When will it stop? How can you even imagine this is a good idea? The people who have spent their life's earnings on purchasing property in the area and surrounds suddenly have the government telling them "oh we'll just put this massive hole in the ground and start covering you with noise, pollution, silicone. It's OK we're here to help".
What a joke! How would any of the individuals involved in this decision feel if it happened to them?

I am completely opposed to the quarry going ahead myself and my young family live in the area that will be affected by the dangerous silica dust levels which could and most certainly have an affect on the health of our family and also of that of our community. Also the amount of heavy vehicles that will be added to the narrow roads around our area will make it a lot more unsafe for everyone around us.
The quarry is also going to decrease the property value of our entire community which is 100% unfair and uncalled for especially when there is already a few quarries in the region that aren’t being used to their full capacity so why start another one unnecessarily?

Truck Movements: Monaro Rock proposes to construct a dedicated intersection with the Monaro Highway to allow 200 fully loaded truck movements per day heading north. These fully loaded trucks would cross an existing overtaking lane (see page 7 of the EIS).

Potential Traffic Impact: I am concerned that, if the intersection is not approved by the ACT Government or quarry drivers cannot get across the overtaking lane, drivers may instead turn left and onto Old Cooma Road, potentially directing quarry truck traffic through Jerrabomberra, via Edwin Land Parkway, in order to rejoin the Monaro Highway at Lanyon Drive. These truck movements would add to the already unacceptable movement of quarry trucks through the suburban area of Jerrabomberra emanating from the Holcim operated Cooma Road quarry. This situation will continue unless and until the QPRC, in conjunction with the State and Federal Governments, constructs Dunns Creek Road. Construction of this road has already been subject to unacceptable delays due principally to the incompetence of QPRC.

This project has no positive benefit to the local and surrounding community. Only the direct companies will derive a direct gain and profit from this project.
It will have a negative impact on the air quality and road and transport safety will be impacted dramatically by the large increase in heavy vehicles accessing the area.
The community objects to this project.

This proposal will have a negative impact on us and other Googong residents as it could add 20 trucks per hour to the traffic going past Googong on Old Cooma Road. This poses a safety hazard between Googong and Queanbeyan, but even worse between Googong and Royalla due to the road being mostly one lane each way. It would be better if the trucks exclusively transported quarry resources on the Monaro Highway and not on Old Cooma Road.

A condition of approval must be that trucks CAN NOT depart the quarry onto Old Cooma Road and travel North. This will put quarry trucks into the residential areas of Googong, Jerrabomberra and surrounds, and create critical safety, noise pollution and road maintenance issues.

The quarry must only be approved if the entry and exit point for all quarry traffic is via the Monaro Highway, as proposed.
The current proposal does not indicate how trucks will safely depart the quarry and turn right out of the quarry onto the Monaro Highway.
With 200 truck movements a day, over an 8 hour period that is 1 truck every 2.4 minutes. The entry and exit from the quarry, north onto the Monaro Highway must be seamless and safe to protect all other road users, and to illiminate the potential of any traffic diversions onto Old Cooma Road.

I would like to express my complete opposition to the approval of the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry on Mates Road, Royalla.

My family, along with all other property holders in Royalla, have been alarmed and opposed to this quarry from the outset of its proposal. This groundwave of community opposition has been well documented in both local and national press, and as a former Fairfax editor and journalist of 24 years, I am certain my colleagues will continue to document Royalla’s outrage at every step of this process.

My wife and I chose Royalla for the natural open fields, quietness, safe roads and absence of pollution for our family of two young children. The proposal is completely out of character with Royalla. We already have one quarry at the end of Royalla, which causes great impact through noise, dust and vibrations. There is a rock quarry at the other end of the Old Cooma Road.

To be clear, there is no issue with the regional supply of rock. This is simply a profit grab at the expense of a close-knit community that contributes greatly to the fabric of the surrounding society.

Now working as a scientist, I have numerous, and well validated concerns based on fact.

