MCQAG would like to restate our position in the light of the recent exceptional flood event and circumstances which have befallen our communities and the role of MCQ/Daracon in the play
1. MCQAG have never advocated closing the quarry, only that it be properly regulated and that there is no repeat of the trauma inflicted on our communities by the Hexham rail project last year
2. Our position is that the current consents allow for the extraction of 300,000 T/annum of rail ballast and should be adhered to until the current State Significant Development application is decided. We will use all legitimate means possible to ensure the new approval restricts the quarry output to levels compatible with the general well-being of all communities directly impacted by the activities of MCQ & Brandy Hill. In our view this limit is to the level of the current consents i.e. 300,000T per annum with Mon-Fri 7.00am-5.00pm operating hours
3. We refuse to personalize this issue by using derogatory and defamatory language and would discourage all community members from doing so. Daracon are a well-respected local company and all we ask is that they behave in a responsible fashion and consider the impact of the MCQ operations on affected residents.
4. We recognise recent events surrounding the storm of April 20/21 were exceptional in terms of the damage to infrastructure and acknowledge Daracon were working to meet the emergency requirements of ARTC for rail ballast. Some residents may have made comments prematurely without fully understanding the complexities of the situation
5. We also recognise many people worked exceptional hours to produce and deliver the material required to repair the infra-structure, however we presume that, unlike SES & RFS volunteer emergency workers, they were being well remunerated for their efforts.
6. As expressed several times directly to Daracon management, we appreciate the efforts put in by the truck drivers to minimise their impact on our communities by reducing their speed below the posted limits and avoiding the use of engine brakes, un-necessary gear changes etc to minimise noise.
7. We would ask that everyone recognises that the Hexham contract last Feb-April and the recent 24/7 emergency operations gave the community a flavour of what life could be like if the 1.5m T/annum and 24/7 operations Daracon are currently asking for were to be approved. MCQAG have requested Daracon reconsider the 1.5m T and 24/7 conditions but to date this request has fallen on deaf ears.