Martins Creek Quarry Project

The proposed Martins Creek Quarry plan is a horrifying concept on a grand scale.
Having lived in Maitland for many years,I well remember the adverse impact of the quarry truck traffic on residents, businesses and general road users when the quarry was operating illegally.
Maitland has grown considerably since those days and traffic queues in Maitland and East Maitland are already extreme at several times each day.
Should the plan go ahead the future traffic noise,congestion and impacts in the future will be amplified considerably.

Margaret Smart

I have two houses in Paterson. I am appalled that this project can be seriously considered. Daracon has already been charged by the high court for their total disregard of the restrictions under which they were to work. They are now circumnavigating the council with a proposal for an enormous amount of trucks and blasting and mining which will destroy our village and surrounding areas and wildlife habitat. I have worked in the service station in Paterson for nearly ten years. We have several permanent local staff with many more local school girls getting work experience. This intersection is the hub of the area. We have hundreds of customers per day providing fuel, regos, repairs, coffee, lunches, stock feed etc. more importantly we provide a place for the locals, many of whom live on their own, to connect with others. Beside our servo is a takeaway shop that provides a similar service. Opposite is the post office and the newly renovated Court House hotel. On the opposite corner is the B &B, a fabulous old historical building, one of the few in the area and always full. Paterson is the gateway to the Barrington. During the holidays we have many many visitors travelling through here. The town has charm and character and a fabulous park which makes it a destination in its own right. We are set up for tourism. The intersection is the pickup and drop off for the school busses. Further along the road is the community hall where dancing classes and other activities take place every afternoon. Weddings, funerals and other large gatherings are frequently held in this hall. The local grocery and butcher shop are also on this road. The road is lined with cars most of the day. Parking is at a premium . No amount of strategies can reduce the impact of 40 trucks per hour. The impact for the whole community is overwhelming. Daracon has at no stage sponsored or supported our community. There are no economic benefits or any benefits to our community. Distributing shiny information pamphlets means nothing. Daracon is greedy. They cannot be trusted. Daracon has no regard for this town or any surrounding areas at all. We can exist with the current number of trucks but with the new proposal this beautiful historic unique village will be destroyed. Paterson is of state significance. It should be treasured as such. Submitting this form was a difficult process and therefore many of our older residents were unable to do so.

I object to the proposal to Martins Creek Quarry expansion when it results in up to 40 additional trucks per hour on rural roads. These roads are not build in quality of the road laying composition and road width to maintain this heavy load of traffic. This increased traffic also impacts safety of regular traffic due to the impact of dramatic increase in truck usage.
Additionally this impacts rural bridges and ongoing maintenance and safety of all vehicles accessing bridge. Currently large trucks negotiation the rural single lane bridge at Hinton Bridge, on negotiating the turn off the bridge onto High Street towards Wallalong, cross over onto the incorrect side of the road to negotiate the turn.
Expansion of the Quarry should encompass the utilising of the railway line at Paterson, and therefore not increasing roadside safety for the community due to increase volume of traffic in residential or rural roads.

I completely object to the expansion of Martins Creek Quarry
I have lived for more than 30 years at Mindaribba which lies between Martins Creek and Maitland. Since Martins Creek Quarry began unlawful increased production at their site, the road has become a very dangerous place. I used to ride my bicycle to work in Maitland but had to cease this activity as I was almost knocked off my bike by one of the Daracon trucks & dog vehicles. It was an extremely close call so I had to stop the activity I loved. Since that event - I have personally seen trucks speeding along Tocal Road. I followed one going back toward Martins Creek and thought it was going very fast. So along the straight section of road at Mindaribba I kept up with the truck for a short period to see just how fast it was travelling. It was speeding at over 130k/hr. I slowed down and let it continue. I reported this to Daracon but never had any feedback from the company. I'm pretty sure they ignored my complaint. Their road safety record is extremely poor. And the damage these trucks cause to the road is staggering.
My feeling is that IF this project is given approval it will destroy the beautiful country township of Paterson. The number of proposed truck movements will make the sleepy country village a very unpleasant area. The road and the design of the street is completely unsuitable for the type and number of trucks that will dominate the road. It will make the roads between the quarry and their route through to Maitland - very dangerous to all who use the road.
Additionally, the intersection of Flat Road and Melbourne Street is already a huge bottle neck. Throwing in another 280 trucks each day will make it impossible to get children to school on time and safely.
Another issue of the quarry expansion - is the noise. Even where we live, at Mindaribba - we hear the operations. I cannot imagine how terrible it must be for those who live closer to the site. While those people knew there was a quarry in the area - they could never have imagined that this business could ever have been expanded to the extent they are asking approval for.
So, in conclusion I will say - this project is totally not in the interest of the community. It ignores road safety, the pollution - both air and noise and should definitely not be approved.

