Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
ROYALLA
,
New South Wales
Message
To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to submit my strong opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site. This proposed development will have huge negative consequences for the local community of which I am a resident. It would also negatively impact the environment, and infrastructure.
Following are some of my concerns of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site.
Air Pollution:
The quarry will introduce high levels of dust pollution to the surrounding area. This will impact the quality of life for residents. Dust emissions from the quarry would affect:
Air quality, leading to respiratory problems for my family who have auto immune diseases.
Contamination of house roof, from which our drinking water is collected.
Contamination of our vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
Contamination of our pastures which our livestock rely on.
Contamination will also negatively impacts the native flora and fauna.
Water use:
As the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site has no water supply so it will require to overuse of the underground water table which will change and damage the water table in the region.
Water run off will create environmental hazard for the native flora and fauna.
TrafficDanger:
As a First Responder with Fire and Rescue, I clearly know how dangerous the Monaro Highway and surrounding roads are and the large number of fatalities on the Monaro highway and road in the region. The significant increase in truck traffic on the Monaro Highway and local roads will increase existing traffic congestion and pose an increased danger to motorists. The roads in this area are not designed to accommodate the increased number of vehicle movements associated with quarry operations, which will lead to an increase risk of accidents.
Property Values:
The construction of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site close to residential areas will lower the quality of life for local residents. The potential noise, dust, and traffic will make the area less desirable to live in, reducing property values. The financial and psychological toll of this outcome will lead to increased stress and health issues for families.
Proposed Location:
With other Quarry's in the region, another quarry is not required to supply materials. This is not a suitable location for a quarry development. The proposed location is close to existing residents and is not acceptable.
Thank you
I would like to submit my strong opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site. This proposed development will have huge negative consequences for the local community of which I am a resident. It would also negatively impact the environment, and infrastructure.
Following are some of my concerns of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site.
Air Pollution:
The quarry will introduce high levels of dust pollution to the surrounding area. This will impact the quality of life for residents. Dust emissions from the quarry would affect:
Air quality, leading to respiratory problems for my family who have auto immune diseases.
Contamination of house roof, from which our drinking water is collected.
Contamination of our vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
Contamination of our pastures which our livestock rely on.
Contamination will also negatively impacts the native flora and fauna.
Water use:
As the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site has no water supply so it will require to overuse of the underground water table which will change and damage the water table in the region.
Water run off will create environmental hazard for the native flora and fauna.
TrafficDanger:
As a First Responder with Fire and Rescue, I clearly know how dangerous the Monaro Highway and surrounding roads are and the large number of fatalities on the Monaro highway and road in the region. The significant increase in truck traffic on the Monaro Highway and local roads will increase existing traffic congestion and pose an increased danger to motorists. The roads in this area are not designed to accommodate the increased number of vehicle movements associated with quarry operations, which will lead to an increase risk of accidents.
Property Values:
The construction of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Industrial site close to residential areas will lower the quality of life for local residents. The potential noise, dust, and traffic will make the area less desirable to live in, reducing property values. The financial and psychological toll of this outcome will lead to increased stress and health issues for families.
Proposed Location:
With other Quarry's in the region, another quarry is not required to supply materials. This is not a suitable location for a quarry development. The proposed location is close to existing residents and is not acceptable.
Thank you
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
ROYALLA
,
New South Wales
Message
I object to the proposed Monaro Rock Industrial Site proposal on the following grounds:
Human health impact of silica dust. The quarry extraction processes, rock crushing and concrete production, are likely to generate silica dust. This dust will become airborne and be spread across the surrounding area. With many houses in the area collecting rainwater for drinking, the dust that is deposited on roofs will be introduced into the tanks and then consumed by the residents. Dust suppression at the industrial site may restrict the immediate dispersal of the silica, but the dampened dust will dry out and be picked up at a later stage by the region’s strong winds and distributed onto roofs and into the household water supplies. The health impacts of silica dust are extreme and local suppression is unlikely to satisfactorily mitigate the spread of the dust and negate the risks to human health. The other control measures identified in the EIS are all self-regulated, with ‘an assumed air quality monitoring program’: there is little to no assurance that the operator will apply these measures or have any responsibility for third party users of the site being compliant.