1. Air quality: dust, and dust containing silica, poses a danger to my family and my neighbours. Control measures will not control all dust. This is impossible from a straight scientific point of view. Beyond the site itself, dust will come off the high number of trucks proposed. Even with covered loads, dust emanating from moving trucks that have driven through quarry sites is a documented certainty. This proposal will impact the health of residential citizens.
2. Additional traffic:
a. Monaro Highway – this stretch of road has required numerous repair works in recent years and it not equipped for the influx of extremely heavy traffic, particularly over the busy snow season that runs from June to September each year. An inspection of the area around the proposed intersection will clearly show that extensive and expensive maintenance work will quickly be required as damage is inflicted. Damage to the road will cause safety issues for all drivers. The site of the quarry adjoining the Monaro Highway is notorious with local road users for the significant fog that settles in the morning and in late afternoon, making visibility only a metre or two in front of your vehicle. This is because this part of the Monaro Highway is at the crest of the hill that lead down into the Tuggeranong Valley. I worry that B double trucks turning onto the highway will not be seen by drivers travelling at 100km/h along that stretch of road with visibility so low during these foggy periods.
b. Old Cooma Road: it is highly unlikely that truck drivers will take the longer route of the Monaro Highway to get to the Queanbeyan region. Faced with deadlines and profit margins, they will take the shorter route of Old Cooma Road. This is a two-lane, winding road that cannot handle the heavy traffic at even a third of the rate proposed. Such use would destroy the road, be dangerous for all the residents using the road, and kill a great deal of wildlife. This proposal will impact the safety of the users of two of Canberra’s main arterial roads.
3. Depreciation of land values: We work very hard like many Australian families and are deeply concerned by the current and future impacts of depreciation of our home. Our home is our nest egg, of which its value will allow us to retire without the need for government support. It will also impact our ability to help our children set themselves up as adults. Beyond that, we carefully purchased our property in good faith, noting the zonings, and believing this was our best chance for a good investment. This proposal will financially impact all Royalla land owners – except for the quarry owners.
4. Light and dust pollution: I build and use some of the largest amateur telescopes in Australia from the pristine skies of my property. I am an experienced amateur astronomer, and former associate editor of Astronomy Technology magazine. I directly contribute to the scientific research that feeds into Australian and international professional observatories such as the Backyard Observatory Supernova Search (BOSS), a collaborative program of amateur and professional astronomers in Australia and New Zealand who use highly advanced astronomy equipment to discover and study supernova. The light pollution alone will badly degrade the darkness of the sky, and dust will further degrade seeing conditions to the point where it is doubtful I will be able to contribute research. This proposal will impact important astronomical research that is part of a larger international effort.

I write to register my strong objection to the proposed Monaro Quarry at Enchanted Hill. After reviewing the project details and environmental assessments, I believe the development would have significant and unacceptable impacts on our community, environment, and cultural heritage. My key concerns are outlined below.
1. Biodiversity Loss
The project will clear approximately 22.4 hectares of critically endangered Box–Gum woodland and a total of 77.83 hectares of native vegetation, destroying habitat for more than 300 species of native flora and fauna.
Such destruction directly conflicts with state and federal biodiversity conservation objectives.
2. Traffic and Safety
The quarry is expected to generate around 300 vehicle movements per day, including numerous heavy dispatch trucks on the Monaro–Cooma Road.
This will increase noise, road wear, and the risk of accidents on a route already used by local commuters and school buses.
3. Dust and Air Quality
Operations will release fine particulates, including respirable silica dust, posing serious health risks such as respiratory illness for nearby residents.
Dust will also settle on homes, gardens, rainwater tanks, and solar panels, creating ongoing maintenance and contamination issues.
4. Odour and Blasting
Proposed hot-mix asphalt production will create persistent industrial odours.
Regular blasting will generate noise, vibration, and additional dust, disrupting the amenity and wellbeing of nearby households.
5. Electricity Reliability
Heavy industrial activity can cause brownouts or surges, risking damage to household appliances and electrical equipment in surrounding suburbs.
6. Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
Surveys have already identified culturally modified ring and scar trees, as well as other Indigenous artefacts and archaeological deposits.
Proceeding would risk irreversible damage to these irreplaceable cultural sites.
7. Water Use and Pollution Risk
The quarry would extract up to 42.4 million litres of groundwater annually for dust suppression and asphalt/concrete production.
This threatens flows in neighbouring watercourses that feed into the Tuggeranong catchment.
On-site concrete recycling and equipment washing create a serious risk of chemical contamination.
8. Economic and Community Considerations
Four existing quarries within 30 km already have capacity to meet regional demand for more than 100 years.
The proposed site lies within 10 km of around 49,000 residents, a number projected to grow—placing thousands of families in the immediate impact zone for little demonstrated economic benefit.

While I appreciate the need for construction materials, the environmental, cultural, health, and social costs of this proposal far outweigh any potential benefits. Sustainable alternatives exist through current quarry capacity without sacrificing endangered ecosystems or the wellbeing of our community.
Having to face such a proposal in 2025 is an absolute disgrace. I therefore respectfully request that the Monaro Quarry proposal be refused.

