Although I haven't been employed with Daracon for very long, in my time with Daracon they have demonstrated what a positive impact they have had to many families of Newcastle and the Hunter. The quarry is a large part of the organisation's business and the continued success of the quarry would secure the futures of many of the employee's families.

The quarry has been an employer of many people over many, many years. It contributes to the region's and the state's economic growth.
The quarry provides materials to a large number of infrastructure projects, many of which are major infrastructure projects. The quarry needs to expand to be able to continue to supply the increasing demand for hard rock /materials for these projects
Daracon Pty Ltd, the operator, is a supporter of local communities and charities.
The success of the quarry and therefore the expansion of the quarry will see the continued employment of so many direct employees and contractors, in this chronically underemployed region.

I oppose the expansion of Martins creek quarry for the following reasons.......
1. IT WILL INCREASE HEAVY TRAFFIC, NOISE, DUST and EXHAUST FUMES.
As a resident living just off Paterson road I am woken most mornings before 5am by a procession of loud empty haul trucks. Turning from Victoria and Bolwarra Road onto Paterson Road is very difficult and dangerous already and can take up to 10 minutes due to current traffic volumes and speeds. Heavy vehicles should not be allowed to drive through residential areas let alone at the hours they do. This is a residential area not a mine site.
2. RAIL NOT ROAD.
The raw material from the quarry should be railed out to a satisfactory distribution load out point just as it is for the Hunter Valley coal mines.
3.SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARES EXIST ALONG UN SIGNALISED PATERSON / BELMORE ROADS
Two Schools and two childcare centres exist in Bolwarra and Lorn along the haulage routes. If there is a significant increase in heavy vehicle movements (up to 80 truck movements per hour ) on this road it will be more of a death trap than it is already. The Paterson and Bolwarra Road intersection to the Bolwarra school (500 + students and growing) is a particular concern and should be signalised for current traffic volumes.

I have been working with Daracon for 2 years on Reception and have seen the important role that Martins Creek provides for both Business and the community. I often get phone calls regarding prices for home jobs as well as many local business jobs throughout the hunter valley region and can see this Quarry plays a vital role. Daracon employees over 800 people and this quarry keeps our jobs secure.

See Uploaded File

I wish to lodge my objection to the expansion proposal for Martins Creek quarry. My concerns relate to the increased volume of quarry trucks using Butterwick Road (and other local roads). There is already heavy movement of quarry trucks and the proposed expansion will mean a lot more. This morning the first truck drove past at 5.46am - so does this mean that when the proposed operations starting time is offically at 5.30am we can expect the trucks to be using Butterwick Road even earlier. My other concern is who will be responsible for cost of repairs to Butterwick Road when an increased volume of quarry trucks will surely break up the road surface in due course. Butterwick Road falls within the Port Stephens Shire Council and I don't think PSSC will be happy to carry the repair costs. The same concern is for Tocal Road into Maitland which falls in Maitland City Council -
I doubt that both these Councils are even aware of what may be expected of them in relation to road repairs. It was established at the public meeting on 2/11/16 that Daracon do not contribute any funds to Dungog Council for road maintenance so I can only assume the same applies to PSSC and MCC. I settled in the area 28 years ago to provide my family with a peaceful lifestyle. This will now be jeopardised if the proposed expansion is approved.

As a farmer in the area we have used the quarry many times. And with the population growth in the area it only seems a natural progression to expand as the services are being used in greater volume.

I am a resident of Bolwarra Hts.

I am unable to attend the meeting at Patterson tonight re extension of Martin's Creek Quarry because I will be in Sydney for three days. I received notice about the meeting in my letterbox yesterday.

Please record my total opposition to the proposal. There is no justification to make an already dangerous road system through our suburb more dangerous. As an employee in a school where a young child was killed because a truck was racing through a suburban area I am particularly sensitive to this issue. Once the decision is made there is no control over these vehicles.

I also happen to be from a family plagued with allergies caused by pollen and dust.

There is no benefit here other than to the profit margin of the company. If it must go ahead use the rail system. If that is not user-ready have the company contribute to updating it. If this is not viable abandon the project but please don't use endangering the lives of our children as the companies fall- back position.

As a sub contractor I rely on Daracons continuous growth to provide work for me and thousands of others in the Hunter. Expanding the quarry is very much needed to keep up with the population growth in the hunter valley.