As a long term resident of the Maitland LGA I have significant concerns regarding the long term impact of the proposed Daracon expansion at Martins Creek. My concerns are outlined as below:
Environmental impact in particular reduction of protected species and irreversible damage to the Martina creek area.
Road degradation and increased hazards due to increased heavy vehicle movement. This will lead to increased cost to the rate payer to maintain roads damaged by heavy vehicles.
Impact on long term economic development of the Martins Creek and Paterson areas. By increasing mining operations and processing, will detract from other businesses being attracted to the area and current local businesses operating in the community.
The concern that the increased mining operations and the clearing of 21ha will have a dramatic and devastating impact on Native wildlife populations eg Koalas.
Impact of noise and dust pollution in regards to residents and wildlife in the Paterson and Martins creek areas.
I am disappointed that Daracon have requested to expand operations without consideration of the local community and its future.
Please accept my submission against Daracon expanding operations at Martins Creek.
Regards
Hayley Maher

As a long term resident of the Maitland LGA I have significant concerns regarding the long term impact of the proposed Daracon expansion at Martins Creek. My concerns are outlined as below:
Environmental impact in particular reduction of protected species and irreversible damage to the Martina creek area.
Road degradation and increased hazards due to increased heavy vehicle movement. This will lead to increased cost to the rate payer to maintain roads damaged by heavy vehicles.
Impact on long term economic development of the Martins Creek and Paterson areas. By increasing mining operations and processing, will detract from other businesses being attracted to the area and current local businesses operating in the community.
The concern that the increased mining operations and the clearing of 21ha will have a dramatic impact of water conservation and security to the area. Have effective water recycling processes been reviewed for the community.
Impact of noise and dust pollution in regards to residents and wildlife in the Paterson and Martins creek areas.
Coming from a mining background, I am disappointed that This submission was permitted to proceed. The increased plant equipment and secondary systems will adversely impact the community.
Please accept my submission against Daracon expanding operations at Martins Creek.
Regards
Brendan Maher JP

Dear Sir/Madam,
I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry expansion for the following reasons.
: There are already too many trucks on this road the road is just holding now with the amount of traffic.
: Butterwick Road is a school bus route without proper access or dedicated bus stops for safety.
: At some point the quality of life to communities has to be considered and not just the financial gain for big companies.
:I have noticed that a lot of people that vote yes, have vested interest ( working) in the development and are not neighbouring or living in the area of the quarry.

My young family and I moved to Bolwarra over 15 years ago.

During this time we have noticed a significant change in the amount of traffic travelling on Paterson Road, Bolwarra. This is particularly in regards to heavy vehicles on Paterson Road. The heavy vehicles range from medium and heavy rigid to heavy rigid with dog/pig trailers and the occasional semi-trailer.

The majority of the heavy rigid vehicles are coming from the Martin's Creek Quarry. The use of exhaust brakes on Paterson Road, Bolwarra is uncalled for and unnecessary on the down hill run from Bolwarra Heights to Bolwarra. The area is a 60 KM/H residential area. Maitland City Council was contacted requesting signage be placed on Paterson Road to limit heavy vehicles using their exhaust brakes. Response from Maitland City Council was that they believed it was not necessary.

I have read a number of the submissions by persons supporting the Martin's Creek Quarry development. Those submissions are being made by persons that do NOT live or travel on the roads that these heavy vehicles will travel. I do not object to the quarry operating, I object to the increase in heavy vehicle traffic on the routes to and from the quarry.

Many of the roads these heavy vehicles travel on are not in the best repair for this type of traffic. There are numerous areas that are narrow with shoulders dropping away. In my opinion it is dangerous and increasing heavy vehicle traffic movements will only cause further damage to the roadway making the road increasingly dangerous for all.

