I write to formally object the project. As a resident of Bowes Avenue at Edgecliff, located approximately 20 metres west of the proposed development site, I will be directly and significantly impacted by this proposal.

1. Direct impact on adjoining low-scale terrace housing
My property is a terrace dwelling within a low-scale residential streetscape. The proposed development represents a substantial and incompatible increase in height, bulk, and density immediately adjacent to this sensitive interface.

Given the proximity of my property to the site, the proposal is likely to result in (1) significant overshadowing and loss of natural light, (2) loss of privacy due to overlooking, (3) increased visual bulk and a sense of enclosure (4) diminished residential amenity and (5) overpopulation and over-density.
The scale of the proposed development is wholly inconsistent with the established character of Bowes Avenue and surrounding terrace housing. This represents clear overdevelopment of a constrained site.

2. Traffic congestion and safety impacts
Traffic conditions in the local area are already under significant strain. Bowes Avenue and surrounding streets experience frequent congestion, which is exacerbated by nearby schools such as Ascham School.
Daily school pick-up and drop-off activity results in (1) High traffic volumes during peak morning and afternoon periods, (2) Illegal or informal parking, (3) reduced road safety for pedestrians and residents and (4) over-congestion of New South Head Road.

The proposed increase in density will introduce additional vehicle movements into an already congested local road network. This will worsen traffic delays, road safety risks and noise and general disturbance.
The proposal fails to adequately address how these cumulative impacts will be managed.

3. Loss of already limited street parking
Street parking in Bowes Avenue and surrounding streets is extremely limited. Existing residents already face difficulty accessing parking due to high residential demand and school-related parking pressures.
The proposed development will significantly increase demand for on-street parking, particularly given the limitations of on-site parking provision typically associated with developments of this nature.
As a result, (1) existing residents will have reduced access to parking near their homes, (2) visitor parking will become increasingly constrained and (3) local amenity will be further eroded.

4. Overdevelopment and incompatibility with local character
The proposal involves a dramatic increase in building height and floor space ratio, far exceeding the scale of surrounding development. This level of uplift is inappropriate given (1) the proximity to heritage conservation areas, (2) the fine-grain character of surrounding terrace housing, and (3) the site’s role as a transition between commercial and residential zones.
The development will dominate the streetscape and undermine the established character of the area.

5. Inadequate planning controls under SSD pathway
As the proposal is intended to proceed via the State Significant Development pathway, there is limited ability to enforce detailed design controls through local planning instruments. This creates uncertainty around key issues such as (1) final building envelope and design, (2) overshadowing impacts, and (3) traffic and parking outcomes.
Given the proximity of my property, this lack of certainty is unacceptable and places nearby residents at significant risk of adverse outcomes.

6. Lack of strategic merit and prior refusal by Council
Importantly, Woollahra Council has already refused the planning proposal on the basis that it (1) does not demonstrate strategic merit, (2) is inconsistent with established planning strategies for Edgecliff. Furthermore, the site was not identified for this level of uplift in strategic planning work, reinforcing that the proposal is opportunistic rather than plan-led. Furthermore, it should be queried why this project is state significant and up for approval by the NSW Government as a Major Project when rezoning of the Edgecliff and Woollahra LGA has yet to be finalised.

As a State Significant Development, the proposal limits the ability of Council to impose detailed controls. This creates unacceptable uncertainty regarding final building design and scale, traffic and parking outcomes, and amenity impacts on directly affected residents.

6. Cumulative impact of multiple large developments
This proposal cannot be assessed in isolation. There are multiple State Significant Development proposals in the immediate Edgecliff precinct, and planning material highlights that combined impacts will result in significant overdevelopment, there is no coordinated traffic or infrastructure strategy and the cumulative effect will place major strain on the locality.
This lack of coordinated planning is a critical failure and will directly impact surrounding residential streets such as Bowes Avenue.

