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State Significant Development

Assessment

Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project

Port Macquarie-Hastings

Current Status: More Information Required

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

The proposal seeks to extend the life of the quarry by expanding the current extraction boundary, increasing the annual extraction limits, and establish associated infrastructure.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

Request for SEARs (1)

SEARs (2)

EIS (13)

Engagement (3)

Response to Submissions (14)

Agency Advice (10)

Additional Information (29)

Submissions

Filters
Showing 21 - 40 of 274 submissions
Name Withheld
Object
THRUMSTER , New South Wales
Message
Please refer to the attached file for details of my submission.
Attachments
Les Mitchell
Object
PORT MACQUARIE , New South Wales
Message
I am writing in objection to the proposed expansion of the Sancrox Quarry near Port Macquarie.

The Port Macquarie region is expanding rapidly. This development is in the Sancrox area, approximately 6km west of Port Macquarie, which is undergoing significant residential development that will be directly affected by the increased environmental impact of this quarry expansion.

The Sancrox area has already had a substantial increase in noise (24/7), due to the upgrading of the highway to a motorway. Despite noise mitigation measures, the rural ambience is already reduced and any extra noise generation, especially at night, will only make it worse.

The proposed ‘quarry expansion’ is more than that! It also includes two new additional operations, concrete batching and asphalt production. There are already other concrete and asphalt plants in the region that have the capacity to service the demand.

The noise impact of a 24 hour, 7 days a week operation is particularly concerning. There will be no respite from constant noisy plant and equipment. Daytime operation excluding Sundays is the maximum that should be allowed in a community precinct. The processes carried out do not have to run at night and can be easily shutdown/restarted.

The project includes “clearing 43.1 hectares of native forest vegetation, 0.55 ha of which is identified as the threatened ecological community Subtropical coastal floodplain forest (NR117)” with serious and irreversible environmental impact. (Ref: DA, Annex C)

The Greater Sancrox Area Structure Plan (Port Macquarie Hastings Council, 2014), identifies the land to be cleared as medium to high activity koala habitat. More recently the Draft Coastal Koala Plan of Management 2018 (CKPOM) produced by PMHC identifies the area as core koala habitat. An objective of the CKPOM is that there will be no net loss of core koala habitat after 6 years from adoption of the plan. The clearing also destroys an identified “critical link and vegetation connectivity in the immediate, and the Greater Sancrox Structure Plan, eliminating traverses by animals south-north through the centre of the Development Site”. (Ref: DA, Annex C)

The Biodiversity Assessment Report (DA, Annex C) was based on insufficient field work conducted in 2015, four years ago. Current, independent and comprehensive field surveys are required to validate the report. A major flaw of the EIS is that it unreasonably dismisses the significance of the site for threatened species despite Office of Environment and Heritage records of Koalas at six locations at least (2008 -2013), and the presence of Spotted Gum, Corymbia maculata which has the potential to provide winter nectar for the migratory critically endangered Swift Parrot.

The EIS states that no evidence for the threatened plant species likely to occur on the site was recorded during field surveys undertaken as part of the BAR. However SLR Consulting Australia which conducted the orchid surveys concluded that until a positive identification can be made, it is recommended that the Dendrobium specimen recorded should be treated as the threatened species D. melaleucaphilum, which is listed as endangered in NSW under the (former) Threatened Species Conservation Act.

The State of Emergency was declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires in November 2019 which may have killed an estimated hundreds of koalas. Injured and now homeless koalas may migrate to, or have to be moved onto, the proposed development site. Please contact Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

The environmental impact is serious and irreversible. The proposed development site supports unique biodiversity with a total of 27 threatened species identified so far, including 17 birds and 9 mammals, including 7 vulnerable microchiropteran bats identified. The native vegetation should be retained to combat Australia’s current extinction crisis with some 964 of the 1,250 Australian terrestrial animal species currently listed as ‘Threatened’. (Ref. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/why-is-native-vegetation-important)

Proposed “Ecosystem credits” system of payment by the developer to offset destruction of threatened species does not compensate for the serious and irreversible impact on the natural environment.

Native vegetation in NSW stores a significant amount of carbon. This deforestation and forest degradation will contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and fewer trees in a region can contribute to drought by reducing the amount of local rainfall.

