerned about my long term exposure to dust, I am outdoors for at least 8hrs a day on most days. I will be breathing in this dust, this fine dust is linked with Respiratory Illness. I am anxious about the effect this will have on me.
Water concerns, I heavily rely on irrigation, I need a reliable source of quality water. I cannot afford to re-drill my bore when water levels drop, this company state it will drop at least 1-5 mts.
I have many concerns also about impact on
Environment
Noise
Visual impact
Effect on Tourism
Biodiversity concerns
Traffic impact on Hume Hwy and entry into Sallys corner service centre

see attached

I am writing this submission to oppose the Sutton Forest Sand Mine proposal. We need to preserve the natural environment, this is more critical now after the horrific conflagration of 2019-2020. So much habitat was destroyed and we need to prevent more destruction of habitat. The preservation of this area of the southern highlands far outweighs any short term financial gains.

This mine proposal is to clear 110 hectares of land, mostly native bushland and mine sandstone to a depth 60 m below ground level which is below the water table. The silica rock will be processed on site by crushing to sand and trucked out 24/7, 365 days for 30 years. The pit will eventually be filled with trucked-in waste, becoming Sydney’s new tip. The size of the proposed mine and plant is huge more than 5-times that of Hi-Quality’s operations at Windemalla and Menangle. This is in the middle of the rural-residential community of the Southern Highlands. The removal of sandstone with its critical role in the ground water hydrology of the wider area, is of major concern.

Our local communities, specialist experts and Government Departments and Wingecarribee Shire Council have serious concerns about this project. The mine company proposes only minor changes to the initial plan and our concerns remain valid. If approved it will have enormous impacts on the local environment and all but destroy our local community.

One of the issues is environmental destruction through water runoff and aquifer pollution, polluting the headwaters of the Sydney water catchment, lowering water table an undetermined and unpredictable amount affecting local water supplies. Science backs the view that we are going to experience longer and hotter summers in the future and we need to preserve water courses as they are crucial for our future. The location of the mine at the most fragile point of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, a region targeted for biodiversity, and the unique Long Swamp ecosystem, which is listed as a threatened ecosystem. We cannot risk endangering threatened fauna and flora species identified on site and surrounding areas.

There will be long term health risks to neighbouring residents, and potentially southern highlands residents further away from the mine site, from dust through mining and high-grade silica rock processing and transporting, air and water pollution with serious health, farming and environmental consequences. Also pollution damage to surrounding bushland, crops, gardens, solar panels and residences, the population of the southern highlands is rapidly increasing and we need to decide what is of paramount importance the health and prosperity of our community or the short term economic health of the mine company “Hi-Quality” which has an appalling record with 24 EPA NSW penalties and, now that it has established in Victoria, it and the company director, Patrick Hallinan, already face 33 new EPA charges. This is not a fit and proper operator that can be trusted to abide by governing regulations.

Also there is the issue of disturbing on-site indigenous heritage rock-cave art, deemed highly significant by the OEH and local indigenous communities. Once this area is mined we stand to lose so much and it will never recover. The community will be subjected to noise, vibration and light pollution constantly and this will disturb the peace and tranquillity of local residents, wildlife and also The Shine of Our Lady of Mercy, a large church and monastery on the mine boundary,

 Something else which needs to be taken into consideration is the traffic safety and danger with up to 344 trucks a day (250 average), twenty four hours a day for the next 30 years leaving and entering the Hume Highway.

This is being done to our beautiful Southern Highlands by a Sydney developer without benefit to our community and only damage to our environment. A mine like this has no place in any environmentally sensitive or populated area. There is no need for this mine as nearby Green Valley sand mine already extracts token amounts just to keep its licence active.




SUTTON FOREST SAND QUARRY OBJECTION

The following submission is lodged as an objection to the proposed Sutton Forest sand quarry.
There are multiple grounds on which to oppose approval of this development including but not limited to:

• Impacts to the local and regional environment given:
- The scale and nature of sand mining and planned transition to a waste facility
- Potential negative impacts to the area’s hydrology and significance to water quality
- Impacts on the location’s sensitive flora and fauna
- Associated air quality issues beyond the operational site exacerbated by in particular, extreme wind occurrences
- Volatile vehicle emission pollution associated with the forecast average 250 truck movements per day
- Proposed 24/7 operation
- Transition of the site to a waste facility and related risks of leachate into aquifer and water run off

• Loss of visual and living amenity to surrounding residents and commercial enterprises.
- the disruptive activities of a long term extractive and waste industry as proposed is incompatible with existing benign land use and counter to the regional economy
- the development proposal represents an ‘unfair ‘ imposition on the emotional wellbeing and character of the southern highlands community

• Health and safety issues.
- Recognised issues associated with silicon dust and inability to effectively mitigate its dispersal in an extractive and processing industry environment presents a hazard far reaching the operational site.
- The unspecified nature of waste to be deposited on the site following the life of extractive activities has potential health related impacts
- The concentration and frequency of proposed truck movements presents a significant threat to road safety to local road and highway users

The proposed development has the very real negative consequences to severely disrupt the historical, cultural, environmental and economic status of the region; the health and safety of a growing and diverse community.

