To Whom It May Concern
I am writing to express my disgust and strong opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project in Royalla, NSW 2620. As a rate paying family in this once safe and family friendly community, I am not only deeply concerned about the irreversible environmental, health, and social impacts this development would impose on our region, but my life long investment and substantial contribution to this amazing and growing community’s future.
500 plus trucks per day to an area where I moved my entire family to, to escape the hustle and bustle, knowing it already came at an additional cost as we pay extremely high electricity bills, mandated ludicrous land rates for the privilege of living rurally and still don’t have the same tax payer funded social services our suburban neighbours do. The roads which I campaigned to make safe not that long ago for the school buses to get my children home safe from school where Deans Buses were dropping them off on a road that runs at 100km an hour. This reeks of back pocket handshakes and personal profits.
In years to come you will all be retired with your golden handshakes patting each other on the back, when our children are suffering the after effects of silica dust and the repercussions of this indulgent money grab. Mr Fluffy, Asbestos poisoning and Robodebt!! just to name a few of the governments previously ill advised decisions.
Families bought properties in Royalla due to the quiet rural lifestyle, an industrial quarry like this, in the centre of Royalla and impacting Theodore, Calwell, Richardson and Chisholm where my grandchildren will be schooled, will not only destroy this community but have health impacts you cannot underestimate, not to mention the investments in our retirement we all made to better ourselves and the future of our children.
Spend a day in Royalla, windy alley as it is commonly known, and tell me that an alarm will notify plant managers of unacceptable silica risks.
“Enough is Enough” we already have two quarries near Royalla with the Williamsdale Road and Old Cooma Road quarries. Both existing quarries apparently have years of capacity left, that will see all of us out. We don’t need another one and this new proposal is just a profiteering exercise by Monaro Rock.
Despite claims of community engagement, the overwhelming sentiment among residents is opposition. No amount of mitigation or compromise can make this project acceptable.
Conclusion
The Monaro Rock Quarry Project is incompatible with the values, health, and future of Royalla and its surrounding communities. It puts the lives of residents at serious risk and I urge decision-makers to reject this proposal and prioritise the wellbeing of residents and our neighbouring suburbs with in the ACT where we all have many family and friends, over industrial expansion.
Sincerely,
Charlene Cooper
Resident
Royalla, NSW

I own a rural property within 3kms of the proposed site. This submission is in opposition to the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal due to my concerns with health risks, noise, environmental impacts and traffic concerns.

Health risks from respirable silica dust:
It is unrealistic to expect there would be only small amounts of respiratory dust and other mineral dust emissions generated from mining the site. Silica dust can reach up to 700 metres high and stay in the air for days. Silica dust particles can be extremely small and invisible to the naked eye. Our property, as is most of Royalla, is subjected to regular high winds. The respiratory dust risks associated with the Monaro Rock Quarry can not be fully eliminated, even when a hierarchy of controls are implemented (Airborne dust exposure in mines and quarries | Resources Safety & Health Queensland). The last bastion of defence for workers as outlined in the booklet are PPE specifically fitted to each worker, this equipment is not available to the surrounding community nor would it mitigate contamination of water tanks, dams, and edible produce grown on the many rural properties within 5 km of the site.

Noise and vibration from blasting:
Noise and vibration from blasting operations will be heard and felt five days a week from 9am to 5pm. We are recently retired and spend a lot of time outdoors around the property. It is unacceptable to permit a quarry so close to a rural/residential neighbourhood and to subject inhabitants to this amount of noise and discomfort. This is apart from the risk to our infrastructure such as cracks to water tanks, structures and foundations.

The environment:
The quarry will damage and/or clear close to 80 hectares of vegetation. A quarter of this land contains critically endangered fauna with 300 species of flora and fauna calling this land home.
The quarry intends to use groundwater which presents unacceptable risks to my property and livestock. My dam is spring fed and contains turtles, yabbies, and perch. It is also the main source of water for my livestock and garden. My surrounding neighbours have bores. Permission is required to create a dam or install a bore to help sustainably manage groundwater sources, protecting their quality and the ecosystems that depend on them (Drilling a bore domestic and stock rights FAQs). These safeguards have not been successful for mining operations in the past and have had a devastating impact on groundwater including flow paths and contamination.

