Martins Creek Quarry Project

I have family that will directly be affected if the project is denied. Surely there are enough procedures in place to go ahead with the project and protect both sides.

I OPPOSE the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion.

I am concerned with the increase number of trucks causing even more damage to our roads.

Though they are required to cover their loads, this isn't efficiently working as there has been a LOT of rocks in our cars' windscreens.

The increased number of working hours and trucks is NOT fair on a small community to cope with. Our roads wont cope. Families will be made worse off with road traffic, noise. etc. We are not an industrial area designed for the magnification.

* I have been employed with Daracon for 2.5 years and have enjoyed the stable employment it provides.
* Martins Creek Quarry is a big part of the organisation and supports many of the infrastructure jobs we undertake
* The Success of the quarry helps maintain the jobs of over 850 employees and over 1000 contractors and their families
* Daracon is a supporter of local communities and charities
* As a resident of the Hunter Valley, Daracon creates opportunities for people from many different backgrounds
* There are a lot of infrastructure projects in the Hunter. Limiting material supply may increase the cost of projects which the taxpayer is funding
* The construction industry relies on the Quarry as one of only a couple of hard rock suppliers in the region and if the Hunter Valley is to prosper and grow, Martins Creek Quarry will be required to provide the necessary materials for major infrastructure projects.
* The Quarry provides materials to many projects crucial to the growth and prosperity of the region: road construction, housing, railway construction and other public infrastructure.
* As a long term employee of Daracon I have been lucky enough to have been employed continuously through hard times, through the down turn in the mining industry and the GFC
* I also know of many projects outside of Daracon that also rely on the materials available from Martins Creek Quarry. I believe it is one of only 3 hard rock quarries of this kind in the region.
* I believe the Quarry plays an important part within not just the Daracon group but also in the supply to many projects within the Hunter Valley area and to numerous local businesses.
* The quarry provides materials required in many of our projects and without the quarry, some of our projects would not be commercially viable and would not proceed.
* For the region to grow at the rate we would like, and at a rate reported in the Hunter Regional Plan 2036, not only do we need to support local jobs but we also need to be able to service the demand of a growing population with the necessary construction materials.

See uploaded submission

For the region to grow at the rate we would like, and at a rate reported in the Hunter Regional Plan 2036, not only do we need to support local jobs but we also need to be able to service the demand of a growing population with the necessary construction materials.

The Quarry provides materials to many projects crucial to the growth and prosperity of the region: road construction, housing, railway construction and other public infrastructure.

The Quarry provides materials to many projects crucial to the growth and prosperity of the region: road construction, housing, railway construction and other public infrastructure.

The Quarry provides materials to many projects crucial to the growth and prosperity of the region: road construction, housing, railway construction and other public infrastructure. I strongly support this project.

Submission
Against the proposed expansion
of Martins Creek Quarry
13th November 2016



As a resident of Martins Creek for more than thirty years I am very concerned that DARACON is proposing to expand and increase its current extraction at Martins Creek Quarry.
We chose an idyllic country lifestyle some thirty years ago and while the quarry was operational and run by Rail corp, the workload had minimum impact on our lives.

When DARACON took over the lease, this changed: Previously the blasting resembled a far away explosion it has now become so intense that the ferocity of the blast led me to believe an earthquake was rumbling up the road, shaking the house and rattling the windows. This is not something you quietly adapt to, it delivers the same instinctive fear every time.
I have also noted the increase in dust that settles on the inside and the outside of the house, predominantly evident on the blinds which need dusting daily.


But the biggest impact to our lives would be the large volume of trucks on the roads. Narrow country roads that are not designed or equipped to carry such heavy haulage. The roads are in appalling condition with potholes and damaged edges. I have experience a number of "close encounter" with quarry trucks and I have lost count of the number of windscreen we have replaced due to stones either flying of or flipping up from truck wheels.
My responsibilities as a Mother/Carer see me sharing these roads forty five times a week, during school/bus stop runs, pre-school and daily appointments.
During these times I have witnessed quarry trucks ignoring the stop sign at Station street on numerous occasions.

