I strongly object to the project.
I have valid concerns regarding the long lasting environmental and health impacts of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry to all the surrounding areas. The increased heavy vehicle congestion to the highway and area will also have a negative impact on the surrounding estates towns and suburbs.

The following points are provided to support my objection:

Social Impact

Community members have consistently raised concerns about this project, yet there remains a strong perception that these concerns will not influence the outcome. The Community Consultation session held on 16 April 2021 left many with the view that the development is already predetermined. More recently, in August 2025, the Monaro Rock newsletter acknowledged that the project would bring “change beyond the community’s control” and introduce impacts unfamiliar to the area. Such statements reinforce the belief that local voices are being disregarded.

For over two decades, my husband, our children, and I have called Royalla home. Since 2005, we have invested financially, physically, and emotionally in building a life here. We selected this location after years of searching, attracted by the quiet rural character, natural beauty, and wildlife. Over 20 years, we have worked to establish the property into a place we are proud of — one that reflects both sacrifice and long-term commitment.

The proposal directly conflicts with a rural-residential lifestyle. Residents bought properties expecting the area to remain rural; it is unjust to rezone land for industrial use after 20 years and expect them to absorb the social, environmental, and lifestyle impacts. The developers should offer residents the option of compensation at the current market value to reflect the disruption and devaluation caused by the project, and allow residents to relocate if desired due to the associated health risks.

The looming prospect of losing the amenity and lifestyle we have worked so hard to secure has created significant and ongoing stress. What is at stake is not just property value, but the erosion of well-being, security, and community character — all of which will be compromised for external commercial gain.

Project Need

Quarries in this region have traditionally been located away from residential areas, with suburbs later expanding toward them. This proposal departs from that practice by establishing operations immediately adjacent to existing homes, creating avoidable conflict.

There is no demonstrated requirement for a fifth quarry. Existing sites have the capacity to meet regional demand well into the future. Claims to the contrary rely on speculation rather than verifiable evidence. Williamsdale Quarry has confirmed it holds sufficient reserves, and Heidelberg Materials’ acquisition of the Elvin Group indicates both long-term commitment and capacity to scale supply. Public information also confirms Holcim’s Cooma Road quarry can expand extraction and production until at least October 2035 under current approvals.

In addition, the proposal seeks to establish a concrete recycling plant despite two existing facilities already operating at Symonston and Pialligo, an asphalt plant despite two operating in Hume, and yet another concrete batching plant on-site. These facilities are duplicative, unnecessary, and fail the planning requirement of demonstrated need.

On this basis, the proposal fails the fundamental planning test of demonstrated need. Establishing a new quarry in Royalla would duplicate existing capacity, impose significant social and environmental costs, and deliver no clear strategic benefit to the region.

Air Quality

Residents of southern Royalla already experience significant dust pollution from the existing Williamsdale quarry, despite that operation being subject to similar mitigation requirements as proposed for this project. These controls have not prevented regular and problematic dust events, highlighting the limitations of industry assurances. There is little basis to expect Monaro Rock’s operations to achieve a higher standard.

Prevailing north-westerly winds place Royalla directly in the path of airborne particulate matter. In addition to health risks from inhalable pollutants, dust will accumulate on household roofs, contaminating rainwater tanks that provide the community’s sole source of potable water. This presents a direct and unacceptable risk to both public health and residential amenity.

Resident Health

Prevailing north-westerly winds place Royalla directly in the path of airborne pollutants from the proposed operation. Of particular concern is Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), which may be generated through open-cut extraction and processing of Rhyodacitic Ignimbrite containing 30–40% quartz. Crushing and handling of this material has a high potential to release RCS particles into the surrounding environment.

RCS exposure is widely recognised as comparable to asbestos in lethality, with no safe level of exposure. Even low concentrations present unacceptable health risks. The reliance on heavy machinery for extraction and handling would further increase dust emissions, compounding the risk of exposure for nearby residents.

Authorities have only recently begun addressing the severity of RCS, now referred to as “the new asbestos” due to its association with silicosis and other fatal health conditions. With Royalla residents located so close to the proposed site — and with prevailing winds from the northwest occurring over 21% of the time — there is no credible assurance that exposure can be avoided.

On this basis, the proposal fails to meet the fundamental obligation to protect public health. Any level of risk of silica exposure is unacceptable and should be treated as such in the assessment process.

Noise

For over 20 years, Royalla has provided a quiet rural environment where the predominant sounds are those of native wildlife. Residents, including myself, are accustomed to — and highly value — this natural soundscape, which contributes significantly to the area’s amenity and liveability.

