Sutton Forest Sand Quarry

As water is the most important thing to sustain life, it's unacceptable
to risk contamination and we know that this sand mine will affect
water quality directly and indirectly. The fact that the amount is
unquantifiable means that we should not take the risk of approving
this kind of development.
Threatening wildlife and the general peace of the area is also
unacceptable and no commercial venture is worth it.

I have some real concerns about the possible damage to the water table
and the ground water runoff.
Given the water problems of Goulburn not so long back with drought,
any non natural interference with the water table becomes a concern.

I wish to register my strong objection to the proposed sand quarry at
Sutton Forest (SSD 6334). I cannot believe that any responsible
government would even consider allowing such a project to go ahead.
The detrimental and long-term effect it would have on the water table
and on Sydney's water supply (via the Wingecarribee River) alone
should rule it out, not to mention the loss of peace and quiet to the
nearby monastery and to residents of the area who have purposefully
chosen to live where they do for that reason. I am also concerned
about the destruction of such a significant area of native bushland in
the crucially important Great Western Wildlife Corridor, which will
link the south-western section of the Blue Mountains National Park
with Morton National Park in the east. This particular wildlife
corridor has the potential to save many of our critically endangered
native birds and mammals from possible extinction, amongst them being
the glossy black cockatoo, the koala, the spotted-tailed quoll and the
platypus. For these animals to survive we need people to increase the
amount of native vegetation on their properties, not to destroy it.
Unfortunately, greed raises its ugly head all too often when man
confronts defenceless creatures.

i do not support the submission of the proponent.
The EIS is fundamentally flawed in that it does not address in any
transparent detail the pertinent issues relating to rehabilitation of
the mining site.
The rehabilitation issues covered in section 2.1 Introduction and
described in Section 2.13.4 cover around six scant paragraphs without
addressing any absolute specifics.
The procedures are defined as progressive and conceptual . The
specifics would be defined in A Rehabilitation
and Landscape Plan during the life of the quarry.
The proposition of having a 45 hectare hole around 60 metres deep
impacting upon the water level at the depth of the aquifer and less
than 100 metres from an endangered eco system Long Swamp is cavalir
and disturbing.
The rehabilitation of the "extraction area" or hole is stated to be:
"using imported VENM and ENM togrther with unsaleable oversize
materials and processing fines generated within the processing plant."
In essence this is the rehabilitation procedure of the total EIS.
The following observations of this "conceptual" procedure are.
It is beyond belief that the proponent would avoid transparency and
scrutiny by attempting to kick the can down the road by qualifying
their rehabilitation procedure after approval and during the life of
the project.
The EIS does not address issues relating to other approved cntaminants
that may be legally contained with ENM.
Other sand mines within the immediate area are specifically prohibited
from introducing any foreign material on their site for remediation.
What leachates would be generated from the undefined ENM and be
deposited into the immediately adjacant Long Swamp? Is the Sydney
Catchment authority comfortable with undefined inputs entering the
Long Swamp Creek and ultimately into our potable water? The impact of
these scenarios by the proponent is only addressed as "very rare"
.When the remediation materials are only defined loosely as clean fill
Venm/Enm there has to absolute certainty. The only material that would
provide absolute certainty as a backfill in this particularly
sensitive area is Hawkesburry Sandstone.This the planning condition
placed upon other sand mines within the immediate area.(5 kms radius.)
Should not the proponent be obliged to meet the industry standards
applying in this fragile water catchment area?
It is regretable that the proponent has not used the "Policies,
Guidelines and Plans" recommended by the Director General's
'Assessment Requirements" in respect to Rehabilitation. These
guidelines repeatidly refer to "site specific' plans and the following
texts from these guidelines highlight the chasm between this cursory
EIS and industry benchmarks.

"
The selection of a robust and verifiable process to monitor and
demonstrate completion criteria is critical for closure."

"It is imperative that the stakeholders and proponent arrive at an
agreed set of closure objectives and completion criteria as part of
the approvals process that will allow the company to relinquish the
site in a manner that meets regulatory requirements and company
objectives."