It is unthinkable that DARACON with little regard to local communities would increase its extraction and double the number of truck movements it currently has on our roads. Sadly we already see dead wildlife on a daily basis, kangaroos, possums and more recently an echidna, while this is tragic in itself, how long will it be before a child, a neighbour/friend is killed.
It is interesting that DARACON state:
"We place the upmost importance on community safety and well-being throughout all our activities and foster a strong sense of responsibility"
Yet they knowingly operate outside of their current restrictions, knowing full well that this impacts heavily on local communities.
This new proposal will impact greatly on my life and the lives and safety of my family and therefore I strongly recommend that the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry by DARACON be rejected.

ME & MJ SWEETMAN HOLDINGS P/L
Address: Wollombi Rd, Millfield 2325
Ph/Fax: 4998 1257 Ph: 4998 1312

I have been employed with Daracon for 9 years and have enjoyed the stable employment it provides.
Martins Creek Quarry is a big part of the organisation I work for and supports many of the infrastructure jobs we undertake.
The Quarry provides materials to many projects crucial to the growth and prosperity of the region: road construction, housing, railway construction and other public infrastructure.

I have been employed by Daracon continuously for 13 years. My family enjoy the stable employment that Daracon provide in the local area. I have many friends who live within the Hunter area and are employed (or have been employed) by Daracon. I have also seen first hand the many local business's whom Daracon support and specifically the local employment opportunities provided to those in the area around Martins Creek. I have seen first hand the variety of projects and business that Martins Creek Quarry supply and its importance in the construction industry. Daracon and Martins Creek Quarry are a key driver in ensuring that the construction materials market in the area is as competitive as possible, which allows projects to be completed as cost effectively as possible.

See attached Document

This site is a pivotal strategic resource for, not only the Hunter, the wider NSW civil construction market. I believe the Quarry plays an important part within not just the Daracon group but also in the supply to many projects within the Hunter Valley area and to numerous local businesses.

See attachment

Uploaded

* I have been employed with Daracon for 8 years and have enjoyed the stable employment it provides.
* Martins Creek Quarry is a big part of the organisation and supports many of the infrastructure jobs we undertake
* The Success of the quarry helps maintain the jobs of over 850 employees and over 1000 contractors and their families
* Daracon is a supporter of local communities and charities
* As a resident of the Hunter Valley, Daracon creates opportunities for people from many different backgrounds
* There are a lot of infrastructure projects in the Hunter. Limiting material supply may increase the cost of projects which the taxpayer is funding
* The construction industry relies on the Quarry as one of only a couple of hard rock suppliers in the region and if the Hunter Valley is to prosper and grow, Martins Creek Quarry will be required to provide the necessary materials for major infrastructure projects.
* The Quarry provides materials to many projects crucial to the growth and prosperity of the region: road construction, housing, railway construction and other public infrastructure.
* As a long term employee of Daracon I have been lucky enough to have been employed continuously through hard times, through the down turn in the mining industry and the GFC
* I also know of many projects outside of Daracon that also rely on the materials available from Martins Creek Quarry. I believe it is one of only 3 hard rock quarries of this kind in the region.
* I believe the Quarry plays an important part within not just the Daracon group but also in the supply to many projects within the Hunter Valley area and to numerous local businesses.
* The quarry provides materials required in many of our projects and without the quarry, some of our projects would not be commercially viable and would not proceed.
* For the region to grow at the rate we would like, and at a rate reported in the Hunter Regional Plan 2036, not only do we need to support local jobs but we also need to be able to service the demand of a growing population with the necessary construction materials

Uploaded

I support the expansion

the intersection of Paterson Road & Hunterglen Drive is a busy and sometimes dangerous intersection. The additional trucks on the road will cause extreme delays and may lead to impatience and therefore accidents. There is a school bus stops right at the intersection with no pedestrian crossings making the crossing by the students dangerous as it is now so with extra trucks the situation could lead to children being put at even more risk.