Traffic:
The quarry will generate up to 500 heavy vehicles a day on the Monaro highway which equates to one truck every 10 minutes. This highway is the main road we travel on to get to town and is largely single lane. It already supports a steady flow of traffic during peak times particularly in the mornings, evenings and during the snow season. Accidents are common and the road is in constant disrepair. The quarry would increase our travel time and add to an already stressed infrastructure without regard to additional maintenance requirements.

I have great concerns for the proposed quarry in Royalla. I object to this proposal for another new quarry.

I have children who are learning to drive or are newly independent drivers driving to and from home on the Monaro Highway. I do not want them to have to manage the extra truck traffic and the possible reckless driving that will come from other cars wanting to overtake the trucks entering and exiting the new quarry onto the Monaro Highway. I also don't want to have to contend with the additional truck traffic from the proposed quarry. I work in Tuggeranong and travel on the Monaro Highway to and from work every day. This additional truck traffic will increase my commute time and will also increase the risks for my family and I on an already high-risk road.

I love the lifestyle that Royalla offers us with the livestock we tend to, the vegetable gardens and orchards that I have established and harvest from. I am concerned for the health of my family and I with regards to the silica dust that will be airborne and ingested from our fruits and vegetables. I am concerned about my own health with regards to the silica dust when I am out in the garden tending to it. I am also concerned about our animals and the impact that the silica dust will have on their health.I am also very concerned about the water table and how it could be affected by the proposed quarry as we have a bore which I rely on in my gardens and for our animals.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed quarry development in Royalla NSW, as outlined in the Monaro Rock Quarry project. As a concerned resident of the area, I believe that this development presents significant risks to both public safety and the local environment, and I urge the council to reconsider this proposal on the grounds of the following concerns:
1. Traffic Safety and Congestion
The development of a quarry in our suburb will significantly increase truck traffic, both on local roads and nearby highways. The heavy trucks transporting materials to and from the site will pose several risks, including:
Increased Traffic Congestion: Local roads are not designed to handle the volume of heavy truck traffic that will result from the quarry operation. These roads already experience high traffic, especially during peak holiday seasons both winter snow traffic and summer school holiday times, and the additional trucks would further congest the area, causing significant risks for residents and commuters.
Public Safety Risks: The combination of large, slow-moving trucks and the existing traffic patterns creates a dangerous environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users which could see an increased risk of accidents.
Wear and Tear on Infrastructure: Our current road infrastructure, is not equipped to support the extra weight and volume of traffic that would result from quarry operations. The long-term impact on road maintenance and safety could be detrimental to the community’s overall infrastructure.
2. Environmental Impact
In addition to the traffic concerns, the environmental implications of quarrying in our suburb are severe and warrant serious consideration:
Air and Dust Pollution: The extraction and transportation of quarry materials will likely release large amounts of dust and particulate matter into the surrounding environment. This can contribute to poor air quality, impacting the health of residents, particularly those with respiratory issues, and exacerbating the region's pollution problems.
Noise Pollution: The operation of heavy machinery, blasting, and transportation of materials would generate significant noise pollution, which could disrupt local wildlife and affect the peace and livability of residential areas. The noise would likely be constant throughout the day, disturbing both adults and children who live in the area.
Water and Soil Contamination: The risk of water and soil contamination due to quarrying activities is a serious concern. Potential runoff from the site could affect nearby waterways, compromising local ecosystems and potentially contaminating local water supplies. Reliance on the water tables for residents with bore operations for livestock will have a significant impact to properties who rely on the source daily.
Loss of Biodiversity: The land designated for the quarry is home to local flora and fauna, some of which are rare or threatened. Quarrying operations can lead to habitat destruction and the irreversible loss of biodiversity in the area, which is something that the community cannot afford to overlook.
3. Community and Property Value
A quarry in such close proximity to residential areas will likely lead to a decrease in property values. The combined effects of noise, dust, and traffic congestion will significantly detract from the overall quality of life in our suburb. The presence of a quarry would also make the area less attractive to potential buyers or renters, further impacting the local economy.