The natural water on the site, currently supporting native flora and fauna, will be diverted to industrial use and North and west alluvial flood plains of the Hastings River and Haydons Creek will be impacted.

The company operating this site has a poor track record of environmental compliance and were fined $15,000 by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2016 for breaches of their water management operational obligations. (Ref: EPA 24.03.2016).

The proposed works impact Aboriginal heritage sites, including a Scar Tree and ceremonial site of “high cultural significance.” (Ref: Annex D, Heritage Report)

Increased 24/7 heavy vehicle movements on the light duty local roads will compromise road safety and accelerate pavement failure.
Division of Resources & Geoscience
Comment
MAITLAND , New South Wales
Message
Division of Resources & Geoscience advice attached.
Attachments
Gordon Pelletier
Object
SANCROX , New South Wales
Message
I live on Sancrox Rd and object to this enormous increase in the size of this quarry on the following grounds
1. Increased volume of traffic with accompanying noise and fumes on Rawdon Island Rd. The road is in poor shape now and increased volume of heavy vehicles will cause its further deterioration. This again leads to increased noise.
2. Dust both from the quarry and vehicles transporting the mined materials.
3. Increased risk to native animals from the increased truck volume. We are in a koala transit area. We have many other native animals near the roadway.
4. Rawdon Island Rd in not a major road. A change in traffic volume will lessen my enjoyment of my property, And cause a deterioration of my property’s value. The design of the road is not appropriate for increased vehicle volume.
Rhiannon Beeton
Object
PORT MACQUARIE , New South Wales
Message
I object to the clearing of land which needs to take place for this expansion. As a resident of the area we have recently been through the worst bushfires in memory which has decimated the wildlife and habitats they reside in. We cannot afford to lose another 40 hectares for this expansion. Not at a time when our climate and environment needs to be taken in to consideration more than ever
Name Withheld
Object
BONNY HILLS , New South Wales
Message
Thank you for your time in viewing my submission.

It is with deep concern that I put forth my objection to the Sancrox expansion.

I was one of thousands evacuated due to the NSW bushfires two weeks ago and saw absolute devastation. With families able to move on, I know my concerns over our Koala population are shared amongst many.

The bushfires have decimated, absolutely decimated already struggling populations and destroyed their natural habitat.

I implore this project to cease expanding and impacting on our native flora and fauna. Our environment simply cannot take anymore.

Kindly and sincerely,

Belinda Horne
Claire Mcgregor
Object
PORT MACQUARIE , New South Wales
Message
This project will destroy 40ha of prime habitat for koalas. Since the devastating fires on the mid north coast the status of the koala has been upgraded to functionally extinct. Further destruction of this habitat that has not been impacted by fire would be cruel, unethical as well a smear on the image of a koala loving nation that Australia prides itself on. I sincerely hope this project is investigated appropriately, particularly in light of the tragedy that unfolded here only a few weeks ago and I hope that this expansion is declined for the sake of the future of the koala.
Daniel Provost
Object
THRUMSTER , New South Wales
Message
See attached
Attachments
Tom Whelan
Object
PORT MACQUARIE , New South Wales
Message
Submission Document
Attention: Director - Coal and Quarry Assessments
Planning and Assessment
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001

Re: Public Submission for SSD – 7293, Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to submit my objection to the above development application.

My Name: Tom Whelan

My Address:___16_Bundaleer Crescent, Port Macquarie 2444 ____________________________________________________________

My objection to the proposal is on the grounds listed in ticked boxes below:

The Port Macquarie region is expanding rapidly. This development is in the Sancrox area, approximately 6km west of Port Macquarie, which is undergoing significant residential development that will be directly affected by the increased environmental impact of this quarry expansion.

The Sancrox area has already had a substantial increase in noise (24/7), due to the upgrading of the highway to a motorway. You only have to ask anyone living in the area that, despite noise mitigation measures, the rural ambience is already reduced and any extra noise generation, especially at night, will only make it worse.

The proposed ‘quarry expansion’ is more than that! It also includes two new additional operations, concrete batching and asphalt production. There are already other concrete and asphalt plants in the region that have the capacity to service the demand.

The noise impact of a 24 hour, 7 days a week operation is particularly concerning. There will be no respite from constant noisy plant and equipment. Daytime operation excluding Sundays is the maximum that should be allowed in a community precinct. The processes carried out do not have to run at night and can be easily shutdown/restarted.

