This is a ridiculous proposal. To create something that is so potentially dangerous and disruptive, so close to homes and farms, and which has the potential to endanger the health of thousands for decades to come is preposterous. There must be dozens of other sites further away from peoples lives which could be utilized. This is greed gone mad. It absolutely should not go ahead in this location!

The noise, dust and debris, traffic and manufacturing processes associated with this project will greatly impact the safety, health and well-being and quality of life of the Royalla, Tuggeranong and Googong communities. The proposed hours of operation are excessive, as are the quantities of explosive materials to be used, rocks to be extracted and other soil and materials to be disturbed. Fauna and flora will be also be severely compromised, not just on site but in surrounding areas.
Notwithstanding the horrendous potential of airborne particles of who knows what that will be created and dispersed during and possibly beyond the hours of operation, the issue that will in my view most impact our safety and routine of our day to day lives is traffic - I cannot imagine that the horrendous impact and incidence of accidents and near misses on the Monaro Highway, and the number of animal collisions on the Old Cooma Road and the Monaro Highway, is not known to planning and other government authorities.
As the wife of a (now deceased) politician representing this part of regional NSW I have travelled hundreds of trips on the Monaro Highway - all seasons, all times, all conditions, all destinations. This highway has its perilous reputation with good reason, and the current roadworks at Hume aren’t going to make an iota of difference to the behaviour of temperamental drivers during the snow season, commuters on slippery surfaces in the winter, mad overtakers coming from the coast in summer, and increasing numbers of Googong residents just trying to turn right at the Old Cooma Road in broad daylight or a murky dawn to get to work.
I fear I, and many families, shall have to limit younger drivers’ road use should this quarry be approved - one has to exercise pretty stringent judgement before letting a teen driver run into Calwell or Queanbeyan for groceries on any heavy traffic days at present….the presence of monstrous quarry trucks would rule this option out completely. The road taxes to be imposed on the vehicles are ludicrously small, and that revenue will go nowhere near repairing the damage to the roads that they will cause.
As I’ve driven all over this region for many years I’ve seen lots of places that would be worth investigating as potential quarry sites, with far, far fewer vulnerabilities than the current location. Selfishly, I believe that the services I shall eventually need to stay in my home will not be provided at Royalla if the quarry is here - employers will exercise their OHS responsibilities to staff and forbid placements in this region.
It remains my belief that the developers of this project should be obliged to nominate an alternative location further from residential housing, and served by safer roads.
Thank you for the opportunity to register this opposition. Anne Molan

I object to any more of our ebvironment being destroyed for financial gain. Please protect our environment, we cannot get it back k and we are leading to collapse with our greed and not working with our environment and its animals and plant species. Please please no new mining or quarries for corporate gain and environmental loss, we are still suffering and will for many years, from our current ones. Noone wants live in a dead barren earth with no nature that has been blasted for a mine that we dont even benefit from financially, we just have to live near and suffer from it.
Canberra resident, who lives here for the nature it contains.

I am writing to express my concern and opposition to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry.
We have lived at 1466 old Cooma Road Googong since 2002. We moved to the area when this part of Old Cooma Road was a stretch of dirt road to the Monaro Highway. We considered it to be, and still do, our little valley in the quiet countryside. Things have certainly changed over the years which have benefited the area and population as a whole. But this latest proposal will certainly not be a benefit.

Impact on our working life
• The quarry is located just over Beatty Hill which boarders our property. As an artist, (www.michaelalaurie.gallery) the noise from intermittent blasting, numerous large trucks travelling long Old Cooma Road and machinery operating in the quarry will be very invasive and disturbing.
The inevitable dust carried by the very strong winds which sweep across the hill and this valley throughout the year, will impact my studio in ways I hate to think about. My art materials, quality fine art papers, printers, art scanner, and computer will be adversely affected. I don’t wish to wear noise cancelling headphones during my daily workday. Why should I have to. And I do not want to have to spend thousands of dollars on building a dust proof workplace. And I should not have to replace my expensive equipment on a regular basis due to damage from dust and possible electricity problems caused by the quarry and its other operations.
• My husband’s Yuzu orchard will be very adversely affected by dust and pollution settling on the leaves and the annual fruit production which will be going to market.