While I understand the economic benefits that may arise from quarrying operations, I believe that the risks associated with this development far outweigh any potential gains. Especially with other quarries operating in close proximity to this proposed site, that are not running at capacity or close to closing operations. The safety of residents, the environmental impact, and the long-term consequences for our community must take precedence.
Therefore, I respectfully request that the council reject the proposed quarry development in Royalla based on the concerns raised above. I am happy to discuss these objections further or to provide additional information if required.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
G

I object to this development application SSD-27223807 for the Monaro Rocks Quarry.

I intend to return to my family property next year in Royalla. As it stands, I am within 5km of the project site in GIlmore and I drive the Monaro Highway everyday. Regardless of where I locate, I will be impacted.

This proposal will impact the lives of all residents not only within Royalla but across the NSW & ACT region.

THE QPLEP DOES NOT ALLOW THIS
I refer to the Environmental Impact Statement (‘EIS’) and the “Need for the Project”. The data suggests there will be a hard rock shortfall by 2030 if the project is not approved. This is an opinion put forward by the Proponent is that the need outweighs the environmental constraints and its values at the proposed development site. Extractive industries are a prohibited use within the RU2 Rural Landscape and C2 Environmental Conservation of the Queanbeyan-Palerang Local Environmental Plan 2022 (‘QPLEP’). The need for the project cannot outweigh the prohibition of extractive industries for this landuse under the QPLEP and utilise the loophole of Clause 2.9(3) of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Resources and Energy) 2021 (‘the SEPP’) to justify its need described “by virtue” in the EIS.

The C2 Environmental Conservation zone under the QPLEP does not permit ‘agriculture’ or ‘industry’. Therefore Clause 2.9(3)(b) would prohibit the extractive industry occurring on this section of land under the C2 zoning.

The extractive industry goes against all objectives of both zones. I have further comments below on biodiversity.

The “Cumulative impacts” are assessed as 'acceptable.' This is wrong and will have detrimental impacts.

THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS FLAWED
The traffic report had traffic surveys undertaken on Thursday 27 May to Wednesday 9 June 2021 (inclusive) on the Monaro Highway north of Old Cooma Road was during the beginning of the Victorian lockdowns and 11 days before NSW went into lockdown where work from home was a necessity. This greatly distorts any type of traffic modelling done. The data would accurately reflect the Monaro Highway traffic during snow season. They removed the data of the ACT public holiday as they felt that inflated the traffic count. The report models a conservative traffic count showing a daily average of 4,400 vehicles in 2021 equating to an average weekly total of 30,800 vehicles (Table 2.1 (p. 8)). One look at the TfNSW Counter 6114 at Bredbo shows that peak demand during winter in 2024 (week of 15 July 2024) reaching up to 61,510 vehicles in both directions and 58,007 (week of 3 July 2023). I understand that the traffic report disputes the distance of the TfNSW Counter 6114 to the project site, the estates between the project site to the traffic counter would not generate the total difference of additional numbers of traffic given the lack of population density.

Limitations on Old Cooma Road is supported however it will be at the detrimental of commuters on the Monaro Highway. The residents of Royalla and those estates off Old Cooma Road who head to the Monaro Highway from both Old Cooma Road and Royalla Drive will be impacted and further up the road network that connects Tuggeranong residents onto the Monaro Highway. A laden and unladen truck will move inbound and outbound every minute from 5am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. This is simply not safe. This is not liveable.

Flaws in the report include lack of consideration of general maintenance undertaken by TfNSW during the snow season from June long weekend to the October long weekend where works cannot occur before 12pm on Mondays and after 12pm on Fridays on the Monaro Highway. Yet these trucks will be free to haul on the Monaro Highway in droves.