The project includes “clearing 43.1 hectares of native forest vegetation, 0.55 ha of which is identified as the threatened ecological community Subtropical coastal floodplain forest (NR117)” with serious and irreversible environmental impact. (Ref: DA, Annex C)

The Greater Sancrox Area Structure Plan (Port Macquarie Hastings Shire Council, 2014), identifies the land to be cleared as medium to high activity koala habitat. The clearing also destroys an identified “critical link and vegetation connectivity in the immediate, and the Greater Sancrox Structure Plan, eliminating traverses by animals south-north through the centre of the Development Site”. (Ref: DA, Annex C)

The Biodiversity Assessment Report (DA, Annex C) was based on insufficient field work conducted in 2015, four years ago. Current, independent and comprehensive field surveys are required to validate the report.

The State of Emergency declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires in November 2019 killed an estimated 350 koalas. Injured and now homeless koalas may have moved onto the proposed development site.

The environmental impact is serious and irreversible. The proposed development site supports unique biodiversity with a total of 27 threatened species identified so far, including 17 birds and 9 mammals, including 7 vunerable microchiropteran bats identified. The native vegetation should be retained to combat Australia’s current extinction crisis with some 964 of the 1,250 Australian terrestrial animal species currently listed as ‘Threatened’. (Ref. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/why-is-native-vegetation-important)

Proposed “Ecosystem credits” system of payment by the developer to offset destruction of threatened species does not compensate for the serious and irreversible impact on the natural environment.

Native vegetation in NSW stores a significant amount of carbon. This deforestation and forest degradation will contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and fewer trees in a region can contribute to drought by reducing the amount of local rainfall.

The natural water on the site, currently supporting native flora and fauna, will be diverted to industrial use and North and west alluvial flood plains of the Hastings River and Haydons Creek will be impacted.

The company operating this site has a poor track record of environmental compliance and were fined $15,000 by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2016 for breaches to water their water management operational obligations. (Ref: EPA 24.03.2016).

The proposed works impact Aboriginal heritage sites, including a Scar Tree and ceremonial site of “high cultural significance.” (Ref: Annex D, Heritage Report)

Increased quarry trucks movement 24 hours a day 7 days will effect local road safety.

I have made no reportable political donations in the last two years.

Signed:____Tom Whelan________________________ Date: 26 Nov 2019

I AGREE to the Department publishing my submission on its website in accordance with The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Privacy Policy.
I DO NOT agree to the Department publishing my submission on its website in accordance with The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Privacy Policy

Further comments below and/or attached.
Alexandro van Leeuwen
Object
KEW , New South Wales
Message
I personally believe this project should be stopped for the sale of maintaining wildlife and keeping the biodiversity in our beautiful country, 40 hectares of koala habitat to be destroyed for a quarry mining is unbelievable and unacceptable.
Julia Hudd
Object
PORT MACQUARIE , New South Wales
Message
Submission Document CLOSE DATE: 11 Dec 19
Attention: Director - Coal and Quarry Assessments POST BY Fri 6 December
Planning and Assessment
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001

Re: Public Submission for SSD – 7293, Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project,
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/project/9946

Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to submit my objection to the above development application.

My Name: Julia Hudd
______________________________

My Address:____214 / 1 Greenmeadows Drive, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 ________________________________________________________________________

My objection to the proposal is on the grounds listed in ticked boxes below:

The Port Macquarie region is expanding rapidly. This development is in the Sancrox area, approximately 6km west of Port Macquarie, which is undergoing significant residential development that will be directly affected by the increased environmental impact of this quarry expansion.

The Sancrox area has already had a substantial increase in noise (24/7), due to the upgrading of the highway to a motorway. Despite noise mitigation measures, the rural ambience is already reduced and any extra noise generation, especially at night, will only make it worse.

The proposed ‘quarry expansion’ is more than that! It also includes two new additional operations, concrete batching and asphalt production. There are already other concrete and asphalt plants in the region that have the capacity to service the demand.

The noise impact of a 24 hour, 7 days a week operation is particularly concerning. There will be no respite from constant noisy plant and equipment. Daytime operation excluding Sundays is the maximum that should be allowed in a community precinct. The processes carried out do not have to run at night and can be easily shutdown/restarted.

