My wife and I are residents of Royalla, NSW, and object to the proposed Monaro rock quarry project. My parents are also previous residents having moved to Royalla in 2000. My parents were drawn to Royalla for its proximity to family who reside close by in the ACT. In addition to this, the Royalla area also offered a quiet area free from issues which come from living in the suburbs e.g. traffic, noise, and access to nature. The area was precious not only to my parents but to myself to the extent that on my parents' passing, I purchased their property. The proposed quarry will destroy all the reasons which make Royalla the beautiful area that it currently is. Establishment and operation of the proposed quarry will negatively impact the environment (site is already zoned RU2 and C2 and contains critically endangered box-gum grassy woodland) e.g. clearing of endangered bushland and the resultant impact on wildlife, cause dust/silica dust which can lead to the development of lung cancer, silicosis, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This will also impact residents of Tuggeranong and the surrounding areas. We and the other the residents of Royalla are also dependant on rainwater for our water supply which the dust/silica dust will also impact. The proposed quarry will also generate a huge volume of traffic on roads already unsafe, particularly during periods of increased traffic e.g. snow season. Noise and dust pollution during operations including blasting will also have a huge impact on not only Royalla residents but those in surrounding areas including suburbs within the ACT (approximately 49000 people live within 10 kilometres of the proposed site). In addition to the negative human and environmental impacts the economics of the proposed site, are also questionable given the existence of four quarries within 30kms with sufficient capacity to last 100 years.

Monaro Rail Trail Inc is a community organization that wishes to convert the disused 213 km long Monaro rail corridor from Queanbeyan to Bombala into a recreation facility, known as a rail trail, and which supports, walking, running and cycling activities for people of all ages and abilities. MRT Inc does not oppose the quarry proposal but does wish to comment on some aspects of its proposed development and its activities
The MRT project brings benefits to community health and gives rise to a new form of tourism which will help boost economic activity in the bypassed villages and towns along the rail corridor. The project has widespread support from, individuals, business operators, resident associations, and importantly the two key stakeholders – Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and Snowy Monaro Regional Councils who have funded feasibility studies. The NSW Government has funded the supporting business case and the project is now shovel ready.
One of the most used segments on the trail will be the section Queanbeyan to Michelago, it is anticipated that each year over 100,000 people will make use of the trail between those two points. Although the actual quarry will not be visible to users of the rail trail, the proposed quarry access road and the suggested daily 500 vehicle movements, will be close to the rail corridor for approximately 800m as the road approaches the Monaro highway. Consequently, MRT Inc feels it is appropriate to comment on the proposal to establish the Monaro Rock Quarry on land bordering the rail corridor.
Dust suppression: During the dry summer months, December to April, when dust suppression may be most difficult, the prevailing wind direction is easterly and users of the rail trail could be subject to poor air quality. If the access road is unsealed then trail users will certainly be subject to dust as trucks travel parallel and close to the rail corridor. We do note that the EIS statement reports that there will be no discernible changes to the air quality. However, an assurance that the access road is to be sealed along that section close to the rail corridor would alleviate concerns from MRT Inc.
Noise suppression: The EIS reports that 500 heavy trucks will be entering/leaving the quarry per day (page 35). These will all travel along the access road and in proximity to users of the rail trail and although the trucks will be travelling slowly, there will still be the noise linked with general movement, and particularly acceleration and braking. This will certainly intrude into the space of trail users. However, we believe that increasing the distance between the access road and the rail corridor plus screening with vegetation would help to alleviate this issue. An alternative option is to consider the proposed fence on the east side of the access road, could it be built on the west side of the access road for that 800metre section where it is parallel to the rail corridor? Tree and shrub planting on both sides of the access road will also help buffer noise.
Visual abatement: Our comments here mirror those on noise suppression. Users of the trail, in an otherwise rural setting, do not wish to feel they are walking/running/cycling alongside heavy trucks. The EIS reports up to 500 heavy vehicle movements per day, which means for an 8-hour day there will be a truck on the road every minute. Installation of a fence on the west side of the access road would reduce rail trail user’s views of truck movements. Furthermore, dense planting of appropriate plant species would enhance visual screening of, not only vehicles but also the proposed 3m high fence.
Traffic movement: MRT Inc is pleased that the proposal has planned for the access road to include a bridge over the rail corridor. This immediately removes all risks to trail users as vehicles will be separated from trail users. We note that the planners are sensitive to routing quarry traffic through local roads and have instead wisely chosen to use the Monaro Highway. However, we do have a general concern about the number of slow-moving trucks that will enter the Monaro Highway and pose a potential risk to fast moving highway traffic. We urge that the intersection of the quarry access road and the Monaro Highway be planned carefully.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal.
Andrew Carter
Secretary MRT Inc

My family and I live in Tuggeranong and we strongly object to the proposed new quarry to be operated in Royalla. The activity at the proposed quarry will adversely affect 1000s of residents and have a significant detrimental environmental impact in the area. Both the flora and fauna in the area will be negatively affected by noise, dust, the huge number of vehicles passing through hourly. There is a huge risk of silica dust being transferred in the atmosphere, to people. The health of residents needs to be of major concern. There are schools in the area and there is a huge risk that the health, well-being and education of our children will be impacted by the changes and disruption that will inevitably become evident . This is the wrong place to establish an environmentally harmful, destructive and divisive development.