Effect on the local aquifer. The volume of water to be used by the quarry will have a significant impact on the aquifer that serves the local communities that draw bore water for agriculture, animal care, gardening and some household uses. Water management restrictions in the local council development plan have sustained a large number of rural residential properties for over 20 years, but there are periods where bores or natural ponds have all but run dry owing to drought or climatic effect. The massive increase in water being drawn from the aquifer will jeopardise access of residents with legitimate water rights and have negative impact on established and future land use.
Increased heavy vehicles. The Monaro Highway and Old Cooma Road corridors are increasingly used by commuters from residential developments to the south and east of the proposed quarry. The introduction of extra heavy vehicle movements will have safety implications that are statistically going to occur purely on a volume basis. These two roads are already under frequent maintenance given they were not originally built for the volumes and weights they currently endure, let alone the enormous increase in vehicle weights and frequency that quarry operations would bring – extracted material out as well as incoming material for recycling and asphalt production. The traffic surveys conducted for the EIS are also flawed by using data from a period in 2021 that the report already identified as statistically significant less traffic owing to travel restrictions through the COVID-19 pandemic. Equally, the traffic monitoring station at Bredbo is well beyond and unrepresentative of the populations travelling into and out of Canberra from established and new developments at Williamsdale and Michelago. The overall negative impact of the increased heavy vehicle traffic will be of greater damage to roads that are already in poor condition from higher commuter volumes as well as extensive road safety hazards brought about by heavy vehicles travelling at speed or crossing into traffic at low speed. The additional heavy vehicles on the roads will also contribute to a significant increase in road-kill. The Monaro Highway is already a corridor of cadavers, with psycho-social consequences from constant witnessing of mangled wildlife.
Impact on the local flora and fauna. The physical extent of the proposed development will destroy acres of vegetation and displace significant numbers of animal species. Urban encroachment and human pressures, expanding feral animal populations, combined with extreme bushfire events, are already impacting the available habitat for native species. The quarry and its associated activities will eradicate a specific parcel of native land and further reduce the overall habitat that is conducive to harbouring endemic flora and fauna. There is also an element of questionable probity in the BDAR as the report authors thank employees of the external reviewer for their contributions and assistance in compiling the report. This does not give faith to the integrity of the operator or the wider EIS process, as identified by negative community sentiment in the SIA.
Social impact on residents and communities. The SIA states: “Taking both the technical data and community sentiment into account, as well as the greenfield nature of the Project and the resulting sensitivity, it was determined that residents in the LSA would be likely to experience cumulative impacts from the Project with moderate magnitude resulting in an impact significance rating of high.” The researcher contends that essentially ‘people will get used to the quarry over time’, but also concedes that: “While this assessment was based on the best available data and expert technical studies, there remain inherent uncertainties in forecasting the scale and nature of social impacts.” This conclusion pays lip-service to the depth of sentiment in the community as to the negative effects of the proposed industrial estate. The disruption to communities on either side of the site will be significant given the expansive industrial activities intended. The increased heavy vehicle traffic will be a particularly visible and practical imposition on local communities. The SIA identifies that the proposal is already divisive: whether it progresses or not, it will continue to impact social cohesion by introducing new issues between factions who each want amenity on their terms. Very few locals will gain economically from the quarry yet everyone will pay for it by some measure.
I also contend that there was very narrow and constrained community consultation during the development of the EIS and in the short window for comment. A community forum with the applicant and their representatives is needed to further establish the merits of the proposal and gain commitments to the health, sustainability, ecological and safety issues that form the basis of my concerns and objections.
Human health impact of silica dust. The quarry extraction processes, rock crushing and concrete production, are likely to generate silica dust. This dust will become airborne and be spread across the surrounding area. With many houses in the area collecting rainwater for drinking, the dust that is deposited on roofs will be introduced into the tanks and then consumed by the residents. Dust suppression at the industrial site may restrict the immediate dispersal of the silica, but the dampened dust will dry out and be picked up at a later stage by the region’s strong winds and distributed onto roofs and into the household water supplies. The health impacts of silica dust are extreme and local suppression is unlikely to satisfactorily mitigate the spread of the dust and negate the risks to human health. The other control measures identified in the EIS are all self-regulated, with ‘an assumed air quality monitoring program’: there is little to no assurance that the operator will apply these measures or have any responsibility for third party users of the site being compliant.