Impact of our home and way of life
• Dust from the quarry will impact the efficiency of our solar panels and we will therefore incur extra costs for cleaning the panels to keep up the efficiency.
• Dust from the quarry will impact our drinking water. We are not on town water, so all our drinking water is collected from rain falling on the roof of our house and shed. Dust will be washed off the rooves during rain and when frost in winter melts and contaminate our drinking water. Are they prepared to put filtration systems on every water tank in the region?
Dust from the quarry will impact the air we breath each and every day. Our health will be compromized.

Impact on the area
• Old Cooma Road is noted by the NRMA as one of the most wildlife accident prone roads in NSW. There is a natural wildlife corridor along Jerrabomberra Creek which crosses under Old Cooma Road. Heavy vehicles will plough through wombats and kangaroos as they cross the road causing great danger.
• Trucks and vehicles entering and exciting both Monaro Highway in ACT and Old Cooma Road in NSW, will pose danger, extreme damage to roads and added air and noise pollution. The possible 500 daily trucks driving at 100Km an hour on our stretch of Old Cooma Road will cause disruption and be dangerous on the road, at intersections and at our drive which is just over the crest of a hill. The traffic congestion at the two intersections will be huge especially as the Dunn’s Creek project is years off even getting started.

Impact on the environment
• Disruption to the water table and risk of environmental damage to Jerrabomberra Creek, its wildlife and flowing downstream to Lake Burley Griffin.


• Past behaviour is an indication of behaviour moving forward. Sheep owned by the owners of Beatty Hill and the land proposed for the quarry show disrespect to both their animals and neighbours. Their animals are neglected – unshorn and diseased. Completely abandoned. Over many years we have repeatedly asked them to help maintain fences to prevent these same sheep looking for pasture on our land and that of many neighbouring properties. The response is yes, yes, yes but nothing happens. We are currently asking for the assistance of the council rangers to help resolve this issue. I can only be led to believe that this same lack of concern for other people and their land will be carried forward with their latest venture. This land is now marked as NSW biodiversity protected land area to offset the pollution caused by the quarry. A sign mysteriously appeared on our boarder fence informing us of this development. Will the current owners be responsible for maintenance of bordering fences to stop their sheep along with feral pigs and deer? Will they be concerned for this bushland when the vegetation becomes covered in dust?
• Building a quarry so close to a major solar farm in ACT is an act of selfish disregard.

The proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project raises the following concerns for me;

- The site is too close to exisiting and potential future residential areas.

- The additional heavy vehicle traffic on the Monaro Highway will cause an increase in travel time when I travel to Canberra Central areas and Cooma. I expect additional intersections will be required for the high volume of traffic generated by the proposed rock quarry will see a reduction in speed limits. Furthermore, I have safety concerns with additional trucks regularly using the Monaro Highway given the high volume of vehicle crashes around the Hume area. I recall in recent years a fatality that involved a truck running into a car at the traffic lights. The additional truck traffic will likely increase noise levels and be an annoyance to me at my residence.

- The release of particulate matter, including silica dust is concerning. While the EIS states the levels are expected to be below acceptable levels, research on this matter is ongoing and being updated regularly. I fear that the increase in particulate matter associated with the proposed rock quarry will have a negative impact on my heath.

- The clearing of over 22 hectares of Box-Gum Woodland will further reduce the volume of this nationally endangered ecosystem, having a negative impact on many flora and fauna species.

Given my concerns I recommend that the proposed rock quarry be rejected.

My name is Mark Parton, and I am a Liberal Member for Brindabella in the ACT Legislative Assembly. My electorate covers the most southern part of the Territory, including the suburbs of Theodore, Conder, Richardson, and Isabella Plains.

Over the last month, my office has heard the concerns of numerous constituents around the proposed development of the Monaro Rock Quarry project in Royalla. Although the site is in NSW, many of my constituents have provided their feedback to my office, as their homes fall into the area identified by the EIS. Their concerns are attached.

I strongly object to the Monaro Rock Quarry Project for the following reasons:
- Current road infrastructure will not meet the increased demands of heavy trucks and machinery
- The traffic impacts of the increased traffic activity
- The increased levels of dust and implications on health this will have, I am particularly concerned regarding the high levels of silica
- The negative impact on property prices due to the above reasons

I am writing to formally object to the proposed quarry development. As a resident living in close proximity to the proposed site, I have significant concerns about the impact this project will have on the health, safety, environment, and overall wellbeing of our community.

