Martins Creek Quarry Project

I object to this proposed expansion as it is based on a false premise of a legal operation. The accompanying EIS is riddled with omissions and oversights that do not reflect the true impact of the proposal on the community. The lived experience is not valued by the proponents.

To see trucks in those numbers travel through Patterson township and travel along those roads to Tocal, Bolwarra, East Maitland etc will be devastating
to this community. Patterson will become an empty town as people will not visit and the businesses that are there will be affected and the speeds the trucks travelling through are extremely dangerous.

The suggested numbers are an absolute joke for this village, 40 trucks an hour for 25 years will do untold damage to both the infrastructure and soul of this historic village, I strongly condemn these proposed actions of Daracon and as a resident on the main street it will have a immeasurable impact on both my life and of thousands of others in the surrounding area. Not happy.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion.
Application Number SSD-6612

My opposition to the physical expansion, increase in production and expansion of operating
hours is based on the following.

As a resident of the Vacy area for some years and as a pedestrian and road user in the wider area with a young family, I am very concerned with the proposal
to expand hours and production.
I believe the increased truck on the road dramatically increases the potential dangers on our narrow country roads and in our local villages.
Increased trucks will also mean increased noise and disruption to the amenity of our local villages and increased road damage.
The proposed intersection of Dungog Rd and the proposed new quarry entry road would be dangerously located on a windy section of road.
Three out of four road routes to and from the quarry are across a single lane bridge and from my experience not many trucks really want to slow down
or stop to give way to a car. The 4th road route is over a rail bridge and is signposted 25kph.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion.
Application Number SSD-6612

My opposition to the physical expansion, increase in production and expansion of operating
hours is based on the following.

As a resident of the Vacy area for some years and as a pedestrian and road user in the wider area with a young family, I am very concerned with the proposal
to expand hours and production.
I believe the increased truck on the road dramatically increases the potential dangers on our narrow country roads and in our local villages.
Increased trucks will also mean increased noise and disruption to the amenity of our local villages and increased road damage.
The proposed intersection of Dungog Rd and the proposed new quarry entry road would be dangerously located on a windy section of road.
Three out of four road routes to and from the quarry are across a single lane bridge and from my experience not many trucks really want to slow down
or stop to give way to a car. The 4th road route is over a rail bridge and is signposted 25kph.

We have concerns around the roads and infrastructure and that they are not built to withstand the number of extra heavy vehicles that will be travelling on them. The roads cannot withstand the extra weight or number of extra vehicles. Given that access in and out of the Quarry travels through residential areas that already have high traffic volume this will only increase the traffic problem particularly once they reach the Melbourne St intersection which is already a point where it can be gridlocked. We also have concerns on how the vehicle movements would be scheduled so that it would prevent them being in convoy causing even further traffic issues. What controls will be in place to ensure the drivers follow all road rules and not tailgate or speed as it is well known that truck and dog drivers (mud carters) drive aggressively to achieve their tonnage as it was seen when the northconnnex was being built in Sydney.
What guarantees can Daracon provide that the Quarry and transport operations will be managed within their conditions of their operating licence given that they previously operated in breach of their license.