The traffic report does not consider the bottleneck experienced at the Johnson Drive and Monaro Highway roundabout. This is not appropriately assessed in the EIS cumulative impacts. More traffic is then experienced at the Rose Cottage roundabout and that is not considered.

The prohibition of use of any Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Roads is supported however the EIS (p. 2-31) states that extended operating hours could be considered if truck movements are directed to the Monaro Highway! The proposed condition consent will have adverse effects. This is the main reason why I am objecting to this development as there are no amenable alternatives to the traffic.

The traffic estimates a maximum of 710 trips per day including quarry product dispatch, VENM/EMN importation, concrete and asphalt transportation. This introduces inbound laden truck movements which will have an accumulative impact on the Monaro Highway and the amenity.

There is no consideration of the impact of the school bus run as it enters onto the Monaro Highway.

There are no considerations on wet weather contingencies that should form part of a Driver Code of Conduct.

THE NOISE REPORT IS 'CONSERVATIVE'
It is noted in relation to the above, the report by the Octave Acoustics models noise based on the traffic figures from 2021. Octave Acoustics utilizes the minimum daily volume, specifically the date of Wednesday 9 June 2021, stating it would provide a “conservative assessment from the perspective of relative change. The existing proportion of heavy vehicles used is also conservative, as heavy vehicles are likely to avoid peak hour delays where possible”.

This modelling is flawed. The haulage operations are to begin at 5:00am through to 6:00pm Mondays to Saturdays. The EIS does not accurately assess the reality of maximum daily vehicle numbers. The assumption in the noise report that the operator will not commence heavy vehicle inbound and outbound movements during peak hour is not reflected in the Traffic report thus their assumption the noise is not an issue - because it has not been appropriately modelled.

In other words, the reports within the EIS are not talking to each other.

WHERE IS THE VENM/ENM COMING FROM?
The quarry proposes to import VENM/ENM under NSW EPA approval processes. Claiming that 'where possible, material would be transported to the Project Site via trucks returning from the delivery of quarry products to customer’. However, the quarry's market is based in the ACT. This requires ACT EPA approval. Where will the VENM/ENM come from? Who will check on this process? The amount is enormous. How will the local Council's compliance officers monitor this situation? That those trucks are carrying VENM/ENM and not other hazardous waste. This is a burden to the rate payer to resource this function!

The location of the project is selected based on a profitability distance to the ACT to reduce haulage cost and the market demand in the ACT. Between the project site to the south, there is limited NSW development that would generate the volume of VENM/ENM that the project requires.

VENM/ENM from NSW would need to be obtained to the east meaning haulage along Old Cooma Road or through other parts of the Queanbeyan- Palerang local government area before entering the Monaro Highway if they are truly obtaining VENM/ENM from NSW. A little tricky when you as the road authority are not allowing access?

The Proponent needs to clarify where the VENM/ENM is coming from?

SAVE ENCHANTED HILL
In 2008, QPRC commissioned a report on Biodiversity in the local government area. This report celebrated the importance of Enchanted Hill, describing it as 'remnant and regrowth Dry Forest, Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands associated with the Enchanted Hill area in the south-west of the LGA.'

The EIS states that 55.39 hectares of Monaro-Queanbeyan Rolling Hills Grassy Forest and 22.84 hectare Southern Tableland Grassy Box Woodland will be cleared.

The ecosystems to be cleared, leads to detrimental impacts to our Pink-tailed Legless Lizard; Key's Matchstick Grasshopper; Pale Pamaderris; Small Purple-pea and Silky Swainson-pea.

Why does so much land need to be cleared? This is because the 2008 report clearly identifies that accessibility to Enchanted Hill was difficult. The mass destruction is because the site has challenging terrain. So for profit for a few, the flattening around Enchanted Hill before quarry materials are hauled is the reason. We are compromising biodiversity importance because the terrain is challenging. Enchanted Hill is a sacred hill. So are its surrounds.