The introduction of quarry operations would fundamentally alter this environment. While I have not previously lived near such operations, it is evident that machinery capable of crushing hard rock and recycled concrete, combined with heavy equipment required to transport material on-site, will generate ongoing industrial noise. Such activity is entirely inconsistent with the existing rural acoustic environment.

The proponent has suggested that noise levels will be comparable to those of a domestic air-conditioner compressor. This claim is not credible. The scale and intensity of quarrying and associated recycling processes will inevitably result in intrusive, continuous noise that cannot be reconciled with the current amenity.

Accordingly, the proposal poses an unacceptable risk of long-term noise pollution, undermining both residential amenity and the rural character of Royalla.

Biodiversity

The proposal seeks to transform land currently zoned C2 (Environmental Conservation) and RU2 (Rural Landscape) into a large-scale industrial quarry and processing facility. This is in direct conflict with the objectives of the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2022, which was specifically established to safeguard these zones from incompatible land uses.

The impacts of quarrying extend well beyond the project footprint. Blasting, continuous machinery noise, heavy vehicle movements, and progressive habitat destruction will create a hostile environment for wildlife across a wide radius. Mobile species will be displaced, while less mobile fauna and flora will be lost as habitat fragmentation and degradation intensify.

The site includes remnants of critically endangered Box Gum Woodland, a community listed under Federal legislation due to its role in supporting threatened flora and fauna. Every remaining patch of this ecosystem is of national importance. Destruction of this community cannot be adequately addressed through offsetting, which fails to replicate the ecological value of irreplaceable habitat.

Approving the removal of such high-conservation-value land, in breach of local planning instruments, would set a dangerous precedent. It would prioritise short-term private financial gain over the permanent loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the well-being of the broader community.

Transport

The proposal to access the Monaro Highway with fully loaded 19-metre B-Double trucks, occasionally extending to 25-metre vehicles, presents a significant safety risk. Trucks entering or attempting to accelerate along the highway near the crest — an area of limited visibility — would encounter vehicles travelling at 100 km/h or more, creating a high likelihood of serious accidents.

The highway is already subject to unsafe driving behaviours, including speeding, impatience, and poor use of headlights, particularly during low-visibility conditions and the snow season. The mitigation measure of a northbound merge lane does not address the risks posed to southbound traffic, nor does it adequately protect northbound drivers attempting to merge while navigating limited sightlines.

With an estimated 200 truck movements per day, the proposal introduces an unacceptable and unnecessary hazard. The cumulative risk to motorists, pedestrians, and other road users is substantial, making the project incompatible with safe and responsible transport management.

Water Supply

Our household relies entirely on rainwater collected in tanks and stored in a dam for all domestic needs, including gardening and farming use. These sources are essential to our lifestyle and property amenity.

Dust, sediment, or chemical runoff from quarry operations will contaminate and reduce the quality of our water, posing a direct risk to health as it is our sole potable supply. While the developer claims neighbouring water users will not be affected, the potential for airborne or sediment-borne pollutants entering our tanks makes this assurance unreliable. Any reduction in water quality would compromise household use and create serious health risks.

I have recently heard about a quarry which is proposed to be built 4km from my house! I am absolutely upset that this is being proposed so close to my home. I use the Monaro Highway every day, to commute to work into Woden and my son drives into Campbell every week day. The highway is currently difficult to navigate with all the road works from Johnstone Drive round about up to past the ACT jail. The thought of an additional 500 trucks a day adding to the traffic is unthinkable and makes me nervous to drive on the road. What safety precautions and road design will be put in place to reduce the risk of accidents? Also is the concern of the dust in the air, I am a nurse and have nursed patients with respiratory diseases, some of which are living with chronic respiratory diseases and thus near our home is of great concern. This is not a project that needs to be anywhere near people. The environmental impact, critically endangered woodlands and impact on our wildlife is the major reason this should not be developed in this area .