I am also concerned in regards to the impact on the native wildlife that live close to the routes these heavy vehicles will travel. Native road-kill is already evident, and I realise that not all of these can be attributed to traffic from the quarry, however an increase in heavy vehicle movements on these routes surely will only result in a higher number of native animals being killed on the roads.

For the record I am a professional heavy vehicle driver and have been driving heavy vehicles for over 25 years.

Thankyou.

This quarry proposal will generate heavy truck traffic on our local roads and particularly through the town of Paterson. As it is on a main railway line, I think an alternative solution would be to move the quarry product closer to its final destination by rail and then transfer to trucks for the final leg of the journey.

I wish to express my strong objection to the Martins Creek quarry expansion because of the number of trucks proposed to run down Paterson Road. It would be a cruel addition to an already very busy road.
I live in Victoria Road Bolwarra and experience on a daily basis, the existing difficult and dangerous traffic conditions of turning onto Paterson Road. Cars parked along the side of the road blocking the line of sight of oncoming traffic and the heavy traffic in both directions from the new estate and surrounding residential areas, has made exiting our street stressful and dangerous. The proposed increase in truck movements from Martins Creek Quarry will make it impossible to safely turn in either direction. My concerns are held with more than 20 years driving experience.
I have witnessed many ‘close calls’ at this intersection with the current traffic volume, particularly from the Primary School traffic with parents picking up their children at the rear of the school and trying to exit Victoria Rd left or right onto Paterson Rd. The added volume of trucks would inevitably result in injury and fatalities of young children and families in our community.
Additionally, it is difficult to turn right into Victoria Rd from Paterson Rd, with the existing volume of heavy traffic as there is no dedicated turning lane. This leaves vehicles vulnerable to being hit from behind particularly with the reduced visibility and reaction times that unavoidably occur with heavy traffic conditions.
My own children will be using the bus service picking up on Paterson Rd in 2023 when they commence high school, crossing this road daily. I have grave concerns for their safety in crossing Paterson Rd with the current traffic situation let alone with the proposed Martins Creek Quarry expansion. The traffic island scheduled to be built in the coming months is not an adequate solution for our community with the current traffic conditions let alone a significant increase in truck movements.
Further to this, in the coming years my children will begin driving and will be required to navigate this dangerous intersection as inexperienced learner and provisional drivers, in order to leave our street. The proposed increase in truck movements will make this even more dangerous.
As a resident living in Victoria Rd for more than 10 years, my family and I experienced the huge truck numbers on Paterson Rd when the quarry operated illegally. In my travels along Paterson Rd and surrounding areas, I observed Daracon vehicles clearly exceeding the speed limits and driving too close to cars displaying no regard for community safety in their traffic movements.
When there were huge numbers of haul trucks running to the quarry during the construction of the Hunter Expressway, our family was regularly woken by loud trucks from 4.30am. The disruption to our sleep impacted our wellbeing.
The weight and excessive number of trucks (and their haul) using this road during this time, affected the road surface resulting in on-going road maintenance. This was an inconvenience of our time waiting for traffic controllers to manage the traffic. The loud noise experienced from the equipment used and damage to the paint work on our vehicles from the resurfacing was also upsetting.
The reduction in Daracon trucks when they were finally forced to operate legally, reduced the thick black dust accumulating on our back verandah and home surfaces facing Paterson Road. The asthma attacks my children have experienced have significantly decreased since this reduction in trucks also.
The approval of this proposal would no doubt significantly devalue our home due to our close proximity to Paterson Rd, for someone else’s significant financial gain.
The implications of this project are only negative to the local communities and the surrounding environments it will affect. The Quarry should use the existing rail infrastructure to transport its product, rather than destroy local residential and heritage areas with huge truck movements.
As a final point, I wish to note that Daracon have proven they have no respect for the rules and regulations that were in place to protect local communities and environments in the past and should therefore not be trusted to do so in the future.

The expansion of Martins Creek Quarry will have a significant negative impact on the local communities and road infrastructure. The number of trucks would make these roads dangerous to other users including motorists and cyclists.
The economic benefits of a company should not be put before the safety and impacts on the area.

This project cannot be allowed to proceed, at the very least the proposed volume of heavy vehicle traffic along those roads is downright dangerous. It seems almost criminal that government bodies representing our community members would consider such an application, where the negative impacts of this project for our population are as obvious as they are substantial.