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INCONVENIENCE
Contributions for inconvenience will never make up for the excessive water usage, biodiversity destruction, dust, traffic accidents that may result in fatality and the detrimental impact this will have on all Royalla residents and those residents who travel along Old Cooma Road to enter onto the Monaro Highway. No amount of money will ever take away the fact that this development will destroy the Royalla estate and those who commute along Old Cooma Road or out from Royalla Drive and detriment to drivers from Tuggeranong.

Thank you for considering my submission. I hope I have highlighted at a minimum the flaws in the EIS that based on its merits, cannot be approved in its current format.

We moved to Royalla for the country living and fresh air. There is already a quarry in Williamsdale which is expanding without community consultation. This quarry is already directly affecting Royalla residents and the expansion of this needs to be reviewed and consulted on. It is an eyesore- now directly in view of properties in Royalla. Another quarry will increase heavy vehicle traffic, live stock and dust. It is not an appropriate location in the Royalla community. A industrial estate would surely be more appropriate.

I wish to oppose the development of the Monaro Rock Quarry.
We purchased our Monaro Station property in 2017. It was a massive financial outlay for us but after looking into the areas zoning, what price do you put on your family’s health and wellbeing what a wonderfully unique lifestyle for our family and even for friends to visit, it was such an exciting prospect, we couldn’t believe our luck we had managed to secure a property in an absolutely stunning rural area only minutes from Canberra. Given the financial commitment we had to consider this our “superannuation” becoming either an option for our children to purchase off us later in life or to on sell as a unique opportunity for someone to purchase a rural residence only ten minutes from Canberra, what would become an even rarer commodity in the future.
Wow, we had no idea what an amazing community we were moving into, it was almost like stepping back in time! If we left the door unlocked, we didn’t need to worry, neighbours look out for each other, everybody is house proud and maintain the appearance of their property, people were always trying to help each other… the list goes on, in short just a great place to live. A community centre built by the resident for the residents and the surrounding regions with regular local volunteer coordinated children’s events, sausage sizzles and bonfires…
Since our purchase we had been excitingly looking into so many options for our property, we were planning on re-developing our driveway, entrance and even a substantial extension to our home including large deck and inground swimming pool. We were just about to begin the process of relocating our children from school in central Canberra to one of the local south Tuggeranong schools to allow us the ability to use the local bus service and aid in mingling more in the local community.
Then in early 2021, I read a Facebook post one Sunday afternoon and there was a photo of proposed quarry and an associated letter posted by an angry resident. I was astonished, could not believe this could happen, I made my way down to my letterbox to find an unsealed, unaddressed envelope with the recently posted on Facebook documents inside, with consultation times of short notice and inconvenient times. From that point on our lives and the lives of our family, neighbours and community have been turned upside down. The consultation days where ill-prepared and provided very little information and only gave the impression that they were going ahead with this project as it will mean increased profits for our company and it’s your problem to stop it!
Due to the location and nature of this proposal our quiet and clean aired lifestyle could now be impacted but not limited to, a relentless line of trucks driving past or in close proximity to our property on a daily basis (500 a day from 7am to 6pm!!!), producing noise, dust, diesel fumes, rubbish (rocks ,dirt etc) on road to be flicked up and break windscreens, general traffic congestion. Noise from explosions, heavy machinery, trucks, increased visitor and employee traffic. Dust, no matter how well it is claimed this can be reduced realistically all the dust can simply not be stopped. This is an extremely windy location we will be inundated with dust both the dirty annoying dust and deadly silica dust, affecting our health, our water supplies, swimming pools, dams, solar panels even down to the smaller issue extra cleaning both inside and outside we will now have to perform. Damage, there is no denying that all properties within a certain radius will be affect by the shock waves of the blasting potentially cracking home and shed foundations, water tanks, underground services. There will obviously be an increase of debris on the roads be it small rocks, dirt dust, to damage windscreens and duco or the potential damage caused by inevitable potholes which will frequently turn up due to the heavy traffic on our residential streets. Not to mention the damage to pumps and filters on our water systems. Speaking of water, what about our water table, our community relies heavily on the underground water table to maintain our properties and stock the existing community respect the limited resource that it is and are very careful with its usage however according to the proposers they will be accessing this to use astronomical amounts of water on a daily basis with the only other option being to truck in water which apparently was unfeasible due to the amount required! and if it was the chosen option it would only increase the already unacceptable amount of trucks on the road. Last but not least power, as existing residents know the installation of the other quarries in the region have been closely associated with brown outs causing an unusual amount of electrical failures of water pumps and sewerage in the past, it seems the existing quarry and electrical authorities have more or less got this under control now but if the proposed quarry goes ahead we will most likely be faced with this problem yet again.
Given the above issues as a family we had to put our lives on hold, we didn’t want to move our children to a school that is potentially within the fallout area of the quarry, this would mean they would be exposed to silica dust both at home and at school, we wouldn’t be able to use the local bus service as it will be too dangerous to have my children walk down to the local bus stop as the existing roads are not appropriate for both pedestrian access and heavy vehicle access. Any plans to extend our home were and still are put on hold, we couldn’t afford to risk extending a home that may lose value and put ourselves at risk of over capitalising, the option of a pool is now more or less out of the question as it would more than likely just be filled with dust and become a mud bath.
We didn’t come here to live next to a quarry, we will most probably have little choice other than to move if the project goes ahead but who is going to want to buy our home now! What was to become our retirement fund is now a dwindling flame and ultimately has the potential to leave us financially crippled, how could we possibly be compensated for this.
I am still at a loss as how this proposal can even be considered given the huge number of residents affected by this, with our knowledge of the health risks associated with industrial developments like this, surely, they should be moved away from residents not closer. With three other quarries in the region not running at full capacity you can only assume that this is purely for higher profit which should not come before existing resident’s lifestyle and health.
Here we are now getting towards the end of the approval process and as I read through the EIS sure they have included several of the issues which I mentioned above but for me, it is just a lot of facts and figures, there are no guarantees, no promises, anything could happen really… Unfortunately I can only see downsides, I can’t find one upside in this for myself or my community.
In conclusion, when we bought this home, we carefully considered the zoning of the area, what else can we base the possibilities of future development on? We were aware of the proposed development of extra residential blocks behind us and were actively involved in the approval process, we were under the impression that the zoning laws would keep this untouched unique paradise maintained, if we had known a quarry or similar could be built so close to homes in a residential area we would not have invested our lifesavings into this property. The prospect of the Monaro Rock Quarry has left us deflated, disappointed and at a loss as to what to do next, what was an exciting opportunity to look forward to has become a long list of unknowns causing, incredible stress to my children and our marriage. The proposal has already affected the mental health of my entire family and the community and will only get worse.
Please don’t approve this horrible industrial development in our beautiful rural community and let us get back to living our dreams without this dark cloud hanging over us.