Protect the environment

My household opposes the proposed new Quarry
For many reasons:
1/The impacts of silica dust on respiratory health has been well documented. We do not need the potential impact of this in the air and also falling on our roofs leading to containment of our drinking water as we all rely on tank water in the area.
2/ the impact to the ground water, the quarry will access ground water limiting the water in the water table that is relied on my many in the area for more sustainable
3/ the quarry process uses water and thus produces waste water. This can contaminate ground water and is also expected to run off into the local Tuggeranong creek
4/ Traffic, the exisiting roads will not tolerate the extra heavy vehicles traffic. The Monaro hwy is not designed to tolerate the extra traffic the Quarry will create. Heading into Canberra (north) the road is only one lane, there are also concerns about the safety of a slow heavy fully laden truck leaving the quarry crossing the highway with vehicles traveling at 100km/hr
In snow season the turn from old Cooma road onto the hwy at intersection with good visibility can be challenging we do not need extra truck traffic on this road and the location that the proposed quarry will be accessing the highway will only make traffic conditions dangerous and likely force unsafe overtaking of slow trucks
The alternate route for the trucks to travel down old Cooma road and the road between fernleigh park and wellsvale drive is narrow, with no shoulder and potholed and will not stand up to the extra traffic movements especially wide and heavy loads. When residents have requested this road look at being widened we have been told by QPRC that the corridor contains protected trees and thus can’t be widened

5/ local septic systems and brownouts
The extra draw on the electrical infrastructure may cause brownouts that affect many electrical appliances but importantly the pumps of the septic system we rely on. Why should we be forced to pay for replacement pumps and other electrical items affected by these potential brownouts.
6/ impact on local flora and fauna,
The impact to ecosystems may have far ranging and irreversible impacts
Ultimately we moved our family out of town for a more peaceful, Clean lifestyle not to hear blasting and trucks thundering by 6 days per week and be concerned about impacts to our health.
Don’t let this quarry go head to line the pockets of the owners at the detriment of the greater community it

I oppose the project because of concerns about water usage, road safety, dust pollution and noise pollution

I am writing this submission against the proposed quarry to be situated near my home in Royalla.
I am extremely concerned about the impact such a quarry will have on the natural environment which is home to many species of birds that are both endangered and important to the biodiversity in the area. I am an avid bird watcher and gardener and enjoy the many species of birds such as scarlet robins, flame robins and the regent honeyeaters that visit my garden and whose breeding areas are within the proposed quarry site.
My mental health and wellbeing since being retired has always been positively influenced to time in my garden watching birds and spending many hours outside. I am extremely worried and stressed about the quarry and how it will impact my garden and the birds that visit it. I don't want to be breathing in the dust that will be created by such a quarry and hearing and feeling the blasts that will be occurring on a daily basis. My anxiety levels have increased since learning about the proposed quarry and reading about the flora and fauna that will be affected by the devastating destruction of the environment of the Enchanted hill.
I cannot understand why such an important environmental area is even being considered for the site of the quarry.
I have been a resident of Royalla for twenty years and have put years of work into my property to support the natural environment which is endemic to this area. Another quarry is the last thing we need and its impact will not only be devastating to the environment but the health and well being of myself and my family.
Wendy Noad.

I'm one of Canberra prominent mountain climbers, resident of South Canberra, I've climbed all over Australia in and around mining sites and seen first hand the impacted mining and rock blasting has, I've seen the Pilbara blasted the Trakine mine, mine trucks everywhere the roads are full of heavy haulage vehicles but the difference is it not near a large metropolitan hub and l do not wish this within our community the health and environmental impact that will effect generations not to mention the environment significant to the woodland grasslands home to a variety of native wildlife and indigenous culture sites, I also grow up in and around quarry and aggregates with my family owning a company when I was a child and understand the businesses position on expansion but we do have a number of quarries already in the area.


Health:
I'm significantly concerned about the respirable crystalline silica particles, causes multiple diseases, including silicosis, is incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease, and is on the same seriousness as asbestos, being a parent to children who attend a school within the 5km zone I don't find this acceptable look at cases around the world at places exposure to deadly particle exposure like Mr Fluffy for asbestos exposure and buy backs, it's like in Wittenoon WA, no access due to the exposure to blue asbestos and closed to public, how is Silica an acceptable exposure? As it's seen as the new asbestos.


Environmental significants:
the proposed sight sits close to a sacred indigenous site near theodore - Indigenous grinding groves the area has culture significant for the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We also have a number of endangered plants and animal life critically endangered box-gum grassy woodlands there are less than 10% left in the world on enchanted hill the site is also home to the critically endangered pink-tailed legless lizard, Swift parrot, Purple Pea in the proposed area also many invertebrates black rock scorpions and trapdoor spiders that all play a role in our eco system.


Enchanted hill NSW is part of the canberra hiking, mount climbing community, people climb Enchanted hill there many pages online showing this. As a climber we call it peak bragging I myself have climbed Enchanted hill I personally used it as a training mountain for my record breaking mountain climbs, l don't want to see it's destroyed and the effects on the environment and loss of green space.


Thank you for your time

Submission objecting to the project attached.