7. Inadequate infrastructure and public benefit
There is no clear guarantee that the proposal will deliver adequate infrastructure upgrades, additional public facilities or meaningful or permanent affordable housing. The Labor government has a strong focus with delivering social and affordable housing, however, the development will only provide a measly 2.75% of affordable housing. This is insufficient and does not align with the Government's objectives, and is merely a proponent in obtaining development approval. I query why this redevelopment is state significant.
Planning commentary indicates that proposed public benefits may be limited or uncertain despite the scale of uplift being sought.This raises serious concerns about whether the proposal is in the public interest.

8. Unacceptable impact on heritage conservation areas
The site sits within close proximity to the Paddington Heritage Conservation Area, which is recognised for its intact streetscapes, consistent building scale, and historic significance. The proposal poses serious risks to this heritage setting, including disruption of established height and scale relationships, visual intrusion into heritage streetscapes, loss of the transitional buffer between commercial and residential zones, precedent for further encroachment of high-density development into heritage areas and loss of biodiversity in surrounding areas. Redevelopment will further impact Trumper Park and cause a reduction in habitat for local fauna
Heritage conservation areas rely not only on the protection of individual buildings, but also on the preservation of their broader setting and context. This proposal undermines that principle.

9. Environmental and biodiversity impacts
The site forms part of a broader ecological and green corridor within the local area. The proposed intensification raises significant environmental concerns, including loss of vegetation and urban tree canopy, fragmentation of biodiversity corridors, reduction in habitat for local fauna and increased urban heat and reduced environmental quality
These impacts are particularly concerning in a dense urban environment where green space and vegetation are already limited and highly valued.

10. Inconsistency with local character and heritage context
The proposal is inconsistent with the established character of the area, including nearby heritage conservation areas and terrace housing. Key concerns include abrupt scale transition, visual dominance within the streetscape, loss of the fine-grain urban character. Such impacts are irreversible and fundamentally alter the identity of the locality.

I object to this project on two grounds, firstly community health and the impact this project with on my family and friends who live in this area: and secondly the misrespentation in the EIS that this is just a medium scale quarry, rather than the actuality that this is a major extraction quarry combined with a concrete batching plant and an asphalt production plant. Science agrees that silica dust
environmental impacts, in terms of human health, can extend up to 20 kilometers from the quarry site. This has the ability to affect the tens of thousands of peoples living in the immediate area. For this reason alone, this quarry should not proceed.
The EIS covers the development of a quarry with up to 500 loaded truck entries to an already a busy highway per day. These vehicle movements cover the movement of quarry products only and miss the additional movements required by the development of the concrete and asphalt plants. As these additional plants are not adequately covered by the EIS, that document mispresents the effects of the totally of the development to our local community and to the state government itself.
I firmly believe that this development is misrepresented in the supporting documentation and should not be proceeded with.
Sincerely

I object to the proposal because of the negative impacts it will have on our lives and the lives of the residents of Royalla and the surrounding region because:

the applicant has documented in the SIA the negative future impacts on the Royalla community and particularly that of my wife’s property and those in her close proximity.

that even though the proposal suggest that the company can manage and monitor the air quality including the silica dust, science is conclusive that no amount of silica dust can be considered safe for humans therefore how can this be acceptable in close proximity to residential areas.

the need for an additional quarry in the Royalla area has not been adequately demonstrated,

land values have been effected and there is no suggestion of any compensation for those in the immediate area

of the huge increase in volume of the heavy vehicle traffic, the road damage and associated traffic hazards. Already existing road damage takes weeks or months to get repaired,

low to high noise, dust and traffic impacts as identified in the proposal

I object to this project SSD-27223807
Proposed Monaro Rock Quarry – Royalla NSW 2620

To whom it may concern,
Thank you for reading my letter.

I feel compelled to write to you with my serious concerns and strong objection to the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry Project.

I live in Little Burra, a small rural residential community bordering on Royalla and the quarry will be just a few kilometres from my back door looking north west.

My family and I moved here 19 years ago with a plan to enjoy the rural ambience, improve the environment and leave a positive imprint on this beautiful land. The impact of this quarry will adversely affect 4 generations of my family ranging in age from 2yrs to 87yrs. All of whom either live here long term or reside for varying lengths of time. We have propagated and planted over 700 trees, grown gardens to enhance the bees, birds and butterflies and enjoy watching the local wildlife graze on our native grassland under the hundred year old yellow box gums. We use rainwater for drinking and have solar power with battery back up to run our home.