Excessive traffic, Silica dust, damage to local wild life

Submission in Strong Opposition — Monaro Rock (Royalla) Quarry (SSD / Major Project)
To: NSW Department of Planning & Environment — Assessment Directorate
Re: Monaro Rock Quarry Project (Royalla) — SSD-27223807 (EIS on exhibition)
From: [Alex Tine — Resident, living within 1.5 km of the proposed quarry site]
Date: 22/09/2025

Executive statement — my position (short, unequivocal)
I STRONGLY OPPOSE the Monaro Rock quarry proposal. As a resident who lives 1.5 km from the proposed pit, I am speaking from direct lived experience and local knowledge. This project would bring daily, sustained and unacceptable harm to my health, my family’s wellbeing, our property, our wildlife, our Indigenous heritage and the integrity of the local environment for decades. The EIS does not justify placing this heavy industry in a rapidly growing residential and peri-urban area. The project must be refused. If it is not refused, it must face legally enforceable, non-negotiable conditions (listed below) that protect the community — starting with an absolute ban on any quarry truck movements on Old Cooma Road.
(Planning filing & project facts for the record: Monaro Rock proposes up to 1,000,000 tpa and a multi-decade operation; project documents confirm road haulage by heavy vehicles is fundamental to the proposal.)
NSW Planning Portal+1
My lived reasons for opposition (personal, detailed)
1) Dust and respirable crystalline silica (RCS): an immediate health threat — worse on windy days