I live on Paterson Road and over the past few years the traffic has increased so much that the current infrastructure now cannot handle it. Adding a further 40 trucks an hour will only further burden this issue.
Paterson road is so dangerous with people speeding and on their phone. Adding these 40 trucks an hour will only end up in more accidents and possibly some innocent deaths.
I am lucky to get in and out of my driveway now without a rear ended collision.
Has anyone ever thought of bypassing Paterson road via a bridge over the river then heading through Oakhampton?
Not happy

The quarry provides materials that are necessary for many of the major infrastructure projects in the Hunter Valley Region; road construction, housing, railway, bridges. The Hunter Valley is in desperate need of infrastructure upgrades and Martins Creek Quarry helps support this and has done for over a hundred years.

This project proposal is detrimental to our quiet beautiful community and extremely dangerous.
I have serious concerns about the safety of our people both physically and mentally, and our environment.
The volume of trucks is beyond belief, adding no value what-so-ever to our community. The roads themselves would not withstand the proposed volumes.
I have owned our working farm for 26 years, live here with my daughter, son-in-law and 2 grand children who go to the Vacy school; the proposed project is detrimental to my family and nearly everyone in the area.
Should this be approved I will consider my options and would hold the government accountable for failing their duty of care in providing the health and safety of their people and environment.

My concerns are:
1. The reliance on transport by road and the hugely detrimental impact on the local road network in terms of degradation of the road and congestion of intersections including hunterglen drive/Paterson road and Flat Rd/Melbourne which already experiences congestion to the tune of over 10 minute wait in the mornings. The roads in regional areas like Martins Creek, Paterson, Tocal and Bolwarra are under increasing pressure from heavy vehicles which have seen them become damaged and unsafe at times. This increases the pressure on local governments to maintain these roads of which we know they cannot keep up with, especially in the Dungog shire which has one of the largest sealed road to rate payer ratios in the state.
2. The impact on koala habitat is also extremely short sighted. These creatures are being pushed out of regions like ours where they should be treasured for their iconicism and biodiversity in the local ecosystem. Daracon has shown previously that it can’t be trusted to fulfil its environmental obligations no matter what they commit to in the environmental management strategy of this project.

Daracon and it’s partner companies are fully capable of sponsoring and completing road upgrades to make this project viable during its operation. My suggestion would be that if the project is to go ahead that road works be commensurately sponsored by daracon for the duration of the project including upgrades to intersections required to reduce any impact on congestion by the project at locations such as Hunterglen/Paterson Rd and Flat Rd/Melbourne St. In relation to Koala habitat disturbance Isuggest that Daracon be made to meaningfully supplement Koala habitat by providing a programme to support koala populations in the local area a reference model could be Cowarra forest tourism precinct and koala sanctuary. These types of initiatives provide eco benefits whilst providing opportunity for people’s environmental awareness and pride in our natural surroundings.
Please by all means take these as objections or improvement opportunities. The cost of these improvement opportunities or something similar is what the community expects to be considered when embarking on major profits from OUR natural resources.

I object to the development application. The fact that Daracon operated illegally for so long should be enough to see that they are not rewarded by having this application renewed.

The environment and our native animals that reside in it should not be continuously put second behind big money and industry.

Over 200 trucks per day for 25 years! Leave a beautiful country town alone.Besides the noise, dust, The roads are rubbish as it is let alone with more trucks speeding and tailgating you to Maitland.
Koala habitat- we are supposed to be pushing to save these from extinction, yet they want to expand into this highly populated koala habitat.Not on

Hi
Our family are totally against this project due to the prior non-conformance from the past management/owners of Daracon in regards to previous breeches in operations of the quarry. Blatant disregard for government/EPA regulations & community standards.
With past total disrespect for rules & regulations how can our community trust this company to do the right thing, we have to wonder what other breaches were occurring that were not uncovered.
We live approximately 3km for the quarry & since the quarry has been in care & maintenance we have noticed dust levels in or house has reduced dramatically not to mention the noise in the early hours on weekends when we are unable to leave our windows open due to this noise.
Another concern our family have is the amount of large vehicle movements along stretches of poorly maintained council roads, these roads are some of the worst maintained anywhere in the state, add a massive amount of trucks to this & it’s a tragedy waiting to happen.

Regards