Effect on the local aquifer. The volume of water to be used by the quarry will have a significant impact on the aquifer that serves the local communities that draw bore water for agriculture, animal care, gardening and some household uses. Water management restrictions in the local council development plan have sustained a large number of rural residential properties for over 20 years, but there are periods where bores or natural ponds have all but run dry owing to drought or climatic effect. The massive increase in water being drawn from the aquifer will jeopardise access of residents with legitimate water rights and have negative impact on established and future land use.
Increased heavy vehicles. The Monaro Highway and Old Cooma Road corridors are increasingly used by commuters from residential developments to the south and east of the proposed quarry. The introduction of extra heavy vehicle movements will have safety implications that are statistically going to occur purely on a volume basis. These two roads are already under frequent maintenance given they were not originally built for the volumes and weights they currently endure, let alone the enormous increase in vehicle weights and frequency that quarry operations would bring – extracted material out as well as incoming material for recycling and asphalt production. The traffic surveys conducted for the EIS are also flawed by using data from a period in 2021 that the report already identified as statistically significant less traffic owing to travel restrictions through the COVID-19 pandemic. Equally, the traffic monitoring station at Bredbo is well beyond and unrepresentative of the populations travelling into and out of Canberra from established and new developments at Williamsdale and Michelago. The overall negative impact of the increased heavy vehicle traffic will be of greater damage to roads that are already in poor condition from higher commuter volumes as well as extensive road safety hazards brought about by heavy vehicles travelling at speed or crossing into traffic at low speed. The additional heavy vehicles on the roads will also contribute to a significant increase in road-kill. The Monaro Highway is already a corridor of cadavers, with psycho-social consequences from constant witnessing of mangled wildlife.
Impact on the local flora and fauna. The physical extent of the proposed development will destroy acres of vegetation and displace significant numbers of animal species. Urban encroachment and human pressures, expanding feral animal populations, combined with extreme bushfire events, are already impacting the available habitat for native species. The quarry and its associated activities will eradicate a specific parcel of native land and further reduce the overall habitat that is conducive to harbouring endemic flora and fauna. There is also an element of questionable probity in the BDAR as the report authors thank employees of the external reviewer for their contributions and assistance in compiling the report. This does not give faith to the integrity of the operator or the wider EIS process, as identified by negative community sentiment in the SIA.
Social impact on residents and communities. The SIA states: “Taking both the technical data and community sentiment into account, as well as the greenfield nature of the Project and the resulting sensitivity, it was determined that residents in the LSA would be likely to experience cumulative impacts from the Project with moderate magnitude resulting in an impact significance rating of high.” The researcher contends that essentially ‘people will get used to the quarry over time’, but also concedes that: “While this assessment was based on the best available data and expert technical studies, there remain inherent uncertainties in forecasting the scale and nature of social impacts.” This conclusion pays lip-service to the depth of sentiment in the community as to the negative effects of the proposed industrial estate. The disruption to communities on either side of the site will be significant given the expansive industrial activities intended. The increased heavy vehicle traffic will be a particularly visible and practical imposition on local communities. The SIA identifies that the proposal is already divisive: whether it progresses or not, it will continue to impact social cohesion by introducing new issues between factions who each want amenity on their terms. Very few locals will gain economically from the quarry yet everyone will pay for it by some measure.
I also contend that there was very narrow and constrained community consultation during the development of the EIS and in the short window for comment. A community forum with the applicant and their representatives is needed to further establish the merits of the proposal and gain commitments to the health, sustainability, ecological and safety issues that form the basis of my concerns and objections.
Manpreet Singh Cheema
Object
Manpreet Singh Cheema
Object
GOOGONG
,
New South Wales
Message
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.
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.
Matt Blenkin
Object
Matt Blenkin
Object
Conder
,
Australian Capital Territory
Message
I have significant concerns about the long term impacts on my families health, the local environment and local infrastructure. Please see attachment
Attachments
Adam Korhonen
Object
Adam Korhonen
Object
ROYALLA
,
New South Wales
Message
The traffic will be horrendous with to many trucks. There are all ready multiple quarry’s in the area.