I wish to formally object to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry development.

As someone who has a deep personal connection to the Monaro region, I am gravely concerned about the long-term environmental, social, and community impacts of this project. The Monaro is not just a landscape — it is a way of life. It is a place where silence still has value, where native grasslands stretch across rolling hills, and where communities are built on trust, connection, and respect for the land. This quarry threatens to tear into that, quite literally.

The Monaro is home to delicate ecosystems and endangered native species. Blasting and excavation will permanently scar this unique landscape. Dust, noise, and vibration will disrupt local fauna, and could have significant negative impacts on water tables and creeks that sustain both wildlife and agriculture. This project risks irreversible environmental degradation for what is ultimately a short-term commercial gain.

The Monaro is one of the last truly quiet, untouched rural communities in New South Wales. The introduction of heavy truck traffic, industrial noise, and dust will destroy the tranquility that residents — many of whom have lived here for generations — have fought to preserve. Families did not choose to live here expecting an industrial site next door. The quarry will irreparably change the character of this community.

Dust from quarry operations has well-documented impacts on human health, particularly for children and the elderly. The increased truck movements pose real risks to road safety on rural roads not designed for heavy freight. Our emergency services are already stretched — this development would only place further strain on a fragile system.

The visual intrusion of a large quarry will damage the heritage value of the region. The Monaro is renowned for its open, unspoiled views and cultural history. This quarry would be a scar on a landscape that holds significance not only for locals but for all Australians who understand the value of our rural heartlands.

I urge the Department of Planning to listen to the community. This is not just about one project — it is about setting a precedent for how we value rural Australia, its people, and its land.

Please reject the Monaro Rock Quarry proposal. It does not align with the principles of sustainable development or community-led planning.

Sincerely,
Isabelle O’Toole

I offer the following to support my objection.

Social Impact
My husband and I, living in Canberra at the time, began searching for rural property to purchase in 1997, we knew exactly what we wanted and were prepared to wait for however long it took to get ‘the one’. That wait took 5 years, we completed building and moved to Royalla in 2004.
We sought the rural amenity and lifestyle to provide the ideal rejuvenation from the pressures of our working situations. In the 21 years since, our idyllic surroundings have proven to hold the additional benefits of enjoying the native wildlife in abundance, outstanding neighbours, a clean, unpolluted and healthy atmosphere and a generally peaceful, quiet existence in a comfortable rural setting.
Those many positives we currently enjoy have been severely threatened by this proposal to destroy such prime land of high conservation value and transform it into a large heavy industrial plant, in far too close proximity to so many residential dwellings. The many serious issues accompanying this proposal will ensure that so much of our lifestyle will be seriously impacted by noise, blasting shock, dust pollution, groundwater depletion, the devaluation of our sole property asset and the unwarranted destruction of our surroundings generally.

Project Need
It is my understanding that the 4 quarries currently operating within relatively close proximity to the proposal who supply the same product to the Canberra regions consumers of aggregates are completely capable of operating at their present or increased capacity to meet the demands of their product over this proposals estimated 30-year lifespan. This proposal benefits no one other than the Applicant despite the glossy sales pitch claiming otherwise.
I make no apology for appearing ungrateful at the prospect of so many ‘benefits’ presenting themselves, trivialising the many valid concerns I have whilst pondering our remaining days living next door to a large scale heavy industrial plant.

Air Quality
The project will produce an unacceptable risk of Respirable Crystalline Silica exposure which has been covered by my husband’s submission. I don’t wish to have to wear respiratory protection when venturing outdoors.
We will be subjected to air pollution not presently experienced. The proposed asphalting plant will produce and emit an obnoxious stench 24/7, which will prove impossible to contain. Deserving mention is the fact we purchased our 8-kw roof top solar array at considerable cost in 2011. Its efficiency is governed by remaining clean to produce optimum power generation. Presently. the panels are professionally cleaned as required, generally every 6 months or so, as the atmosphere is generally clear and clean. That will not be the case if this project is approved, leading to increased cost to us to have the panels cleaned more often to maintain their efficiency.
This project will produce similar levels of dust pollution as that generated by the Williamsdale quarry who are also meant to produce none but occur often enough to present a serious concern to the residents living nearby, we are aware of concerns regarding incessant dust exposure to them. We do not wish to experience the same.