Unfortunately the writer has to make reference to the business
reputation of Hi-Quality Waste Management Pty Ltd a company connected
to one of the joint venture partners for the Proposal. Press releases
from the NSW EPA state that Hi-Quality Waste Management has been fined
for numerous license breaches relating to acceptance of asbestos
waste, allowing asbestos and high concentrations of lead to
contaminate stockpiles of ENM and multiple incidents of improper
management of a landfill site under their control. Ramifications of
similar events at this sensitive Sutton Forest site arising from a
deficient Rehabilitation process would be catastrophic for
generations.

I am objecting to the application for the following reasons:

This is a 42 hectare open-cut pit to a depth of 60 metres, 39 metres
below the current water table which will have a huge impact on local
wildlife and human enjoyment of the area.

Lowering the water table at Sutton Forest will adversely affect the
bores on which so many locals depend for agriculture and life. The EIS
makes NO mention of the illegal dewatering of the pit that is needed
to mine 39 metres below the water table.

The local sandstone plays a critical role in filtering and cleaning
the aquifer and the river flows. Removing this huge volume of
sandstone and then tipping 18 million tons of Sydney landfill into the
pit will create a PERMANENT leachate into the aquifer and surface
flow. The EIS is SILENT on the impact of this back-fill tipping, and
in particular on the pollution of Long Swamp Creek and the aquifer,
which feeds Sydney's Nepean water catchment; this pollution will
likely adversely impact the water purity and health of those who rely
on that water catchment.

The establishment of an open-cut mine will create large levels of
airborn dust which has been shown to adversely effect the health of
local populations (asthma, silicosis, fibrosis, cancer) where this is
carried by prevailing winds across the population centres of the
Highlands.

Land clearing 63 hectares of native bush will narrow the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor (at its narrowest and most fragile point) to just
500 metres in sections, harming endangered native flora and fauna.

Noise, blasting and light pollution 24/7 will damage the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor which is critical habitat for wildlife, and will
also negatively human enjoyment and use of the surrounding Highlands
area.

The proposal will see a dramatic increase in heavy trucking on the
Hume Highway (> 200 trucks a day), including the planned use of the
Illawarra Highway overpass as a U-turn for all south-bound trucks.
This will produce noise pollution and increase emissions on the
surrounding areas, as well as stressing the capacity and surface of
the highway.

The proposal will destroy the peace and tranquility at The Shrine of
Our Lady of Mercy - Penrose Park, which attracts 10,000 national and
international tourists a year to the Highlands, and will destroy the
Kingsbury VC memorial park to create another interchange ramp for
truck access.

The proposal commits Wingecarribee Council to commit public funds to
maintain a new Hume Highway overpass and local access road for a
private venture that does not benefit the public interest or the Shire
in any way.

I am objecting to the application for the following reasons:

This is a 42 hectare open-cut pit to a depth of 60 metres, 39 metres
below the current water table which will have a huge impact on local
wildlife and human enjoyment of the area.

Lowering the water table at Sutton Forest will adversely affect the
bores on which so many locals depend for agriculture and life. The EIS
makes NO mention of the illegal dewatering of the pit that is needed
to mine 39 metres below the water table.

The local sandstone plays a critical role in filtering and cleaning
the aquifer and the river flows. Removing this huge volume of
sandstone and then tipping 18 million tons of Sydney landfill into the
pit will create a PERMANENT leachate into the aquifer and surface
flow. The EIS is SILENT on the impact of this back-fill tipping, and
in particular on the pollution of Long Swamp Creek and the aquifer,
which feeds Sydney's Nepean water catchment; this pollution will
likely adversely impact the water purity and health of those who rely
on that water catchment.

The establishment of an open-cut mine will create large levels of
airborn dust which has been shown to adversely effect the health of
local populations (asthma, silicosis, fibrosis, cancer) where this is
carried by prevailing winds across the population centres of the
Highlands.

Land clearing 63 hectares of native bush will narrow the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor (at its narrowest and most fragile point) to just
500 metres in sections, harming endangered native flora and fauna.

Noise, blasting and light pollution 24/7 will damage the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor which is critical habitat for wildlife, and will
also negatively human enjoyment and use of the surrounding Highlands
area.

The proposal will see a dramatic increase in heavy trucking on the
Hume Highway (> 200 trucks a day), including the planned use of the
Illawarra Highway overpass as a U-turn for all south-bound trucks.
This will produce noise pollution and increase emissions on the
surrounding areas, as well as stressing the capacity and surface of
the highway.