This project, should it be successful in starting, will endanger the health of residents of the nearby areas of the Southern Highlands by small particle pollution and will cause dust related, potentially lethal lung disease as has already happened with one resident who used to live near the current quarry and has died because of the fall-out. The wind carries the small particles BY CRUSHING SANDSTONE, a long way, over large areas. Also, there is a high risk of the quarry affecting the biodiversity of the area and the affect on Long Swamp ecosystem. In all areas of concern i.e. air and water and visual pollution, the damage to the local flora and fauna and the proposed destruction of indigenous ancient rock art, to name a few concerns, this project should NOT PROCEED.

See attached detailed objection

I do not support the plans of the sandmine proposal for multiple reasons.
My greatest concern is that there will be a sandmine in my backyard, which will ultimately become Sydney's new tip. This is utterly devastating to me and my family as we purchased this property to live in the tranquility of nature; to listen to birds and trees as we wake up not heavy machinery and trucks.
I am concerned about air quality with sand being mined within metres of my home. I have read that the sand from this proposed mine will have high levels of silica therefore silicosis and exacerbation of my husbands asthma are a real concern as this mine will run for the next 30 years. Prolonged exposure to poor quality air greatly concerns me.
I am worried about our water, as we use a bore system that the mine will tap into. This will cause our water to be contaminated and also require us to drill further into our bore as this will drop the water table, costing us a lot of money.
I am devastated that this sandmine will run into the night until 10pm, as this will affect light quality and I will not be able to see the stars, something I deeply value as someone living on property.
I am concerned about sound as my property backs onto the proposed sandmine. I currently enjoy my peaceful home and do not want this affected by a noisy industrial sandmine.
I am worried about the trucks going into the sandmine using my road as a turning bay as it will be both noisy and dangerous. Where they plan to turn around is a blind corner in a 90km zone.
I have great concerns about the wildlife around where the proposed sandmine will be built as there are hundreds of species of beautiful australian animals, birds and insects, including endangered koalas and black cockatoos.
I am also aware that there are sacred aboriginal cave paintings on the sand mine site. These will be destroyed if the plan goes ahead which will be a devastating loss for the aboriginal community.
For all these reasons, the sandmine will decrease my property's value, affecting the future of me and my family.
This sand mine has no place in a residential area which also has a delicate ecosystem of australian flora and fauna. The proposal has caused me anxiety and stress which has greatly affected my mental health. I strongly object to the proposed project.

o environmental destruction through water runoff and aquifer pollution,
o location at the most fragile point of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, a region targeted for
biodiversity, and the unique Long Swamp ecosystem, which is listed as a threatened ecosystem.
o endangering threatened fauna and flora species identified on site and surrounds,
o air and water pollution with serious health, farming and environmental consequences,
o polluting the headwaters of the Sydney water catchment,
o long term health risks to neighbouring and Highlands residents from dust through mining and high-grade
silica rock processing and transporting,
o disturbing on-site indigenous heritage rock-cave art, deemed highly significant by the OEH and local
indigenous communities
o pollution damage to surrounding bushland, crops, gardens, solar panels and residences,
o removal of sandstone with its critical role in the ground water hydrology of the wider area,
o lowering water table an undetermined and unpredictable amount affecting local water supplies,
o noise, vibration and light pollution. 24/7 disturbing the peace and tranquillity of local residents, wildlife
and The Shine of Our Lady of Mercy, a large church and monastery on the mine boundary,
o 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,
o the visual horror of a 110-hectare pit replacing native bushland and farmland,
o there is no need for this mine as nearby Green Valley sand mine extracts token amounts just to keep its
licence active.

For environmental reasons I object to this proposal. I am also incredibly concerned about dust pollution and the increase in traffic that our Highlands roads cannot sustain.

The issues are:
environmental destruction through water runoff and aquifer pollution,
location at the most fragile point of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, a region targeted for biodiversity, and the unique Long Swamp ecosystem, which is listed as a threatened ecosystem.
endangering threatened fauna and flora species identified on site and surrounds,
air and water pollution with serious health, farming and environmental consequences,
polluting the headwaters of the Sydney water catchment,
long term health risks to neighbouring and Highlands residents from dust through mining and high-grade silica rock processing and transporting,
disturbing on-site indigenous heritage rock-cave art, deemed highly significant by the OEH and local indigenous communities
pollution damage to surrounding bushland, crops, gardens, solar panels and residences,
removal of sandstone with its critical role in the ground water hydrology of the wider area,
lowering water table an undetermined and unpredictable amount affecting local water supplies,
noise, vibration and light pollution. 24/7 disturbing the peace and tranquillity 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.