Human Health
It is beyond doubt winds will carry Respirable Crystalline Silica far from the project site, contaminating many households. The person responsible for a decision on this project must consider the danger associated with this product of utmost importance. It is now seen as ‘the new Asbestos’ and must be regarded similarly.
The Bureau of Meteorology website reveals that wind data records NW winds as the most prevalent in the district.
Given our home is located a relatively short distance and directly Southeast of the proposed site, we will be impacted for much of the time by breathable contamination, also affecting our roof harvested household water supply by additional dust and potentially lethal pollution.
We, in common with every other homeowner in Royalla, do not have access to reticulated town water supply with no prospect of ever being connected. We depend solely on roof harvesting and tank collection to provide our potable water, consequently whatever settles on our roof ends up in our tank to be consumed by us. It is inexcusable subjecting so many people to the lethal threat of Silicosis following airborne Respirable Crystalline Silica exposure.

Noise
The noise generated by large capacity powerful crushing plant will not mimic that of an operating air conditioning compressor as has been suggested by RW Corkery's rep, nor will the heavy machinery and trucks required to transport the product on and out of the site blend unnoticed with the tranquility and ambience of the surrounds that presently exist.
Due to our close proximity to the plant site, we will suffer the adverse effects of heavy and harsh noise pollution which have never existed where we have lived for 21 years.
The applicant has stated the plant will be operational for 6 days per week, Monday to Saturday, with the hours of operation being 0600 hrs – 1800 hrs, with transportation of product scheduled to commence at 0500 hrs on the days of operation. Clearly, the degree of harsh noise being generated for so much time is unacceptable.

Biodiversity
The detail of the most important aspect of this proposal.

I understand that the proposal is to be located on land with a zoning classification determined by the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022 as C2 and RU2.
Lands classified as C2 and RU2 are accompanied by a significant number of important objectives.

The objectives of C2 Zoning – Environmental Conservation are:
1. To protect, manage and restore areas of high ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values.
2. To prevent development that could destroy, damage or otherwise have an adverse effect on those values.
3. To protect threatened species and rivers, creeks and gully ecosystems within Queanbeyan.
4. To identify and protect escarpment areas that enhance the visual amenity of Queanbeyan and possess special aesthetic or conservational value.
5. To protect water quality by preventing inappropriate development within catchment areas.

The objectives of RU2 Zoning – Rural Landscape are:
1. To encourage sustainable primary industry production by maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base.
2. To maintain the rural landscape character of the land.
3. To provide for a range of compatible land uses, including extensive agriculture.

On 17 July 2024, the NSW Government released its Plan for Nature in response to the reviews conducted last year into the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) and the native vegetation land clearing provisions of the Local Land Services Act 2013.
To support ongoing improvements to native vegetation management on private land, the NSW Government says it will strengthen prescriptions in the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code and implement a new monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.

In summary, the planned reforms will:
1. Introduce a nature positive approach that will set nature on a path to recovery.
2. Acknowledge the intrinsic relationship between biodiversity and Aboriginal culture.
3. Set out short, medium and long-term priority actions to improve biodiversity protections and land management practices.
4. Set the direction to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and support environmental repair and regeneration.
5.Introduce the NSW Nature Strategy to guide actions to protect, restore and enhance ecosystems and landscapes.

Very clearly, this proposal contravenes not only the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022, but the New South Wales Government’s recently released policy as well as one of their more important election promises.

I understand that SSD status overrules the objectives of these documents, but these objectives are in place for very good reason and must not be dismissed to accommodate the personal objectives of a very few individuals. This proposal will destroy the habitat of an alarming amount of endemic fauna and flora.

Transport
It remains unclear if the ACT Government is willing to gamble on allowing an additional serious hazard adversely impacting the many motorists using the Monaro Highway.
The alternative route is via Old Cooma Road. I am of the understanding that QPRC is reluctant to allow this to occur due to the inevitable increased severe damage and subsequent additional maintenance required, ultimately at substantial cost to ratepayers. This will create an unacceptably hazardous situation on a rural road incapable of safely conveying such high levels of heavy vehicle usage.
Initial SEARs in 2021 proposed 150 trucks carrying aggregate from the site per day, raised to 200 in 2023, and now we learn that an unknown additional number carrying asphalt, concrete mix and concrete waste for recycling are now proposed. One word, ludicrous.

Process
I must comment on the inequity of the submissions process. Monaro Rock took 4 full years of hard graft costing untold amounts to produce their daunting glossy presentation.
We must submit within 28 days our concerns restricted to just 10,000 keyboard characters, that includes spaces. I believe the depth we are restricted to severely limits our ability to comprehensively address all topics listed. This has created the distinct impression of being comprehensively overwhelmed by its lopsided requirements, and that our opposition may indeed prove futile. I request that a public hearing be held as part of the process.