I object to the Martins Creek Quarry expansion based on a number of issues:
The development will increase the number of heavy vehicle (truck) movements directly past and through residential areas. The impact will be that the narrow suburban roads with limited visibility at intersections both left and right off Tocal Road do not give heavy vehicles enough time to stop or move to the left when residents are turning on and off Tocal Road. This will place the residents of Bolwarra Heights at increased risk of accidents between heavy vehicles and residents vehicles. Tocal Road also contains School Bus stops where buses will be starting and stop both in the mornings and the afternoons. Young children are crossing roads without any pedestrian crossings to access the bus stops. Once again the poor visibility for heavy vehicles is insufficient for them be able to stop or move around the stopping buses with safety.
The impact of a significant increase of heavy vehicle movements moving around a already congested round about at the juncture of Flat Road and Paterson Road will pose a significant risk to residents. This congestion is also of concern at the juncture of Flat Road and Melbourne Street which already suffers heavy congestion from this intersection to the Melbourne Street lights at the juncture with the New England Highway. The impact of the increased number of heavy vehicle movements on a road that was not designed or engineered for heavy vehicles. The increased number of heavy vehicles will damage the pavement of Tocal Road, this will then have to be constantly repaired at the cost of the local council. I do not want my local council to bear the cost of constantly repairing the road. This money could be better spent at building infrastructure for our city.
The increased heavy vehicle movements through residential areas will increase noise levels in what is currently a quite community, the potential impact on our residents health and well being is of great concern. This will also negatively impact on land values in our suburbs. The increased dust and pollution from the constant movement of heavy vehicles has the potential to negatively impact residents health with the potential to increase asthma in residents and negatively impact residents health.
The expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry will destroy habitats of a number of endangered animals namely our local populations of critically endangered Koala and migratory populations of Swift Parrots and the Regent Honey Eaters. Allowing this development strictly contradicts the State Environment Planning Policy which states the the policy's aim is to encourage the preservation of natural vegetation that provide habitat for Koalas and supports their permanent free living over their current range and reverse their current decline. The expansion of the quarry should be denied and a Koala Management/ Critically Endangered Habitat management plan should be put in place. Given the consequence of tree removal on the impact of climate change, the detrimental impact on residents of Bolwarra Heights and the needless destruction of precious habitat for critically endangered Koalas, Swift Parrots and Regent Honey Eaters, this proposal should not be considered for approval and should be denied.

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I wish to object to the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion due to concerns about the associated increase in truck activity on local roads. The proposed increase in truck activity would significantly increase local
road noise, while also negatively impacting road safety, road quality and native wildlife. This was certainly the case in previous episodes of expansion at the quarry, which caused undue stress to local residents.

I object this project on the grounds of Daracon's lack of consultation and respect to the community. I would like to open my submission by stating that I do understand the need for a quarry and that the benefit from such projects. However, the lack of disregard for the community is abhorrent.
I and my Fiance have just built our dream home in Paterson. We chose Paterson to raise our family because of the quiet and friendly feeling of the town. I am deeply worried that this quarry expansion will not only impact the nature of the town, ruin the tourism industry in the town, but ultimately result in a town that is unsafe for children and families to live in.
It is also clear, that the majority of the submissions supporting this project do not live in the local area, and also have some conflict of interest with Daracon and invested financial interest to ensure that the project is successful. This brings me to wonder, would those same people be supporting this same project if it was in their backyard?

I ask that those assessing the viability of this project please consider if this large million dollar company Daracon, could be using alternative routes, infastructure and resources to ensure that their project can function in a safe and sustainable manner for their company, but most importantly the community.