The project includes “clearing 43.1 hectares of native forest vegetation, 0.55 ha of which is identified as the threatened ecological community Subtropical coastal floodplain forest (NR117)” with serious and irreversible environmental impact. (Ref: DA, Annex C)

The Greater Sancrox Area Structure Plan (Port Macquarie Hastings Council, 2014), identifies the land to be cleared as medium to high activity koala habitat. More recently the Draft Coastal Koala Plan of Management 2018 (CKPOM) produced by PMHC identifies the area as core koala habitat. An objective of the CKPOM is that there will be no net loss of core koala habitat after 6 years from adoption of the plan. The clearing also destroys an identified “critical link and vegetation connectivity in the immediate, and the Greater Sancrox Structure Plan, eliminating traverses by animals south-north through the centre of the Development Site”. (Ref: DA, Annex C)

The Biodiversity Assessment Report (DA, Annex C) was based on insufficient field work conducted in 2015, four years ago. Current, independent and comprehensive field surveys are required to validate the report. A major flaw of the EIS is that it unreasonably dismisses the significance of the site for threatened species despite Office of Environment and Heritage records of Koalas at six locations at least (2008 -2013), and the presence of Spotted Gum, Corymbia maculata which has the potential to provide winter nectar for the migratory critically endangered Swift Parrot.

The EIS states that no evidence for the threatened plant species likely to occur on the site was recorded during field surveys undertaken as part of the BAR. However SLR Consulting Australia which conducted the orchid surveys concluded that until a positive identification can be made, it is recommended that the Dendrobium specimen recorded should be treated as the threatened species D. melaleucaphilum, which is listed as endangered in NSW under the (former) Threatened Species Conservation Act.

The State of Emergency was declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires in November 2019 which may have killed an estimated hundreds of koalas. Injured and now homeless koalas may migrate to, or have to be moved onto, the proposed development site. Please contact Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

The environmental impact is serious and irreversible. The proposed development site supports unique biodiversity with a total of 27 threatened species identified so far, including 17 birds and 9 mammals, including 7 vulnerable microchiropteran bats identified. The native vegetation should be retained to combat Australia’s current extinction crisis with some 964 of the 1,250 Australian terrestrial animal species currently listed as ‘Threatened’. (Ref. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/why-is-native-vegetation-important)

Proposed “Ecosystem credits” system of payment by the developer to offset destruction of threatened species does not compensate for the serious and irreversible impact on the natural environment.

Native vegetation in NSW stores a significant amount of carbon. This deforestation and forest degradation will contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and fewer trees in a region can contribute to drought by reducing the amount of local rainfall.

The natural water on the site, currently supporting native flora and fauna, will be diverted to industrial use and North and west alluvial flood plains of the Hastings River and Haydons Creek will be impacted.

The company operating this site has a poor track record of environmental compliance and were fined $15,000 by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2016 for breaches of their water management operational obligations. (Ref: EPA 24.03.2016).

The proposed works impact Aboriginal heritage sites, including a Scar Tree and ceremonial site of “high cultural significance.” (Ref: Annex D, Heritage Report)

Increased 24/7 heavy vehicle movements on the light duty local roads will compromise road safety and accelerate pavement failure.

I AGREE to the Department publishing my submission on its website in accordance with The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Privacy Policy.

I have made no reportable political donations in the last two years.


Signed:_______Julia Hudd _______________________________ Date: _____27/11/2019______________________