The proposal will destroy the peace and tranquility at The Shrine of
Our Lady of Mercy - Penrose Park, which attracts 10,000 national and
international tourists a year to the Highlands, and will destroy the
Kingsbury VC memorial park to create another interchange ramp for
truck access.

The proposal commits Wingecarribee Council to commit public funds to
maintain a new Hume Highway overpass and local access road for a
private venture that does not benefit the public interest or the Shire
in any way.

I am against the project.

The proposed sand mine and consequent infill of waste, will clearly
have devastating impacts on an already struggling local ecosystem, and
it appears will poison the districts chief water course for a very
long period into the future.

The large increase in the traffic of heavy vehicles in the highlands
is also major concern with the consequent risk of serious accidents
and the cost to council in local road construction/repairs.

I object to the proposed Sand Mine (SSD 6334). Our property is an
important part (1000 hectares) of The Great Western Wildlife
Corridor and we object to another 63 hectares being taken out,
pinching the corridor down to 500 metres in width with all the local
environmental consequences that this entails. Our southern boundary
has kilometres of frontage on the Wingecarribee River,
with consequential contact with the pollution coming from the Berrima
Mine; we certainly don't want it added to with pollution
from the Sand Mine. Sydney should be very concerned about
its water supply. We pity the platypuses in the river.

Basis for objection includes the following:

1. Safety - substantially increasing the number of trucks on the road
in the area will undoubtedly increase the risk of traffic accidents.
There are school buses travelling on these roads with precious cargo
being transported to and from school, there is wildlife (some of which
is endangered) and livestock around the area which should be
considered.

2. Dust and Air Pollution - blasting, processing and increased traffic
are all going to increase the pollution in the area. This will not
only affect humans (including the many children that live in the area)
but livestock and other animals - wild and domesticated.

3. Noise pollution - all of the residents in this area have chosen to
live here for a quiet, tranquil and rural lifestyle, being only a few
kms away from a quarry that is regularly blasting and having heavy
trucks transporting the product, is going to drastically impact on the
quality of life of the residents in the area.

4. Being a dumping ground for Sydney's waste, via the land fill plans,
is certainly not what I would want for this area, nor would any other
residents.

5. We have invested considerably in our property, improving its value
- however, this is likely to be eroded significantly if this
application is passed and a quarry is developed within kilometres of
our home.

6. Water quality degradation - the sandstone plays a critical role in
filtering water and its removal and replacement with backfill and
toxic finings will dilute the quality of water and the open pit mine
with lower the aquifer.

7. The southern highlands is renown for its natural beauty and rural
fields/hills and visually this proposed mine will dilute this beauty
and result in the area appearing more industrial than country.

We are an area famous and proud of our agriculture and natural beauty
and that is what makes the southern highlands an attractive tourist
destination, but proposals such as this quarry (which is one of the
largest quarry mines in Australia) will drastically reduce the area's
natural beauty and tranquility.

My name is Pamela and I live in Sutton Forest, on a 40 acre farm. We are
in a drought at the moment. We have tank water which collects the rain
water but no town water. If this drought continues, we will rely
entirely on Bore water for our cows, garden and ourselves. If this
project goes ahead, our bore water will be threatened. Who do I sue
when I have no more water? The NSW State Government for approving this
project?

Water is so precious. We can live without sand but can we survive
without water? Climate Change is real and our water is being
threatened from all angles. The Highlands use to have a high level of
rain, but over the past 2 years, the rain fall has slowed down to a
minimum. I have 6 dams, 4 of which are dry and we are in winter.

My other great concern is the plight of the Glossy Black Cockatoo
whose staple diet is the seeds of the native She Oak. This area where
the project is planned, is the Critical Habitat for the Glossy Black
Cockatoo. These birds are native Australians and not found anywhere
else in the county let alone the world. How can you threaten them by
removing their food source.

I implore you to think responsibly about my livelihood, my neighbours
livelihood and sanity, and all who will be adversely effected by this
ugly project in the beautiful area of Sutton Forest.

Pamela Wright

I strongly object to this proposal.

This proposed sand mine would destroy a whole ecosystem by removing
the sandstone critically filtering water to Long Swamp.
It would damage and pollute Long Swamp and its aquifer which help
supply Sydney's Nepean catchment with fresh water, especially from the
overflow and leaching of finings and mud from the pit, and later from
any backfill, 'clean' or otherwise.