To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to formally object to the proposed Royalla Quarry project by Monaro Rock, due to serious concerns regarding public health, environmental degradation, and community impact.
The generation of silica dust from quarry operations presents a significant health hazard. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica is known to cause serious lung diseases, including silicosis, and poses a long-term risk to both workers and nearby residents.
Furthermore, the expected increase in heavy vehicle traffic and noise will disrupt the peaceful rural character of Royalla. The volume and frequency of truck movements will contribute to road wear, noise pollution, and reduced safety for local residents.
Lastly, the project threatens environmental destruction, including the loss of native vegetation, disturbance of wildlife habitats, and potential contamination of soil and water systems. These impacts are deeply concerning and incompatible with the values of our community and the surrounding natural landscape.
I respectfully urge the relevant authorities to reject this proposal and to prioritise the health, safety, and environmental integrity of Royalla.
Bob Barnes

As a resident of Royalla who lives locally and travels on Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway along the proposed route of trucks from the proposed Monaro Quarry I object to the increased number of heavy vehicles and the placement of the access road as they pose a significant risk to safety of human and animal life on these roads. The data provided which suggests that the increase in trucks on both the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway is acceptable and that queuing on these roads can be done safely is unlikely. The data provided is based on the average number of vehicles annually when local residents know well that winter and summer peaks of traffic going to the snowy mountains increases the risks of accidents and poses increased threat to death of wildlife. The increased number of heavy vehicles and placement of the access road onto the Monaro Highway increases the risk that vehicles may be involved in an accident with wildlife or other motorists who frequently endanger other motorists when frustrated at delays in the traffic. The risk of head on collision will increase if 100’s of trucks are entering both Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway, I gave narrowly missed being hit by impatient motorists many times and replaced the windscreen on my cars multiple times following breakage behind quarry trucks over the past 15 years. Implementing traffic lights at the intersections is one way to reduce this risk if the proposal goes ahead. In addition to vehicle safety issues the presence of silica dust arising from the quarry operations is of serious health concern to local residents with current evidence available that confirms silica is a carcinogenic substance. Should the quarry be approved the NSW Government and the Monaro Quarry will be subject to compensation claims for silica ingestion.

To whom it may concern,
RE: OBJECTION TO MONARO ROCK QUARRY PROPOSAL
I’m writing to express my objection to the Monaro rock quarry proposal. I would like to raise the following concerns.
My first concern is the potential for a decision being made to allow a quarry and industrial estate on RU2 and C2 zoned land that contains critically endangered box gum grassy Woodland. The surrounding area is a rural residential area zoned E4 and E2. The proposed quarry would be located 1 kilometre from homes in Royalla and within 2 to 5 kilometres of south Canberra suburbs. Residents of these suburbs were, until recently completely unaware of the quarry proposal and were at no time included in the consultation process. If this quarry gets approved in what was always a rural residential area, it calls into question the consistency and transparency of the zoning approvals process and potentially undermines future community engagement and trust.
My second concern is the sheer volume of truck movements per day as the reports have stated that Monaro Rock intend to have 25 trucks per hour and a maximum of 200 trucks per day. Will this cap be monitored and if so who will be responsible and what consequence will be imposed if this cap is exceeded? This proposes significant risks as there is a lot of movement and congestion already on the Monaro Highway, and even if these trucks use an alternative route, they would still be using small community roads impacting residents through excessive noise and dust. Our roads are not capable of accommodating heavy laden trucks and this poses a significant safety risk.
My major concern is the significant health risks to the community. I have worked for 28 years at the Canberra Hospital in oncology and have seen the impact of dust related illnesses. The primary method of extracting hard rock, in this case Rhyodacitic Ignimbrite with quartz content of 30-40% is a dusty process. Crushing, stockpiling and transporting this product will guarantee exposure to respirable crystalline silica. This product can be compared with asbestos and is lethal. There is no safe exposure level for either of these products so any exposure is absolutely unacceptable. It is imperative that this is taken seriously and not dismissed. In particular, the proposed site’s exposure to southerly winds poses significant risk and these winds will carry dust and silica directly toward homes in Royalla. Exposure to silica dust leads to Silicosis and is a death sentence. I have no confidence in Monaro Rock to contain the exposure to respirable crystalline silica. I would also like to know how this will be monitored and by whom. The mitigation strategies listed in the EIS document provided by Monaro rock are only to reduce the spread of dust and not remove the risk completely. There is also some question around the availability of groundwater that will be used in this process.
I have other concerns but will keep this short, there are three other quarries in proximity already able to supply regional needs for the next 100 years. These existing quarries are not working to capacity so there is no need for a new quarry. The impact of large scale industrial activity, dust, noise, and the health risks will impact the entire region, Royalla, Little Burra , Mount Campbell Estate, Fernleigh Park, Googong and Karabar in NSW, and also Theodore, Calwell, Richardson and Gilmore within the ACT.
This quarry should not go ahead.
kind regards
H & A

Please read my submission in full and understand this is not just my families livelihood but our actual lives.
Thank you

My comments are provided in the attachments. I object strongly to this proposal.