Further comments may be attached

I would like to emphasise that in view of the recent devastating bushfire in this area it is MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER that forest habitat is NOT further removed!!!!
Department of Primary Industries
Comment
,
Message
The Department of Primary Industries has reviewed the proposal and has no comments.
Name Withheld
Object
WEST BATHURST , New South Wales
Message
Are you out of your mind???? Have you not been hearing, reading or watching the news? Port Macquaire has just faced terrible bush fires that have killed hundreds of the Koala bear population. Where you are proposing to have this site is home to the only Koala bear population in Port Macquaire. 40ha of prime koala habitat that hasn't been affected by the recent bushfires that is going to be cleared to make way for your selfish consumerism antics. This project needs to be stopped. You are a part of the problem, you will have blood on your hands
John Howarth
Object
THRUMSTER , New South Wales
Message
I live within the vicinity of this project & I currently hear the operation during daylight hours, so for this to operate on a 24 hour 7 days a week basis would be totally intolerable. With the ever increasing Sovereign Hills residential development, also within earshot the future complaints would be massive. As I said, I am totally against any further operating hours or days for this current operation.
Andrew Anderson
Support
FRAZERS CREEK , New South Wales
Message
I believe that the development is of benefit to the community, even if the minority of some residents do not agree with it.
Name Withheld
Object
PORT MACQUARIE , New South Wales
Message
In view of the recent bush fires I feel that it it imperative to conserve as much native forest as possible. See attached completed submission document with further objections.
Attachments
Kevin Debreceny
Object
COMBOYNE , New South Wales
Message
Dear Ms Anderson,

Re: Objection to Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project

Please see attached our letter of objection to the above matter.

Kind Regards

Kevin Debreceny
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
NORTHCOTE , Victoria
Message
This project has significant biodiversity impacts on a number of native flora and fauna populations. According to Annex C: Biodiversity Assessment Report, their is "Potential koala habitat (SEPP 44) present on site." With many recent bushfires destroying koala habitat in the surrounding area, this land has potential to become critical koala breeding habitat and therefore be essential for the continuation of the local population.
Name Withheld
Object
SANCROX , New South Wales
Message
The environmental impact of this project is serious and irreversible.Primarily, the company undertaking and operating this project site has an extremely poor track record of environmental compliance, being fined $15,000 by the environmental protection authority in 2016 for breaches to water management operational obligations. (Ref: EPA 24.03.2016). The Area suggested for this extension not only affects the west alluvial flood plains of the Hastings River (considering the companies poor water management practices) but also significantly impacts the ground water sources available to the community. This water source not only supports native flora and fauna but further supplies the surrounding agricultural lands for which farmers use to provide drinking water to their live stock.  
The proposed development will irreversibly impact the biodiversity existing on the mid-north coast, which has already been severely depleted by recent bush fires in the region. A total of 26 threatened species identified so far including 17 birds and 9 mammals require this corridor and native vegetation to combat possible extinction. (Ref https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/why-is-native-vegetation-important ).

On the 1st of october 2019 Mayor Peta Pinson of Wauchope Council explained the local council's stance on climate change. She states "That as a council, looking after our planet and the local environment is always the priority. We demonstrate this through our land use and planning decisions, the design of new developments, minimising waste, being water-wise, looking after the health of our rivers and the ocean, protecting our flora and fauna... and the list goes on." Mayor Peta Pinson goes on to promote that "as a council, we must manage our resources wisely, and in the best interests of our ratepayers and community. We need to stay focused on the projects and services which only council can deliver to our growing community, and as Mayor, I am committed to ensuring that council works with our community to ensure that our environment is cared for as sustainably as possible." (Ref: https://www.portnews.com.au/story/6415012/a-big-picture-approach-to-climate-policy-is-needed/). Following this herself and 13 other Mayors of fire stricken areas have signed a statement calling on the Australian Government to acknowledge the link that climate change has grave costs for our community that can no longer be ignored. (Ref: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/joint-statement-climate-change-has-grave-costs-for-our-community/). I submit that if the local Port Macquarie Hastings Council truly believes in implementing these direct documented statements, how does a project such as this reach this level of approval, without proper community/rate payer consultation?

Finally, regarding the plight for which local fauna faces due to recent bushfire events, 'The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital' already faces a functional extinction crises with the rehabilitation of the local genus of Koala. Despite the expected reduced numbers directly attributed to the natural disasters experienced in the mid-north coast, native food sources and vegetation have been extremely impacted, which makes the existing vegetation encompassed in the suggested development area extremely important for the rehabilitation of the iconic species. This is not the time to implement such a project, by a company who has a proven track record for environmental infringement, in a time of such devastation to life in the area. It is just not the time.
TfNSW - Roads and Maritime Services
Comment
Grafton , New South Wales
Message
See response attached. Please note that Roads & Maritime Services is now within the Department of Transport for NSW (TfNSW).
Attachments

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-7293
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Extractive industries
Local Government Areas
Port Macquarie-Hastings

Contact Planner

Name
Jarrod Blane