The dust and silica issue is of great concern. I’m a tradie and know first hand how many lives are affected by silica dust in the trade industry. I also know that they have said that they can contain silica with water. Which leads to next problem if drought or Bore water is to be use so the. locals will be short on water under ground tables.
It also only takes one truck driver to forget to do the water truck or not Secure a load properly. Ie human error which could have catastrophic effect on the locals in the area.
We moved to the country for Clean country living for our kids to grow and experience country life. The rules of our houses will be covered in dust, which then we will be drinking
The dust and silica issue is of great concern. I’m a tradie and know first hand how many lives are affected by silica dust in the trade industry. I also know that they have said that they can contain silica with water. Which leads to next problem if drought or Bore water is to be use so the. locals will be short on water under ground tables.
It also only takes one truck driver to forget to do the water truck or not Secure a load properly. Ie human error which could have catastrophic effect on the locals in the area.
We moved to the country for Clean country living for our kids to grow and experience country life. The rules of our houses will be covered in dust, which then we will be drinking
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Royalla
,
New South Wales
Message
To whom it may concern.
I like state my objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry. I am not against quarries, I work in a University Civil Engineering Laboratory making and testing aggregates, concrete and road pavement materials, I understand we need quarries for construction purposes.
My main issues with the quarry are location, traffic and road access, biodiversity of the area, and the number of quarries in the area.
Location:
On three sides the quarry is close to housing, the ACT suburb of Theodore to the west, Royalla to the south and Fernleigh estate to the east. If the quarry had been there before the housing, there could be no argument. We purchase our block 20 years ago knowing there would be development, expecting more rural residential blocks or even a suburb being developed nearby not a full-scale industrial venture. Why build a quarry when there are thousands of residents living within a 5km radius subjecting them to the risk of dust, noise and pollution risk.
I note the weather station used for the weather observations is at Issabella Plain in the ACT. Issabell Plains is appropriately 200m lower that Royalla. This means, at Royalla the temperature is normally a few degrees cooler and the winds stronger than Issabella Plains. This difference will affect dust and noise travel.
Traffic and Access roads:
We don't know where the main access road will be. Monaro Rock are proposing constructing a 4,5km road to join the Monaro Highway. This proposal requires approval from the ACT Government under different submission, if this in not granted what road are they going to use?
a) Monaro Highway intersection approved: The 4.5km access road would be constructed. The road would be cut into the side of enchanted hill, travel 600m dropping vertically close to 70m down Tuggeranong Creek Gully before climbing back up the gully and joining the Monaro Highway. This road with the cuts into the side of the hill and the steep descent will cause erosion and runoff affecting Tuggeranong Creek.
Heavy ladened trucks would have to cross two to three lanes of traffic on a major highway with limited sight distance in one direction. In 2024 there were at least three major accidents at the intersection of Monaro Highway and the Old Cooma Road, 14th June, 17th August, and 24th of September. this intersection has good sight distance in both directions.
b) Monaro Station Rd: attached are pictures of the damaged to this road caused by less that 20 trucks a day over a two-week period when the roads in the new subdivision, Royalla Reserve, were constructed. By looking at Google maps, satellite, the different areas of the road which were damaged during this time can be seen by the different colour of the spray seal. What damaged would 500 trucks a day cause? Also, who would purchase a hose in this street when a truck is driving past every couple of minutes. The houses in this area would be worthless.
c) Construct another road joining the Old Cooma rd: constructing a road from the quarry to the Old Cooma Road would have to pass houses due to the number of rural residential block in the area, as above with 500 trucks passing a day every house nearby would be worthless.
I note that the traffic surveys are four and a half years old and were taken during a time when travel was affected by the covid pandemic. Also there have been developments along the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway which has increased the traffic in the area. For instance, the suburb of Googong has grown and therefore the number of people travelling along the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway has increased. A new road survey should be undertaking.
Biodiversity:
The proposed area of the contains some critically endangered woodlands, flowers and animals. There is only 5% of Box Gum Woodlands left and while the reports states that the area to be quarried is only 0.09% of the remaining total do we keep subtracting small amounts until there is nothing left? 5 % is a depressingly low figure.
The statement below is from the NSW Government Local Land Services website, I believe it sums up why a quarry should not be allowed to progress on this site.