1. Noise and Dust Pollution
The operation of heavy machinery, blasting, and truck movements will generate constant noise and dust. These impacts will significantly reduce the quality of life for residents and pose health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.

2. Air Quality and Health Risks
Dust emissions from quarrying activities and increased truck traffic are well documented to worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Prolonged exposure poses unacceptable risks to community health.

3. Traffic and Safety Concerns
A quarry of this size would bring a substantial increase in heavy vehicle movements on local roads that are not designed to support such traffic. This raises concerns about road safety, congestion, and the long-term damage to local infrastructure.

4. Property Values and Community Amenity
The presence of a quarry will inevitably reduce nearby property values. The industrialisation of the area will also diminish the amenity of the local community and permanently change the character of the landscape.

5. Environmental Damage
The quarry will disrupt local ecosystems, destroy wildlife habitats, and may have long-term consequences for soil stability and water resources. The environmental costs are far greater than any proposed short-term benefits.

6. Blasting and Structural Risks
Blasting activities will cause vibrations that may damage nearby homes and water tanks. This also creates stress and anxiety for residents, especially when events are unpredictable.

7. Long-Term Impacts
Approving this quarry will set a precedent for further industrial developments, resulting in ongoing environmental degradation and further loss of community amenity.

For these reasons, I strongly oppose the approval of this quarry development. I urge the Council and planning authorities to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of the community by rejecting this application.

Thank you for considering my submission.

I will be copying my submission to my local Government members for Eden-Monaro (Kirsty McBain and Steve Whan)
I cannot see how the Minister (the Hon. Paul Scully) could approve this proposal. It certainly will not be in the name of community interest. I have not spoken to, or know of a single neighbour who agrees with this proposal, bar one. The neighbour I hear that supports the proposal has an interest and stands to benefit from the “in-principal agreement” to traverse his land to access the Monaro Highway from the quarry. Even then, he said there is nothing in writing.
The Monaro Highway is already extremely busy, particularly during ski season. I note that the traffic study in the submission admits to been very limited. This is the primary southern access road to the A.C.T. and many people have died due to traffic accidents on the stretch of road the quarry is proposing to use. It backs up for kilometres as traffic tries to navigate the single lane roundabout near Calwell in the A.C.T. It has blind corners, and the traffic build up entering the A.C.T. requires heavy braking to avoid a collision. It has been discussed on the local NEWS as being an accident black spot. I fear that fully loaded quarry trucks will cause more deaths on this stretch of road.
Put yourself in the shoes of the people who live in this area. Who in their right mind would want a quarry, concrete processing and road recycling plant as their neighbour? Particularly one of this huge size. It makes me think that there is something untoward happening with this proposal and why it has been deemed a State Significant Project.
There are already numerous quarries in the area, none of which are running out of material or are running at anywhere near capacity (the Cooma Road Quarry; Mugga Quarry; Williamsdale Quarry). This proposal seems to be driven by greed and a desire to control a resource that is readily available elsewhere.
The EPA ACT (section 1.3) was established “to promote the social and economic welfare of the community and a better environment by the proper management, development and conservation of the State’s natural and other resources”. How can the EPA ACT be ignored as suggested in the proposal? To then wipe out the Ghost Gums and other fantastic flora on Enchanted Hill is tantamount to criminal. A quarry certainly doesn’t benefit the large local community.
All of the people who reside in this neighbourhood chose to do so because the area is zoned rural residential and was advertised as "lifestyle blocks of land". This proposal destroys all of that.
Personally, I go to a lot of trouble and expense to look after the native flora and fauna on our block, how can someone propose to just wipe out hectares of it for greed?
Our family had friends that lived near Williamsdale Quarry. Their house and land value was comparatively far less than ours, mostly due to the quarry. It that area, it is well known that you can’t hang your washing on the line when the wind blows in your direction from the quarry. You have to filter your drinking water (collected from you roof in our area). The electricity “brown-outs” occur when the quarry starts it’s large crusher causing some sensitive appliances to fail.
If this proposal is accepted, I will pursue legal advice seeking compensation to the major change to our neighbourhood and lifestyle.