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.
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Amended Development Application on Public Exhibition
Daracon and Umwelt’s amended development application is on public exhibition. You can view the 2600 pages of documents on the Department of Planning’s website at this link.
The amended development application is seeking approval for the following;
1,100,000 tonne per annum extraction for 25 years
clearing of 21Ha of native vegetation containing EPBC threatened species (Koalas, Slatey Red Gums, swift Parrots, Regent Honey eaters and Spotted Quals)
500,000 tpa transport of product by road
600,000 tpa transport of product by rail from the site
280 truck movements per day (peak) 140 loaded/140 empty
40 truck movements per hour (peak) 20 loaded/20 empty
We hope as many concerned residents can lodge submissions objecting to the proposal. In relation to the human/built environment impacts we have summarized these this link on our website, primarily MCQAG is recommending that residents with "Lived Experiences" of past unlawful operations detail in their submissions how the above parameters will result in a return to those impacts that have impacted them and their communities historically, we are advising that residents pay particular attention to the amenity and social impacts (sense of place, social fabric, rural amenity etc).
In relation to the fauna and flora impacts these have been "detailed" in the proponents biodiversity assessment report. The consultant report finds that a number of the above EPBC threatened species could reside but haven't been found on the site, however we have photographic evidence that all have been located/sighted on land immediately adjoining the site, and the study has therefore understated the impact likely to occur with the removal of this habitat.
Submissions are currently due by COB on the 31st of July 2021 (they must be lodged via this portal Link Here)
Get your submission before the closing date!
Daracon and Umwelt re start their State Significant Development Application
Since September last year residents surrounding the site and those who live adjacent to the haulage route within the villages of Martins Creek and Paterson have had the pleasure of rural amenity without blasting, crusher noise, dust nor hundreds of daily unlawful quarry truck movements.
The experience for many impacted residents once quarry operations were brought into compliance with the law has been life changing.
So 12 months on since residents last heard from Daracon many residents (not all though) have been greeted with a glossy brochure “Martins Creek Quarry Update Information Sheet No.2” in the mail. The brochure has been crafted by Daracon and Umwelt spin doctors announcing new project refinements
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Court of Appeal Dismiss Daracon Appeal
The appeal was heard by Justices Basten, Gleeson and Chief Justice Preston, and they upheld the key findings of the primary judge; that Daracon contrary to the current development consent are unlawfully extracting rock other than primarily for railway ballast, quarrying beyond the area to which the consent applied, dispatching a greater percentage of material by road than was allowable.
Land & Environment Court Decision Handed Down
The decision handed down by his Honor Justice Molesworth has confirmed that the operations and current scale of Daracon’s Martins Creek Quarry is largely illegal
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Department of Planning gets the message at community meeting
It was a full house in the Paterson School of Arts Hall last night, standing room only.
After intros from official attendees; Dept Planning, Daracon, EPA, Dungog Shire, Dept Premier & Cabnet and Maitland State MP. Howard Reed Director of Resource Assessment from NSW Department of Planning opened by explaining the process and told the audience that the determination of the project would go through the independent Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC).
He advised he had visited and met with Daracon and quarry staff, Martins Creek residents and other relevant community groups. The meeting was then opened to the floor for community to ask questions and lodge their concerns.
During the evening a gentleman in the audience moved a motion "that the community reject any expansion of Martins Creek Quarry and demand the Government and Dungog Shire Council regulate existing consents" The motion was seconded and then overwhelmingly passed in favor by a show of hands from the audience.
At the end of the evening Howard Reed stated he was now well aware that the community was resolute an forthright in their views and he would have to take that with him back to Sydney.
Here below were just a few of the comments collected from the crowd attesting to the current impacts, the lack of consultation and known future impacts that would occur from an expansion of the facility;