"Box Gum Grassy Woodland (BGGW) is an endangered vegetation type throughout NSW, and is critically endangered across eastern Australia.
Box gum grassy woodlands support more than 400 plant species with the highest diversity present in the grasses and forbs. The woodlands are primary habitat for a range of native fauna, including woodland birds such as the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot.
Box gum grassy woodland was once widespread across Southern Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. These woodlands have been extensively cleared for agriculture with remnant vegetation frequently in poor to moderate condition. Only about 5% of BGGW remains. Most remnants are found in private property".
Number of Quarries in the region.
There are already four quarries in the region Boral Hall, Boral Mugga Way, Holchim Old Cooma road, and Heidelberg Williamsdale. These quarries still have years to run and at least one Holchim Old Cooma road, which is allowed to extract 1.5million tpa (though table 2.3 on page 2.7 of the Enviromental report states 1.2mtpa) is only forecast to extract 675000 tones this year after a similar figure last year, page 15 of the Cooma Road Quarry 2024 Annual Review. This means that there is not the demand for material as stated in the proposal.
Conclusion
I live on the Monaro station Rd which is slated to be an access road for "light traffic for staff and service vehicles". This means what was a quiet rural residential road has become an industry service road with traffic starting around 430am.
The project can't tell us what the major access road will be, if the ACT Government does not approve the Monaro Highway access where will the major access road be. The submission shows a road joining the Old Cooma Road, this road must pass near houses. Who would buy a house where up to 500 trucks pass by daily. The house prices must be affected.
When this project was first raised, it was just a quarry extracting 750tpa, now after community consultation it has grown into an industrial complex with a quarry extracting 1milion tpa, a concrete and asphalt batching plants, recycled concrete will be transported here to be crushed. The companies involved already have these facilities in operation in industrial estates.
The social impact statement states
"Cumulative impacts were assessed as moderate but manageable, with the Project contributing
marginally to existing burdens. Given the resilience of the Royalla community and the absence
of any significant vulnerable cohorts, no irreversible or unacceptable social impacts were
anticipated, provided that mitigation measures were properly implemented and monitored".
How can anyone say that with the issues raised above there would be on irreversible or unacceptable social impacts? We have worked hard to build a house and to think that it worth maybe devalued by this project is heart breaking.
Silca dust and diesel particular matter are two major contributors to respiratory. the NSW Government websites below detail the issue. The location of the quarry and the number of trucks that could pass near house will affect the health of residents, another social impact
https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/customer-service/publications-and-reports/silica-dashboard
https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/diesel-particulate-matter-exhaust.pdf
These are the reason that I object to the approval of this proposal.
I like state my objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry. I am not against quarries, I work in a University Civil Engineering Laboratory making and testing aggregates, concrete and road pavement materials, I understand we need quarries for construction purposes.
My main issues with the quarry are location, traffic and road access, biodiversity of the area, and the number of quarries in the area.
Location:
On three sides the quarry is close to housing, the ACT suburb of Theodore to the west, Royalla to the south and Fernleigh estate to the east. If the quarry had been there before the housing, there could be no argument. We purchase our block 20 years ago knowing there would be development, expecting more rural residential blocks or even a suburb being developed nearby not a full-scale industrial venture. Why build a quarry when there are thousands of residents living within a 5km radius subjecting them to the risk of dust, noise and pollution risk.
I note the weather station used for the weather observations is at Issabella Plain in the ACT. Issabell Plains is appropriately 200m lower that Royalla. This means, at Royalla the temperature is normally a few degrees cooler and the winds stronger than Issabella Plains. This difference will affect dust and noise travel.
Traffic and Access roads:
We don't know where the main access road will be. Monaro Rock are proposing constructing a 4,5km road to join the Monaro Highway. This proposal requires approval from the ACT Government under different submission, if this in not granted what road are they going to use?
a) Monaro Highway intersection approved: The 4.5km access road would be constructed. The road would be cut into the side of enchanted hill, travel 600m dropping vertically close to 70m down Tuggeranong Creek Gully before climbing back up the gully and joining the Monaro Highway. This road with the cuts into the side of the hill and the steep descent will cause erosion and runoff affecting Tuggeranong Creek.