How do you convey the feeling of extreme anxiety and heartfelt despair over the consequences of what this quarry will bring? How the immediate effect of the shock-waves of the blasting and the compounding effect of the fine particles of life limiting dust that will affect all forms of local inhabitants from grasses to birds to wildlife and humans?

The impact of this quarry is very difficult to quantify…….

There are significant issues of concern such as water contamination, air pollution, noise, road safety, local heavy vehicle traffic, environmental impact and the irreplaceable loss of habitat for the local wildlife, flora and fauna in an area that is already listed as critically endangered. The multiple reports created to support this quarry can be seen to mitigate or offset these serious concerns in very convincing ways by experienced, professional organisations in favour of the quarry because they are paid by the proponents.

We already have 2 quarries within a 10 km radius of here that have many many years of excellent high grade resources still available to serve the surrounding area. And neither are needing to run at full capacity. Yes, I understand employment and resource availability is extremely important for obvious reasons, but why put another quarry in between these 2 quarries just because it can be seen to improve competition and just because Monaro Rock has access to the rock. Just because they can, doesn’t mean they should. This quarry provides no advantage to long term employment or resource availability to the surrounding communities of NSW or ACT at all.

Thank you again for reading this letter and giving it due consideration.

I hope it has raised awareness about my concerns on the impact that this addition quarry would have on my family, our community and our environment. I look forward to hearing of your considered and hopefully favourable decision in this matter.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Jennifer George
Little Burra
Googong
NSW 2620

I strongly object to the development of the Monaro Rock Quarry which is located on the door step of the residential estate of which I live. There are already 4 quarries with enough capacity to supply the area and surrounds for the next 100 years, so another polluting quarry is not necessary. I understand the new quarry, is not just a quarry, but also plans to manufacture concrete, and hot asphalt. The pollution and noise from this proposed quarry will significantly impact the quality of life and health of my life living here in Royalla. My family moved here 24 years ago, for a quieter, peaceful and healthy lifestyle. Had I known a quarry, concrete and asphalt manufacturing plant was going to be developed I never would have moved here. The risk to human health from silica dust, and contamination of rain water due to silica dust cannot be ignored. The odour , noise and vibrations from blasting and heavy vehicle traffic is also unacceptable and will ruin the quality of my life living here and for all residents living in this area.

What compensation is the NSW Government going to provide to cover illness to residents from pollution from the quarry, and the devaluing of my home as the value of the housing market will significantly drop as no one will want to buy a home to live next to a quarry.

If the NSW Government goes ahead with this development I will never vote for it again!

Regards

I am writing to express my strong support for the Monaro Rock Quarry project. This project represents a significant opportunity for our community, both in terms of economic development and environmental stewardship.

The Monaro Rock Quarry project promises substantial benefits for our local community. One of the most significant advantages is the creation of additional jobs. The project will generate employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases, providing much-needed jobs for local residents. This will not only boost the local economy but also improve the quality of life for many families in our region.

Moreover, the project will contribute to the growth of the local industry. By producing high-quality aggregates, the Monaro Rock Quarry will support various construction and infrastructure projects in the area. This will lead to increased demand for local services and suppliers, further stimulating economic growth. The development of additional infrastructure, such as a concrete batching plant, asphalt plant, and concrete recycling facility, will provide valuable resources for local construction and maintenance activities, enhancing the region's industrial capabilities.

The project's commitment to environmental responsibility is also commendable. By sourcing water from the Project Site and prioritizing dust suppression, the Monaro Rock Quarry ensures that air quality is maintained, protecting the health and comfort of nearby residents. The dedicated private access road to the Monaro Highway addresses community concerns about noise, traffic, and disruption, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to minimizing the project's impact on local residents.

In conclusion, the Monaro Rock Quarry project is a well-planned and thoughtfully executed initiative that promises significant benefits for our community. I fully support this project and look forward to seeing its positive impact on our local economy and environment.

Best regards,

Surely there is a place where rock can be quarried that does not require the loss of a threatened (critically endangered) grassy woodland ecological community.