Martins Creek Quarry Project

I OPPOSE the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion
Application No. SSD-16_6612

- The roads through Bolwarra Heights, Tocal, Paterson and up to Martins Creek are struggling with current traffic load, and were never designed/built to handle the heavy traffic. There is no way the current road system can handle the increase in Truck Numbers proposed in the expansion. The degraded road conditions (pot holes etc) has impact on domestic car traffic.

- The main intersection /corner in Paterson (where Maitland Rd/Duke Street meets with King St) this 90 degree turn is not safe when a dual trailer truck is heading to the quarry, and there is a truck coming from the other direction and is at this turn at similar time.

- Residents and Visitors people traffic walking in Paterson shops area have limited safe locations to cross the road when there is high traffic volume of dual trailer trucks.

- The expanded hours that the Quarry wishes to operate should not be allowed. Again with the current volume of truck traffic, to have these trucks starting earlier and travelling later through the various residential areas on the main routes is not fair to the residents on these roads. Vibration and Noise of the trucks is impacting at times.

- Anytime council do roadworks to the damaged roads and there is excess of loose stones, the amount of stone spray to car vehicles is vastly increased - cracked and damaged windscreens is common. This tends to happen when the trucks are passing each other in opposite directions along the haul route, and the truck drifts to the edge of the road.

I lodge my support in relation to the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion

I support the project - please see attached letter. Thank you.

I support the Martins Creek Quarry Project as it helps supports the local communities.

"I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expnsion"
The village of Paterson has become incredibly unsafe due to an ever increasing number of trucks passing through in both directions all day, 6 days a week. An expansion of the quarry, apart from decimating 37 ha of native vegetation, is going to add enormously to the truck movement making Paterson even more unsafe.I am a cyclist and ride from Woodville to the Paterson village and back 2 - 3 times a week. From the Duns Creek turnoff right through to Paterson, the road simply isn't wide enough for trucks, motor vehicles and cyclists. The truck drivers need to slow up behind us as we ride in single file, waiting for oncoming vehicles to pass before they can give us a safe berth. It's rather frightening having trucks roaring up behind us on a crest We are a group of 6 - 8.The truck drivers themselves are pretty good but it must be frustrating for them also. I feel our lives are at risk with the present situation. An increase in truck movement would most definitely put lives at risk. I should not have to give up my responsible cycling as a result of further truck increase. I have lived in Paterson for 30 years and now find the village itself a dangerous place as a result of the number of trucks.
Again I most definitely OPPOSE the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion

This quarry has been a local supplier of many products for decades, and needs to be sustained to move forward with the growth of the local area.

I support the expansion

I am a resident of the Hunter Valley, and also a long term employee of Daracon. Daracon is a major employer in the Hunter region, creating financial security and opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. They also support local community organisations and many charities. The Quarry provides materials for many infrastructure projects necessary for the continued growth of this area. Growth promotes increased employment prospects for the region.

I ride a bike regularly al;ong Paterson and Tocal Roads. There seem to be too many truck now. More would be dangerous, and very unpleasant for the local residents as well as other
users of these roads. Friends who use Paterson Cafe comment on how noisy the area is now with the constant movement of truck going by so often.

* I have been employed with Daracon for 4 years and have enjoyed the stable employment it provides.
* Martins Creek Quarry is a big part of the organization 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.

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.

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 former 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
Daracon is a supporter of local communities and charities

I support Martins creek quarry expansion

I oppose this expansion due to the increased traffic in the area.. Currently the neighbourhood is woken up at 6 am with semi trailers coming from the quarry. Lifestyle will change as we will not be able to use our push bikes along the roadway due to excessive semi trailers on the road. My husband suffers with Asthma and as a result of the quarry extending this would increase the dust around the home and external parameters causing increase asthma attacks and medical costs. We would not be able walk our dogs due to the increase traffic on a road that does. It have footpaths.

The school bus stops would have to be altered as a result of the number of semi trailers impacting on the drop off points for the local school children. The local pre school may loose business due to parents being concerned about the amount of traffic on Sheahan road. The expansion woul also see a drop in land value and tranquility of non urban lifestyle woul be impacted.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion on the grounds of the damage the quarry has caused to my house. Each time they blast, the windows rattle, and many cracks have appeared in the brickwork, internal as well as external. I also object to the number of truck movements that any expansion will only serve to increase over the already numerous trucks we encounter on the road.

I support for the simple fact Daracon employ hundreds of hunter people and have a good safety and environmental history

I have been employed by Daracon for the past 6 years, this project will help in securing my families future and that of my work colleagues. The roll on effect for sub contractors in the maintenance of mobile and fixed plant, up grade of roads and infrastructure. Transport and haulage. I believe that this will have many positive outcomes. The product from this quarry will also be used on not just Daracon sites, I am of the understanding that the quality of hard rock from this quarry is one of very few in the region if not the state.

As an adjoining property our concern is the extended hours and noise from the quarry 7 days a week, the roads are always requiring roadworks especially around the Paterson township, how are the extra trucks going to help I would like to no. We have lived her for 10 years and I must say we havn't had any issues with the quarry running under their current conditions

The success of this project will secure 850 jobs, 1000 subcontractor jobs,we need this job to go ahead to support local business,families and workforce. Times are already hard for the Hunter region let's not make things even more harder. You're in good hands with a company like Daracon. The community and I hundred percent back this project we need this,save jobs,save families,save local businesses

I do not want the expansion to go
Ahead, after living in the area for 21 yrs on the main Gresford
Rd it is going to extremely dangerous for
My elderly parents and neighbours with so many truck
Movements passed our house. My parents have had many experiences of trucks bearing down on them as they pullout and drive down the road. Also the noise of the empty trucks rolling passed our place from 5.30 6 days a week will be unbearable.
More explosions rattling our house is not something we are looking forward to.
Thank you for letting me submit this information.