Hard-rock quarries and crushing plants generate airborne dust that contains respirable crystalline silica (RCS) — a proven cause of silicosis, lung cancer and chronic respiratory disease. The EIS itself acknowledges dust and RCS emissions are possible; the proponent’s claims that “levels will be below acceptable limits” do not reassure me because real world quarry and construction projects frequently record exceedances on windy days despite controls. The science and national guidance require conservative, independent community protection measures (continuous monitoring, automatic shutdown triggers, funded health surveillance), not voluntary partial measures. I will not accept a guarantee based only on proponent monitoring plans.
Safe Work Australia+1
Demand: Binding, enforceable protections including continuous, third-party PM10/PM2.5 and RCS monitoring at multiple community receptor sites (public live feeds), immediate automatic operational shutdown triggers when levels exceed conservative community protection thresholds, and a developer-funded long-term community health surveillance and medical fund (life of project + 10 years).
2) Truck movements, road safety and haul routes — absolute ban on Old Cooma Road
The EIS and community summary show the project will generate huge heavy vehicle movements — Monaro Rock documents indicate up to 500 heavy vehicle movements per day (the applicant’s community summary). This number, and the presence of concrete / asphalt dispatch vehicles and other heavy plant, will move across local roads. I refuse to accept the use of Old Cooma Road by quarry trucks for any reason.
Old Cooma Road runs through residential peri-urban areas and is not an acceptable haul route for sustained heavy-truck traffic. I demand:
• No trucks at any time to or from the quarry on Old Cooma Road (absolute prohibition).
• The road must carry a 12 tonne maximum vehicle limit for any regular traffic classification; quarry trucks are specifically excluded. (Apply and enforce local Council / RMS weight limits and install physical controls, signage and enforcement cameras.)
• All proponent haulage must use the Monaro Highway or other designated, upgraded heavy-vehicle corridors (but only if those routes have been independently assessed and funded for the expected volumes).
• Legally binding haul route agreements and an indexed bond to pay for road repair, intersection upgrades and long-term maintenance if quarry traffic is permitted on any road elsewhere.
Monaro Rock Pty Ltd - Royalla Quarry+1
Old Cooma Road is already subject to staged duplication upgrades by Council — it is being prepared for residential growth, not industrial trucking. The quarry must not hijack local road planning for its own freight needs.
qprc.nsw.gov.au
3) Scale: 500 trucks/day, population growth and cumulative impacts
The community summary and EIS documents indicate up to 500 heavy vehicle movements per day at peak — this is not a small rural pit, it is an industrial operation sized to support major regional construction. That traffic will intersect with a community that is growing rapidly. Local government population forecasts show the Queanbeyan-Palerang region and surrounding Canberra southern districts are experiencing substantial growth (tens of thousands of additional residents over coming decades), increasing exposure and vulnerability to dust, noise and safety impacts. The Department cannot approve a major industrial freight generator into a locality that is transitioning to higher population density.
Monaro Rock Pty Ltd - Royalla Quarry+1
Demand: The application must be refused on the grounds of cumulative unacceptable amenity and safety impacts; at minimum the Department must require an independent cumulative impact assessment that includes projected regional population growth and the full life-of-project vehicle movements.
4) Threatened ecological communities and species — clearing is unacceptable
The proposed quarry would directly remove and fragment remnant native woodland that is part of the White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodland ecological community — listed as critically endangered in NSW and nationally. These woodlands are irreplaceable, host hollow-bearing trees and groundcover communities, and support threatened fauna. The surrounding region is habitat for threatened woodland birds and fauna (for example, the Superb Parrot, Brown Treecreeper (south-eastern subspecies) and Hooded Robin (south-eastern) are representative threatened species of woodland remnants in this part of NSW/ACT). Loss of remnant woodland cannot be adequately offset and must be avoided.
Climate and Water Dept+3
Environment and Heritage+3
DCCEEW+3
