On the 6th of October 2022 the NSW Department of Planning issued an Assessment Report for the Martins Creek Quarry State Significant Development Application, the report recommended approval of the application and has been referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for a determination. MCQAG committee shall keep residents updated on dates and timing via social media and this page.
Concerned and impacted members of the public can participate in the IPC process. The IPC shall maintain an online portal in which members of the public can make submissions. The IPC will also likely convene a public meeting which impacted residents can register to speak and address the ICP Panel directly in person.
You can view and participate in the IPC process via this website link
The amended development application parameters that the NSW Department of Planning has UNBELIEVABLE recommended approval on is as follows; now seeks approval for the following;
Change in use at the site from rail ballast production only to general construction aggregates
extraction of 1,100,000 tonnes per annum
transport of 500,000 tonnes per annum by road
transport of 600,000 tonnes per annum by rail
A trucking haul route that traverses through Martins Creek, Paterson, Tocal, Bolwarra Heights and East Maitland
280 truck movements per day (peak - 50 days per year) and then 200 truck movements per day
40 truck movements per hour (peak)
Quarry sales 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday
Quarry pit crushing & processing 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday
Rail loading 24hrs
Clearing of 21 Ha of native vegetation
25 year operating life
The MCQAG committee's view is that the above parameters are completely un acceptable, if approved the hourly and daily scale of trucking operations proposed from the site will see a return of the trucking madness residents experienced between 2007 and 2019. The committees view is informed by 2 experts in Social impacts who advise that a number of residual social risks will be almost certain to occur having a Major social impact that will result in an EXTREME or VERY HIGH risk rating.
How to Engage in the IPC Process and HAVE YOUR SAY
MCQAG Committee encourage all residents to participate in the IPC consultation process this is the last chance to influence the decision makers. Residents are encouraged to review the NSW Department of Plannings Assessment Report and Draft Consent Conditions and detail to the IPC via their Submissions Portal the issues and impacts that will impact your life and households. You should refer to your lived experiences when Daracon operated unlawfully at the site. Where possible you should quantify the impacts and provide relevant evidence. You can read more on how to make a submission at this link.