I object to the environmental degradation of one of Australias most beautiful rural and residential areas by use of mining corporations to extract resources and mining trucks and waste disposal trucks continually causing noise, air and traffic pollution in a residential area.

I object the building and running of the proposed sandmine in Sutton Forest NSW.
I live on Hanging Rock Road Sutton Forest and this sandmine will directly affect my family and my business.
I am concerned about many things. I am worried that the sounds and air pollution will affect our airbnb cabin that generates money for me and my family, people enjoy it as it is quiet and an escape from the city, but if a sandmine is in our backyard people will not want to stay there anymore.
I am concerned for the health of my young family, and worry that continued exposure of dust in the air will affect my children and cause diseases such as silicosis or exacerbate asthma.
I worry about the increased traffic on the highway and Hanging Rock road, as it is proposed that the trucks will use our road as a turning bay. The road is a 90km zone and the turning bay is on a blind corner. I worry there will be accidents as you come round the corner, and I am concerned that there will be increased noise.
My wife and I purchased this property to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and to wake up to birds and the sounds of nature. If a sandmine is backing onto our property I am certain all we will hear is the sound of trucks and heavy machinery. This will be devastating for us and our children.
Our property value will also be majorly decreased which will hugely affect my family's future. We may never be able to sell this property in the future if we wanted to.
I am also concerned for the flora and fauna in this area as it is a part of a natural corridor for wildlife from the blue mountains to the coast, and this area is the narrowest part so if the sandmine goes ahead so many animals will be displaced/eradicated. There are multiple endangered species in this area that will be greatly affected by a huge sandmine being built/running in this area.
I am concerned about the sandmine affecting the water quality in the area, as I use bore water in my home. It is proposed that the sandmine will lower the water table, therefore I will have to spend a lot of money on drilling further down the bore system. The water is currently tested as safe for drinking but it will become contaminated.
For all reasons above, the proposed sandmine is deeply negatively affecting my mental health as I am concerned about the health of my family, our income and the natural landscape and wildlife around us. It is defeating the purpose of why I purchased this property in the first place.
I strongly reject the plans to build a sandmine in Sutton Forest for the reasons stated.

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

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 cannot be considered. Mining in the Sutton Forest region 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. I urge the Department to reject this proposal that will see the devastation and destruction of our Australian unique flora and fauna. It is something Australians are famous for. Don’t kill it.

It is unacceptable to allow a sand quarry in an area that directly drains into Long Swamp Creek. Polluting and damaging Long Swamp and its aquifer will affect not just the local residents and the native flora and fauna but the clean water supply to Sydney as it is part of the Nepean water catchment area feeding into Warragamba Dam. 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 , monitor and mediate attitude is just not good enough for the people of NSW and Australia. I am urging the planning department to put the health and well being of the general populace ahead of big business money making ventures.

The constant and unrelenting dust created from the mining operation is a serious health risk for not only residents in the area but those visiting this very popular tourist destination. The adverse health effects of airborn dust (asthma, silicosis, fibrosis, cancer) is well documented and all measures should be taken to avoid inflicting further human suffering Bear in mind that this area is also close to mines at Green Valley and Penrose and to contemplate a triple risk of exposure to possibly fatal dust particles is totally unacceptable. The prevailing winds in the Southern Highlands are strong, therefore dust will be carried across the population centres of the Highlands.


I strongly OPPOSE the proposed sand mine at Sutton Forest. This is a rural area,a quiet, peaceful area where people choose to live in harmony with nature. An environmentally destructive, hazardous to health, sand mine has no place here.

Laura Allenby

I object the sandmine as this will directly affect my home as I live on hanging rock road. I am concerned about many things.
This will devalue my property significantly. It will cause pollution to the air around us, as well as affect the light at night and we will not be able to see the stars. It will affect our water quality as we use a bore system and our water we drink will become contaminated, and we will also have to drill further to access it which will cost us a lot of money. I am also worried about sound as it is proposed that the mine will run from the morning until 10pm. I am concerned about long term affects of breathing in dust in the air, as the sand they want to mine has high levels of silica therefore the risk of silicosis is high.
I am concerned about trucks using hanging rock road as a turning bay as this could become dangerous. The corner we believe the trucks will use as a turning bay is on a blind corner in a 90km zone which worries me greatly. Not to mention the added noise of trucks on our residential road.
I am also concerned for the wildlife around the area as it is a natural corridor from the blue mountains to the coast and this will have a major affect on so many different animals. There are multiple endangered species in this area including koalas, gang gang birds and many others.
I do not want my family being raised in an area with a sandmine in our backyard. We bought this property for them to grow up surrounded by nature and not to wake up to the sound of heavy machinery with the air and water polluted. I strongly reject the plans to build a sandmine in this area.

Please find attached objection

An objection to the proposed Sutton Forest Sand Quarry is attached.