I strongly oppose the Proposed expansion to the Martins Creek Quarry.
I have lived in the Paterson area since 1986. moving to the area for the country life, for peace and quiet, the rural amenity.
My lived experience is both as a resident of the Paterson area, and as the local Real Estate Agent .
I was Licencee and Principle of my own real estate agency Paterson Valley Farms and Acreages for 12 years up till the GFC. I specialised in selling the Paterson, Vacy, Gresford and Dungog areas.
I then worked as a Licenced Real Estate Agent at PRD Hunter Valley , East Maitland but still specialising in selling the Paterson , Vacy, Gresford and Dungog rural areas for 8 years.
In late 2017 , I opened my own real estate agency , Pamela Munson Country Estates , working from Paterson, and again specialising in selling Paterson, Vacy, Gresford and Dungog. I still run this Agency and am completely aware of the local areas real estate market. The Paterson Village is charming and valued as a peaceful and historic Village with some lovely old homes . The surrounding rural countryside is highly sought after . Values have increased recently along the proposed truck route while the truck movements ceased since the Court case was won against Daracon.
As a resident I know what the proposed maximised 280 daily truck movements mean to the marketability and future entitlement by the Village residents to a peaceful and healthy lifestyle... being woken at 5.30am to the booming thunder of approaching trucks, with their house shaking, and enduring daily noise and dangers of the excessive truck movements.
We local residents all experienced the daily impacts.
As the long standing local Real Estate Agent I can state that the marketability and value of the properties all along the trucking haul route were definitely negatively impacted for the many years when Daracon ran trucks above the DA approved daily limit, impacted by the noise and traffic issues resulting from the Martins Creek Quarry trucks, along with the unsightly truck convoys, and property values will again be more severely impacted if the proposed quarry expansion is approved with 25 years of known excessive truck movements.
The proposed 280 peak truck movements per day past Village properties ,so impacted to the point of the loss of their peaceful country lifestyle , risk homes losing desirability and value and investments ruined. Obviously property future values will be impacted to a severe degree if 280 truck movements per day are approved , 40 truck movements per hour past the front of homes, for 25 years, along narrow country roads. The Historic Paterson Village roads were originally designed for horse and buggies and totally unsuited to the numbers of trucks with dogs proposed.
If the proposed Quarry expansion is approved , property values closer to the Quarry will also be impacted with proposed 25 years of blasting, noise and dust, damage to local homes, Quarry expansion and extended operating times.
Over time, I have experienced dangerous 'near misses' on almost a daily basis with trucks and dogs moving both ways through the Paterson Village, dangerous to park your car, to open your car door, dangerous to cross the road to the shops, dangerous for school buses to stop to load and unload students, dangerous for students to then cross the road on foot.
The proposed changes to the Paterson Village Roads are insulting to the Locals who love the Historic Village and want basic access and safety provided to them .
To propose changing the Village from people oriented to focus on the priority of accommodating massive trucks emitting dangerous fumes and dust, trucks and dogs that bounce around the road including cutting off corners and roads too narrow to accommodate locals parked and 2 trucks passing , proposed changes at the loss to the residents safety by removing parking and footpaths, and removing the daily amenity of Village life is preposterous.
The train line was constructed into the Quarry to carry material directly from the Quarry.
As a resident I can attest to the daily interruption of our daily lifestyle as experienced during the years of illegal Quarry use by the excessive truck movements from the Quarry, along Gresford Rd, past Acreages and Farms,and through the very Historic Paterson Village, through Tocal, to residential Bolwarra Heights, and East Maitland.
As residents we are confronted by thunderous truck noises from 5.30am , shaking our houses, emitting diesel fumes, diesel grime that covered our Village houses, and silicone dust .
Often these trucks drive in convoys , dangerous when fully loaded, and when empty racing back through the Village and along Gresford Rd to the Quarry for their next load.
Driving along the more open country roads presents other issues with trucks travelling at 100 klm per hour , resulting in difficulty for residents entering onto or leaving the main roads. Trucks throwing stones and shattering windscreens, wrecking our roads with pot holes and undermining of the road surfaces, empty 'dogs' bouncing around across the centre line on the road.
In the early days of my living at Paterson, the Quarry used the train to transport the stone, with a small number of trucks on the road. I have experienced the changes in amenity in the local area as truck movements increased . As locals we have all experienced the peak of 'illegal' truck movements when Daracon blatantly ignored the restrictions imposed under the approved DA .
I strongly object to the proposed Martins Creek Quarry expansion based on loss of property values, loss of the general shared country amenity, loss of community safety and the potential ruin of the local property owners lifestyle.

The amended development application now seeks approval for the following;
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 Village, Tocal, Bolwarra Heights and East Maitland residential areas
280 truck movements per day (peak)
40 truck movements per hour (peak)
Quarry sales 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday
Quarry pit crushing & processing 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. impacting the health and amenity of local residents.
Clearing of 21 Ha of native vegetation with recorded Koala, Spotted Quoll habitat,
25 year operating life proposed that will have a huge impact on the marketabilty and pricing of properties near the Quarry, and along the haulage route.