Heavy ladened trucks would have to cross two to three lanes of traffic on a major highway with limited sight distance in one direction. In 2024 there were at least three major accidents at the intersection of Monaro Highway and the Old Cooma Road, 14th June, 17th August, and 24th of September. this intersection has good sight distance in both directions.
b) Monaro Station Rd: attached are pictures of the damaged to this road caused by less that 20 trucks a day over a two-week period when the roads in the new subdivision, Royalla Reserve, were constructed. By looking at Google maps, satellite, the different areas of the road which were damaged during this time can be seen by the different colour of the spray seal. What damaged would 500 trucks a day cause? Also, who would purchase a hose in this street when a truck is driving past every couple of minutes. The houses in this area would be worthless.
c) Construct another road joining the Old Cooma rd: constructing a road from the quarry to the Old Cooma Road would have to pass houses due to the number of rural residential block in the area, as above with 500 trucks passing a day every house nearby would be worthless.
I note that the traffic surveys are four and a half years old and were taken during a time when travel was affected by the covid pandemic. Also there have been developments along the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway which has increased the traffic in the area. For instance, the suburb of Googong has grown and therefore the number of people travelling along the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway has increased. A new road survey should be undertaking.
Biodiversity:
The proposed area of the contains some critically endangered woodlands, flowers and animals. There is only 5% of Box Gum Woodlands left and while the reports states that the area to be quarried is only 0.09% of the remaining total do we keep subtracting small amounts until there is nothing left? 5 % is a depressingly low figure.
The statement below is from the NSW Government Local Land Services website, I believe it sums up why a quarry should not be allowed to progress on this site.
"Box Gum Grassy Woodland (BGGW) is an endangered vegetation type throughout NSW, and is critically endangered across eastern Australia.
Box gum grassy woodlands support more than 400 plant species with the highest diversity present in the grasses and forbs. The woodlands are primary habitat for a range of native fauna, including woodland birds such as the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot.
Box gum grassy woodland was once widespread across Southern Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. These woodlands have been extensively cleared for agriculture with remnant vegetation frequently in poor to moderate condition. Only about 5% of BGGW remains. Most remnants are found in private property".
Number of Quarries in the region.
There are already four quarries in the region Boral Hall, Boral Mugga Way, Holchim Old Cooma road, and Heidelberg Williamsdale. These quarries still have years to run and at least one Holchim Old Cooma road, which is allowed to extract 1.5million tpa (though table 2.3 on page 2.7 of the Enviromental report states 1.2mtpa) is only forecast to extract 675000 tones this year after a similar figure last year, page 15 of the Cooma Road Quarry 2024 Annual Review. This means that there is not the demand for material as stated in the proposal.
Conclusion
I live on the Monaro station Rd which is slated to be an access road for "light traffic for staff and service vehicles". This means what was a quiet rural residential road has become an industry service road with traffic starting around 430am.
The project can't tell us what the major access road will be, if the ACT Government does not approve the Monaro Highway access where will the major access road be. The submission shows a road joining the Old Cooma Road, this road must pass near houses. Who would buy a house where up to 500 trucks pass by daily. The house prices must be affected.
When this project was first raised, it was just a quarry extracting 750tpa, now after community consultation it has grown into an industrial complex with a quarry extracting 1milion tpa, a concrete and asphalt batching plants, recycled concrete will be transported here to be crushed. The companies involved already have these facilities in operation in industrial estates.
The social impact statement states
"Cumulative impacts were assessed as moderate but manageable, with the Project contributing
marginally to existing burdens. Given the resilience of the Royalla community and the absence
of any significant vulnerable cohorts, no irreversible or unacceptable social impacts were
anticipated, provided that mitigation measures were properly implemented and monitored".
How can anyone say that with the issues raised above there would be on irreversible or unacceptable social impacts? We have worked hard to build a house and to think that it worth maybe devalued by this project is heart breaking.
Silca dust and diesel particular matter are two major contributors to respiratory. the NSW Government websites below detail the issue. The location of the quarry and the number of trucks that could pass near house will affect the health of residents, another social impact
https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/customer-service/publications-and-reports/silica-dashboard
https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/diesel-particulate-matter-exhaust.pdf
These are the reason that I object to the approval of this proposal.