I formally object to the proposed quarry. I formally request that this proposal be reviewed by the NSW Independent Planning Commissioner. Please see attached objection.

I have attached a Word file - Submission to NSW Planning re MONARO ROCK QUARRY.docx

To the NSW Department of Planning,
I am writing to formally object to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project (SSD-27223807) in Royalla.
The Environmental Impact Statement fails to adequately address the significant risks this quarry poses to our community. The proposed 200 daily truck movements on the Monaro Highway will create unacceptable traffic hazards. Furthermore, the long-term health impacts of airborne silica dust on local residents and children are a major concern. The project's disruption to groundwater resources and sensitive ecosystems, including the habitat of the pink-tailed legless lizard, is simply not worth the cost. This project is a detriment to our environment, our safety, and our community's well-being. I urge you to reject this application.

My home is approximately 3 kilometres from the site of the proposed quarry, as the crow flies. I have lived here for over twenty years. I live here with my wife, one son and two grandchildren. My other children and grandchildren visit frequently. I share the concerns of my neighbours that the proposed quarry and other associated industrial processes will impact our health and quality of life. I have read about cancer clusters around comparable quarries in Australia.

My most pressing concern is the potential effect on our health and that of our community. I have read about the effects of respirable crystalline silica and, in particular, how long particles may remain airborne. I have also read the risk assessment and the proposed mitigation strategies for the Royalla Quarry. In my view, the proposal underestimates the risk and the mitigation strategies, even if closely adhered to (which they almost never are), will not assist homes in Royalla and surrounds. The proposal has modelled meteorological conditions in Isabella Plains in the ACT. In my 20 years experience in Royalla, and a further 20 years in Tuggeranong before that, Royalla is much windier and i would expect RCS to be carried much further than the proposal suggests. The proposal's claims require close scrutiny for that reason alone. Royalla (and similar communities nearby) are peculiarly vulnerable to RCS because we all rely on tank water. There are no measures (and no viable measures are suggested in the proposal) that would protect our water supply from RCS blowing onto our roofs, and into our dams, springs and ground water. Based on my reading, the quarry will put the community's health at significant risk.

I am also concerned about noise and odours and use of groundwater associated with the three distinct heavy industrial processes proposed for the site.

I am also concerned about the effect of additional heavy vehicle traffic on the Monaro Highway and associated roads. I note that the traffic modelling for the proposal appears to have been based on 2021 data, at a time when traffic was especially light due to COVID travel restrictions.

The risks to our community are out of all proportion to the stated economic benefits to NSW, which as described in the proposal are modest, at best.

To allow this process would be an intolerable breach of faith by the NSW government to people who live in this community.

We strongly object to this project proceeding.
The project will adversely impact the region for the next 30-50 years. The project adversely impacts road safety, biodiversity, environmental water quality and important downstream areas, business costs, resident health and quality of life for not only us but also across the region. Compounded by existing quarries around the region and the increased pollution produced, the impacts are unacceptable.

To Whom It May Concern,

I wish to lodge my formal objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Royalla. While I acknowledge the need for construction materials, the long-term environmental, social, and health risks of this project far outweigh any short-term economic gains.

1. Traffic and Road Safety
The quarry will significantly increase heavy vehicle movements on local roads that are not designed for sustained quarry traffic. This will:
• Create safety risks for residents, school buses, cyclists, and general traffic.
• Accelerate road damage, placing an additional maintenance burden on taxpayers.
• Increase greenhouse gas emissions and diesel-related air pollution.

Royalla and surrounding areas already face congestion and road stress. The introduction of potentially hundreds of quarry trucks daily will compound safety risks and erode community amenity.

2. Dust and Air Quality (Including Silica Dust)
Quarrying produces fine dust particles, including crystalline silica, a known carcinogen. Long-term exposure increases the risk of silicosis, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. Even with mitigation, dust cannot be completely contained.

Prevailing winds will carry dust across homes, small farms, and natural habitats. This presents an unacceptable health hazard, especially for children, older residents, and people with respiratory conditions.

3. Noise Pollution
Blasting, crushing, loading, and truck movements will generate persistent industrial noise over decades. Unlike temporary construction works, this would be a long-term intrusion. Noise pollution is known to disturb sleep, elevate stress, and negatively affect cardiovascular and mental health. It will irreversibly disrupt Royalla’s quiet rural character.

4. Environmental and Biodiversity Impacts
The project footprint will clear and fragment native habitat, threatening biodiversity and displacing wildlife. Disturbances from blasting, vehicles, and light pollution will further degrade the local environment. Once lost, these habitats cannot be fully restored.

5. Irreversible Land Degradation
Quarrying permanently alters landscapes. Even with rehabilitation, former quarry sites rarely regain their ecological or social value. Residents have chosen Royalla for its rural amenity; this project would impose an industrial operation that fundamentally changes the area’s character.

Conclusion
The proposed Monaro Rock Quarry poses unacceptable risks to public health, road safety, community wellbeing, and the natural environment. The cumulative and permanent impacts are not justified by the claimed benefits.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Department of Planning to refuse approval of this proposal.

I write to formally object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry at Royalla on the basis of significant and unacceptable environmental, social, and health impacts. While I recognise the need for construction materials, this project poses long-term risks that outweigh any short-term economic benefit.

1. Increased Truck Traffic

The quarry will substantially increase heavy vehicle movements along local roads that are not designed for sustained high-volume quarry traffic. This will:
• Create road safety risks for residents, school buses, cyclists, and general traffic.
• Accelerate road surface damage and require ongoing taxpayer-funded maintenance.
• Increase greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from diesel exhaust.

The Royalla and surrounding region already experiences congestion and rural road stress. Adding quarry trucks—potentially hundreds per day—will only amplify the risk of accidents and reduce community safety.

2. Dust Impacts (Including Silica Dust)

Quarrying generates fine particulate matter, including crystalline silica dust, which is a known carcinogen. Even at low concentrations, long-term exposure poses serious health risks including silicosis, chronic lung disease, and cancer. Residents in the immediate and downwind areas will be subjected to continuous dust fallout, which no mitigation system can fully eliminate.

The region’s winds will carry dust over residential areas, small farms, and natural habitats. This represents an unacceptable health hazard, particularly for children, elderly residents, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

3. Noise Impacts

The ongoing operation of blasting, crushing, loading, and truck movements will generate a persistent noise burden for local communities. Unlike temporary construction works, this project would impose industrial-level noise over decades.

Noise pollution degrades quality of life, disrupts sleep, and has documented links to increased stress, cardiovascular issues, and mental health impacts. The tranquil rural character of Royalla will be irreversibly altered.

4. Impacts on Flora and Fauna

The project footprint will clear and disturb habitat used by native species, some of which may be threatened or vulnerable. Quarrying fragments ecosystems, reduces biodiversity, and contributes to cumulative environmental degradation in the region.

The disturbance from blasting, vehicle activity, and light pollution will displace local wildlife. Once habitats are destroyed, they cannot be easily restored.

5. Long-Term, Irreversible Change

Unlike other developments, quarry operations scar the land permanently. Even after rehabilitation, the altered landscape rarely supports the same ecological or social values. Residents have chosen Royalla for its rural amenity, and this project threatens to replace that with industrial-scale extraction and disruption.

Conclusion

The Monaro Rock Quarry represents a significant and avoidable risk to public health, community amenity, road safety, and the natural environment. The proposal fails to demonstrate that the benefits justify the cumulative and long-lasting impacts on local residents and ecosystems.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the project and urge the Department of Planning to refuse approval.