I strongly object to the Martins Creek Quarry expansion. I have lived just off Belmore Road for the past 22 years. I have travelled to Dungog twice a week for work and once a week to visit my parents for the whole of this time.
During the time that Daracon increased their truck movements and operated illegally, my experience of travelling to Dungog from Lorn dangerous and frustrating. The trucks travelled at speeds that were way in excess of the 100km limit. They were very slow on the hills and almost impossible to overtake in the overtaking areas as they quickly sped with no consideration for those travelling behind them. I was regularly sandwiched between huge Double Bogy trucks and there was also regularly a number of them travelling in convoy. The trucks dug up the side of the roads and I had my windscreens replaced nearly every year because of rocks flying up and cracking my windscreens. It is very frightening and sounds like an explosion. I was often surprised that my windscreen was only chipped or cracked and not shattered.
My experience with Daracon trucks at the pedestrian crossing both near the papershop corner and at Nillo School in Lorn have been terrifying to say the least. Trucks travelled through Lorn (even when it was not supposed to be their route) on a regular basis at speeds in excess of 50km per hour during the time that Daracon operated illegally. I was always very careful to keep clear of the pedestrian crossings when the trucks were coming as I knew they had no hope of stopping in time but I witnessed on many an occasion, people stepping out onto the crossing only to jump back quickly to avoid being run over. There is increased traffic on Belmore Road since Daracon have put their operations on hold because of legal action. These crossings have already been identified as troublesome crossings with lots of “pedestrian clutter” and I feel that the addition of these trucks with the existing traffic is only going to make these crossings more hazardous.
My experience with the trucks through Paterson was not any better. The main street of Paterson is not at all suitable for this level of truck movements. I was regularly forced off the side of the road or had to stop when trucks were trying to negotiate this corner. It also makes it hazardous for the pedestrian traffic going to the local shops. The blind corner to the railway crossing is also very hazardous for large trucks. There was many times when I was stopped at the lights only to have a big truck bearing down on me. I always had one eye on my rear vision mirror. I always felt quite anxious travelling on the road to Dungog with the huge amount of trucks during this time.
I object to the Daracon report saying that the truck movements don’t create extra dust. I have a weatherboard house and in the time that the trucks were travelling through Lorn between 2014 to 2016 my house used to get extremely dirty. Black dust was always on my weatherboards and I had to regularly wash the outside of my house. Since Daracon was ordered to stop their truck movements, I have found that I have hardly had to wash the outside of my house. There has definitely been a decrease in the dust (whether that be dust from the trucks or residue from the diesel). I am a chronic asthmatic and I am worried about my health and the health of my children from diesel fumes from these trucks as well as the silica coming off the empty trucks coming through our local area.
I drive my daughter to school at Maitland Grossman High School and I work at Chisholm. The traffic build up at the Flat Road / Melbourne Street and the Melbourne Street/ Pacific Highway is already a major issue. There has been a natural increase in traffic over the last number of years despite the massive reduction in Dracon trucks due to them being forced to operate legally. If the level of Daracon truck movements return to those levels, as is being proposed, this route will be unbearable for motorists trying to get to work and school.

There is already a significant amount of quarries locally that are already developed and situated closer to main roads. I am very concerned that big business will be put ahead of our endangered flora and fauna and the peaceful enjoyment of our homes. The proposed vast area of land to be bulldozed is shameful. This is an area that is inhabited by many animals and native endangered plants. People all over the world will judge our politicians on these decisions. Please make the right decision for both current and future generations to come.

I strongly object to the development of the Martins Creek Quarry Project. As a member of the Maitland community with family located in the area, I feel that this development will have significant negative effects on the environment, the local community and the everyday impact that it will have now and in the future to the region.