Decimating the Long Swamp ecosystem also means destroying the habitat
of the millions-of-years old and critically endangered Giant Dragonfly
(Petlura gigantea), a species already obliterated in the collapse of
Wingecarribee Swamp in 1998 due to peat mining.

Digging 47 ha at 39 m below the water table is sheer madness, and
would lower the watertable and adversely affect the whole hydrology of
the area, and thus bores and agriculture.

The loss of a massive 63 ha of native woodland in the most narrow and
fragile section of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor would
significantly contribute to further native biodiversity loss and
exacerbate the critical situation of many endangered, threatened and
vulnerable plant and animal species.

Industrial noise, blasting and light pollution 24/7 for 30 years would
destroy the critical habitat for wildlife and disrupt local peace and
tranquillity, especially for the adjoining Penrose Park religious
centre.

Serious adverse health effects of airborn silicate dust could be
expected downwind across the southern highlands and major population
centers.

I believe if approved it will seriously affect the peace and quiet, the
air and water quality, and will greatly reduce the value of property.

My strong objections to this Sutton Forest sand mine going ahead are as
follows.
Noise, sound, light, water and air pollution (asthma sufferers in the
family) will directly and grossly harm me and my family's health,
quality of life and finances.

My family's sole water supply from our bore is likely to be completely
cut off due to the proposed mining lowering the water table below the
farm's bore depth.

Our family has been careful to preserve wildlife habitat and protect
our natural environment that surrounds us. This mining proposal will
destroy this balance.

Proposed changes to access to the family farm would be dangerous,
ugly, difficult, block all optimal views(concrete walls) of north
facing countryside.
The highway will become even more dangerous than it already is
With possibly more than 400 trucks entering and leaving a day.

Our family have been blessed by visiting the multinational sacred
worship area (Penrose Park). Fond memories of our parent's spiritual
heritage. NESB worshippers and visiting tourists (10,000 people is
estimated) are likely to not be adequately made aware of this proposal
and how it will directly and adversely affect them. I feel this is
unfair, discriminatory and needs full attention.

Detrimental effects to the Sydney water supply (supply and pollution
threat impossible to pre determine ).

Long term ecological threat to immediate locality and region due to
mining is likely .

This proposed mine will have negative effect on real estate values and
tourism to the region. The effect on neighboring property will be
devastating

Sensitive and vital parts of the natural habitat will be dramatically
impacted by this proposal affecting this already threatened and
narrowing wildlife corridor

I object to the development No.SSD 6334 and recommend this proposal be
rejected in perpetuity. My reasons are taken from information
contained in the EIS put forward by the proponents, Sutton Forest
quarry project. Reasons are as follows........ No.1. Risk to Water.
This project lies within the Sydney Water Catchment . According to the
Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No. 203 34B "The proposed
mine must have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality"
a. Groundwater . A 47 hectare pit to a depth of 39 metres below the
water table will affect accessability of existing bores.The blasting
and removal of sandstone will affect the filtering system of the
aquifer.The replacement of back fill is of unknown origin leading to
salinity and pollution of existing water .Water extraction by this
mine exceeds their licence holding.
b. Surface water. Rainfall runoff will gravitate to the pit , which
will flow into Longswamp creek endangering flora and fauna which
exists there, and is home to the giant dragonfly, a rare species.The
proponents have used only average data taking only 2 samples No.2 63
hectares of native bush to be cleared ,which is part of the wildlife
corridor, used by koalas glossy black cockatoos as well as other
important native fauna. THIS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED "Our land abounds
with natures 'gifts".
No.3 Noise and light pollution will similarly affect these species as
well as sugar gliders owls and bats.An operation 24/7 for 30 years.
No.4 Airborne dust carried by the westerly which blows over the towns
and villages up to 80 kms per hour.
No 5. Disrupt peace of Our Lady of Mercy Shrine which attracts 10,000
visitors per year. (EIS states there is NO tourism in the area) No 6
Heavy trucks affecting traffic on Hume Highway. No.7 Blasting near
underground gas line. No.8 Very little on rehabilitation of mine
site.No.9. NO community consultation. No.10 No issue mentioned of
social impacts on surrounding residents such as airborne silica noise
and light pollution causing insomnia , anxiety and depression, and an
inability to function in daily life..

