Local residents and environmental groups have expressed their “shock” and “dismay” of a new quarry being approved at Eagleton, north of Raymond Terrace.
The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) gave the green light for the project, which is expected to extract, process and transport up to 600,000 tonnes of hard rock per annum for 30 years.
That’s despite more than 50 submissions – to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – objecting to the proposal.
Most of the complaints centred around noise, blasting, traffic, air quality and biodiversity.
However, the three-person board, led by chair Adrian Pilton, deemed “consent should be granted” for the Eagleton Rock Syndicate Pty Ltd venture, which will generate approximately 20 full-time equivalent jobs.
“The commission carefully considered all views – from submissions and comments to those made at the public hearing – as part of making its decision,” the IPC stated.
“After weighing up the broader strategic and economic benefit of accessing the hard rock resource in the context of the impacts on the environment and local amenity of residents, we found the project should be approved.
“But, it’s subject to conditions.
“Those stipulations are designed to: prevent, minimise and/or offset adverse environmental impacts; set standards and performance measures for acceptable environmental performance; require regular monitoring and reporting; and provide the ongoing environment management of the development.”
EcoNetwork-Port Stephens spokesperson Nigel Waters blasted the outcome.
“The approval was made in the absence of transparent consideration of the project’s strategic, social and conservation implications in the context of the other nine hard rock quarries operational or proposed within a 25km radius in our rural hinterland area,” he said.
“The consequence of this decision will result in the natural and social amenity of Balickera further compromised.
“The Eagleton Quarry will contribute to the loss of habitat essential for the survival of a number of threatened species, including our iconic koala.
“Time will tell about the impacts of another quarry in our Grahamstown water catchment.”
Mr Waters added the combined traffic impacts of multiple hard rock quarry developments also compromised the community’s ability to safely use and access the Pacific Highway.
“Simply stated, the road infrastructure to accommodate the massive increase in haulage vehicles is not in place, yet quarry approvals are taking place,” he said.
“We recognise the requirement for construction materials and call on government to properly plan for such supply.
“It’s not sustainable to effectively destroy the amenity and biodiversity of a region to support development elsewhere.
“Earlier this year, we called on ministers Penny Sharpe and Paul Scully to urgently address the matters we raised in our Hard Rock Quarry Issues Paper but have so far been ignored.
“Without consideration of the cumulative impacts that extensive hard rock quarry development in our region will cause, we face an inevitable destruction of the environmental attributes we so greatly value and need.
“We’ll continue to call on our political representatives to urgently address the big picture of hard rock quarry expansion in our region… and work with rural communities to protect our natural and social assets.”
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