Demand: Absolute avoidance of all remnant woodland and CEEC; if any ground disturbance would harm CEEC, the project must be refused. If the Department entertains offsets, they must be independent, in-perpetuity, and demonstrated to be ecologically equivalent — but avoiding clearance is the only acceptable standard.
5) Aboriginal cultural heritage — precaution and statutory protections
The area around Royalla has Aboriginal heritage value and the NSW guidelines (and AHIMS checks) require thorough assessment, consultation with Traditional Owners / Local Aboriginal Land Councils and meaningful mitigation before any approval. The EIS references a Preliminary Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment, but the Department cannot approve a project with the risk of irreversible harm to Aboriginal objects, places and intangible heritage. The proponent must satisfy the Due Diligence Code and seek any necessary Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit only after robust consultation.
Environment and Heritage+1
Demand: Independent, properly resourced Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment with local Traditional Owner leadership; no disturbance to identified sites; refusal if harm cannot be avoided.
6) Groundwater, surface water and wetlands — high uncertainty, irreversible consequences
Quarrying and dewatering can change groundwater levels and flow paths, threatening groundwater-dependent ecosystems and private water supplies (wells), and potentially affecting downstream springs and agricultural uses. The EIS must provide independent hydrogeological modelling, conservative worst-case scenarios, and legally enforceable monitoring, remediation and financial assurance. The risk of drying and water quality impacts to neighbouring properties is unacceptable without ironclad guarantees.
Major Projects
Demand: Refuse if groundwater impacts cannot be excluded. If not refused, require independent peer review of groundwater modelling and an unconditional, indexed rehabilitation and impact bond large enough to fund remediation, compensation and long-term monitoring.
7) Noise, blasting and vibration — unacceptable for nearby homes and wildlife
Blasting, crushing and constant heavy vehicle noise will materially reduce amenity and could damage homes and farm infrastructure. Blasting also affects fauna, causes sleep disturbance and will be felt by the growing nearby population and by wildlife within remnant woodland. I demand a precautionary approach — refusal unless the proponent can show blasting and noise will not exceed conservative limits at the nearest homes and sensitive ecological receptors for all operations and for the project’s full life.
Monaro Rock Pty Ltd - Royalla Quarry
8) Property values and social/economic harms
There is substantial empirical evidence that large pits and quarries depress nearby property values and that public announcements of haul routes can reduce buyer demand — losses that are borne by homeowners, not the proponent. I (and my neighbours) should not be forced to assume the financial risk of permanently reduced land values because a private business wants cheaper aggregate close to its batching plants. The Department must treat expected property value harm as a material social impact.
Appraisal Institute of Canada+1
Demand: If approval is considered then require an independent property-impact valuation study paid for by the proponent, with a developer-funded compensation scheme for any demonstrable loss to homeowners within a defined buffer (minimum 5 km, with a higher compensation scale within 1.5 km).
Concrete, non-negotiable demands (if the Department permits any further assessment rather than refusing outright)
Absolute ban on Old Cooma Road for quarry traffic.

I wouldn’t normally go through the effort of making a submission such as this, however I feel morally compelled to do so following the very strong negative feelings which I have heard amongst the local community. The health risks of silica dust being propagated into the air is my primary concern, however I have many secondary concerns such as the added traffic from large machinery on the Monary Hwy and the risk of negatively affecting the housing market in the region due to the added noise from the site’s operation and the increased silica dust levels in suburban areas.

From my research, it is my understanding that similar facilities such as this are operating at present, however are not at full capacity. It seems disgraceful that a facility such as this could be considered when the benefit is for very few, when the repercussions could be felt by so many.

This is why myself and many who I have spoken to in the community are in deep opposition to this project.