My major areas of concern are 1. Drilling into the aquifer and below the
water table leading to a contamination risk for local and Sydney water
supply 2.The partial destruction of the Great Western Wildlife
Corridor which is at its narrowest at that point. 3. Increased dust
and noise pollution and the associated health effects 4 . The effects
on farms and livelihood 5. The increased traffic on the already
dangerous stretch of Hume Highway.

This is a submission against the Sutton Forest Quarry Project: SSD6334
I object to this project and believe that it should be rejected. The
project will have negative impacts in the following way:

The clearing of a large area of native forest that will critically
narrow an already fragile part of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor.
The applicants statement that there project will not be a threat to
critical wild habitat or biodiversity is in my view an outright
fabrication. The harm this project will do to native flora and fauna,
many of them already endangered, will be immense and irreversible.

The mine also poses a long term serious threat of pollution to the
Long Swamp and its aquifer by the leaching of mud and finings from the
mine pit. The aquifer beneath the Long Swamp is responsible for
filtering and cleaning water that is part of the Nepean catchment
supplying Sydney's water.

This sand mind, if approved, will create a 47 hectare pit to a depth
of 39 metres below the current water table. This dramatic lowering of
the water table will seriously impact the bores on which so many of us
locals depend for agriculture and life. The Southern Highlands is in
drought with many long time locals saying they have never experienced
conditions like this before. Without reliable rain we rely on our bore
water for our existence.

By removing the sandstone, not only will it's critical biological
water filtering role be destroyed but then there is the plan to fill
the pit with millions of cubic metres of Sydney Fill which could
result in further polluting of the aquifer.

The mine will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 30 years, so
pollution from noise, light and dust are major issues. The noise from
blasting, machinery and trucks along with light pollution will totally
destroy this critical habitat. It will also drastically effect the
peace and tranquility at The Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy at Penrose
Park. Generally the whole area and its residents will be impacted
upon. Dust carried by prevailing winds across nearby pollulation
centres has the potential of causing adverse health effects
particularly increasing the incidence of illnesses such as asthma,
silicosis, cancer.

The mine will dramatically increase truck movements on the M31.
Something like 400 trucks a day will service the mine. This is a
totally unacceptable increase of heavy vehicle traffic on an already
busy highway.

For the reasons I've noted I believe this Sutton Forest Sand Quarry
Project should not be approved.

I strongly oppose this project
It will be one of the largest sand mines in Australia with a 47
hectare pit
The depth of the pit will be 39 metres with the potential to damage
aquifer water supplies
63 hectares of native bush in the Great Western Wildlife corridor will
be cleared
As a veterinarian that treats native wildlife regularly i am very
concerned at the impact this poses to native wildlife
The noise and blasting will be located with close proximity to my
home. We have a beautiful local environment with very little noise
This development will completely change the noise levels with mining
to take place 24 hours a day.
The additional 400 trucks a day on a very busy Hume Highway is also a
concern
I feel that we need to preserve the Southern Highlands due to its
outstanding natural beauty. It is attractive to locals and tourists
alike for this reason and I believe there are less sensitive areas
where sand mining can take place

In regard to the proposed extension of the Sutton Forest sand quarry, I
oppose the application.
My greatest concern is the impact of clearing approximately 63
hectares of native vegetation. I have read the information provided
during the survey of the area and understand that it will impact on
the Glossy black cockatoo which was noted but also I don't believe
that the true number of other protected native wildlife was accurately
represented.
I have resided in Moss Vale since 1982 and spent a lot of time at a
friends acreage which was located at the Southern end of Hanging Rock
road which borders the quarry. That area of land at Sutton Forest is
abundant with the common wombat, swamp wallaby, common brush tail
possum, Ring tail possum, Antechinus, eastern grey kangaroo and
Echidna. The few photos that were included in the survey of the area
do not do the area justice in their representation as the tree canopy
almost presents a sub-tropical moist rainforest climate. This area
that is proposed to be cleared is not an arid wasteland devoid of
life, it is actually quite the opposite. The native animals that I
have mentioned above are all protected species and it worries me
greatly that they themselves and their homes will be bulldozed into
oblivion. I only wish that anyone reading this submission could take a
drive down the Hume Highway and turn off onto Hanging Rock road to see
how lovely this natural forest is.