Our home would be the closest home to Paterson road and one of the original houses in Bolwarra. The vibration we feel when empty or full trucks go past is unbelievable. We hear these trucks go up as early as 4.30am To pull into our driveway heading up Paterson road with a semi on your bumper is the most scariest as they do not slow down. The infrastructure is appalling for this area with all the new developments and to put the amount of trucks on this road as well is looking for accidents and it will be horrific.

This project will have a negative impact on residential traffic. An alternative should be found.

Not in keeping with the wishes of the people. Habitat loss not acceptable and traffic increase not welcome

Significant increases in heavy truck traffic on our suburban/ country roads causes significant increases in noise pollution, traffic congestion and damage to road surfaces. The hourly truck movements turn our quiet roads into industrial traffic lanes. I am also very concerned about the danger this increased volume of trucks presents to all road users ie pedestrians, bike riders as well as general cars. And who pays the extra $$ for the increase in repairs to damaged roads due heavy truck traffic? Rate payers should not have bare this financial burden.
My other concern is the impact on local wildlife especially koala habit affected by the quarry expansion. Koalas need mature trees. They cant survived in seedlings, no matter how many are planted.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion. Please see attached submission

We moved to the picturesque village of Paterson nearly 4 years ago now. We as a family, DO NOT, object to the Quarry in total. We understand it is a business and provides jobs and has its place, BUT, the number of trucks passing through each day is what we wish to object to. The fact that the Quarry was operating outside of the approved co sent for numerous years, this is an issue for us, what is the likelihood they will do this again, it cannot be guaranteed by anyone. We have lived with the impact of many, many trucks travelling back and forth past our home day and night. The impact this has on us personally, is noise, dust, family impact, health issues, safety issues to name a few. Coal mines transport their coal via rail, we have a perfectly good rail system in our area and this should be utilised for the majority of movements. We do not have the road structure or space to have these large trucks coming through our tiny village. The risk to the community needs to be a priority. Trying to cross the road with trucks continuously moving through our village, is an accident waiting to happen. There are no pedestrian crossings for the community to use safely. Our village is a slow paced community where visitors come to relax and feel that restful vibe, our small community depends on this and we are proud of our community.

Flora and Fauna is a huge factor in this project. We have an active koala habitat here in the area of Martins Creek and cannot displace them. We are seeing our countries koala numbers diminish in areas as their habitat is destroyed. Colonial villages like Paterson should be treasures and preserved, they are an integral part of our history and the impact of the expansion of the quarry will have a detrimental effect. Once this is destroyed there is no going back, it is lost forever. We have seen the damage done to the roads here in Paterson and it has taken years to see repairs done. The repairs that have been done recently between William street and John Tucker Park will not hold if transport movements go back up, as Council did not have the finances to do a deep foundation on the roads, and the roads will be ruined and our community dealing with shocking roads as we experienced in the past. The quarry had no respect for our village and community in the past by knowingly operating illegally and they are now wanting approval to bring their movements back up to that illegal number, this shows that they do not care and it is all about profit and gain with little consideration for our communities. We live here, this is our home, our safe place, our everything, please take this into consideration when processing this application.

Directly in front of our house is a black spot at which we’ve had a number of accidents . An increase in the number of trucks will add substantially to the risk of serious accidents at this spot . It’s not SAFE!
Just getting out of our driveway now is dangerous, let alone if the number of trucks is increased . I don’t feel SAFE leaving my own house!
I babysit my grandchildren regularly and I’m scared to let them go to the letterbox in case one of the trucks veers off the road . My grandchildren aren’t SAFE going to the letterbox !

Surely the burden of health issues from the increase of silica dust pollution ,that will result from more blasting , is another serious concern . People want to live in this area to assist their good health. Clean air , a relaxing serene environment and beautiful bushland will be a thing of the past if this proposal is allowed to go ahead . Our good health is not SAFE!

Our little town is a friendly, buzzing and interesting place that is a well known tourist attraction . No one wants to hear trucks roaring around corners . Our businesses will suffer and the town’s economy and life blood will suffer!

Precious flora and fauna are in danger . They are not SAFE!