As a resident of the Southern Highlands (Bundanoon) I wish to object to
this proposed development:

* The EIS for this development is a flawed document and should not be
accepted.
inadequate groundwater modelling
impacts of blasting on groundwater has not been adequately addressed
the use of data averages for groundwater supply is not acceptable
water quality tests have only been measured twice
landfill quality cannot be assured.

*. WATER QUALITY
This area is a significant water catchment. Maintenance of water
quality is essential for residents of Wingecarribee Shire and also for
Sydney's drinking water. The properties of sandstone and the existence
of Long Swamp both act as water filters to ensure good water quality.
Mining sandstone over a 47 hectare area and to a depth of 39m below
the current water table will have a negative impact on water quality
Crushing and washing the sandstone will require a water supply which
is unrealistic for the area. The process will result in significant
water pollution with potential to overflow and directly impact on
areas such as Long Swamp, an environmentally sensitive ecosystem.
Using Sydney landfill to fill the pit will directly affect water
quality through contamination. this will directly affect Long Swamp
and, ultimately, Sydney's water supply.
The threats to water quality are multiplied by factors such as steep
topography, fragile soils and extreme weather events such as flooding.

* GREAT WESTERN WILDLIFE CORRIDOR
Wildlife corridors are essential if we are to maintain ecological
biodiversity. The Great Western Wildlife Corridor provides a vital
link for native fauna to ensure genetic biodiversity and to enable
movement through viable habitat. There is no long term future for
isolated areas. Wingecarribee provides an essential link (corridor) to
connect Blue Mountains National Park with Morton National Park. The
Wingecarribee section is already fragmented. The proposed sand mine is
situated at the narrowest point of the corridor. Clearing 63 hectares
of native bush would therefore be devastating for both native flora
and fauna including species which are already listed as endangered.
The "biodiversity offset" claim outlined in the EIS is impossible to
achieve given that the project will effectively destroy the wildlife
corridor.
In addition to land clearing there are impacts such as light, noise
and water pollution and vehicle movements (around 400 trucks per day)
which will all be detrimental to the survival of native flora and
fauna.

*. Impact on neighbouring properties is considerable. Noise, air and
light pollution as well as a large volume of truck movements will all
be at unacceptable levels. The Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy will be one
property directly impacted.

This proposal is for one of the largest sand mines in Australia. The
environmental and social impacts on the Southern Highlands and beyond
would be considerable, unacceptable and long term.
Water quality and biodiversity must be maintained. This project, if
approved, would destroy both.
If approved, this mine could set the precedent for other large scale
sand mining activities destroying not only the Southern Highlands but
also the "lungs" and water supply for Sydney.

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. The native flora and flora will be severely
affected . Increased traffic on the Hume Highway will increase to a
dangerous level.
The proposed sand quarry is adjacent to our family property. Our
family purchased the land in the early 1970s. It was my grandparents
lifelong goal to pass their home on to our family. Not only will the
noise and dust make the farm far from pleasant, as a consequence of
the quarry and the access road, our property value will plummet.

Lowering the water table at Sutton Forest will adversely affect the
bores on which so many locals depend for agriculture and life as the
mine site would drill below the water table. I am concerned about the
strong possibility that water at the site will be polluted by the mine
and its associated activities. Mining in the Sutton Forest area has
the potential for long-term devastating impacts on Long Swamp Creek.
The surface runoff and groundwater quality through contamination with
dissolved and suspended materials will severely affect the creek and
surrounding swamp land. The effects of this change are irreversible
and should not even be considered. We all talk about the environment
and conservation but it is the actions both positive and negative that
produce the outcome. We cannot afford to destroy yet another bio
diverse place. Our water is a valuable resource. Don't risk it.

The increase in heavy trucking on the Hume Highway will cause
additional stress on an already busy and dangerous road. That part of
the Highway is notorious for truck accidents. South of the truck exit
onto the highway there is a slight incline where trucks, cars and
motorbikes roar up there doing at least 110km/hour. The trucks would
exit in between this incline and the Sally's Corner Service Centre
where vehicles slow to change lanes and exit the Highway. An extra 300
trucks a day exiting onto the Highway and increasing speed as cars
slow and change lanes to exit puts the lives of motorists at risk.
This should not be considered a safe exit for trucks. It might look a
really easy solution on paper but in reality it is very far from it.
The Southern Highlands is a beautiful area visited by thousands each
year, and I urge you to take action against the sandmines that will
destroy the area.

Regards,
Laura Bowden