Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project

I wish to make a formal objection to the Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project. I have lived in the area for eleven years now, as a rate payer and contributor to the community with my children attending school here.
Port Macquarie is a unique and vibrant area - tourists come to visit because of our environmental beauty and wild life, and families come to live here for the same reasons. These are the characteristics that attract people to our area. Don’t allow developers to destroy everything that makes this region great - the kolas are our icon and we need to work together to protect them.

The project ‘over its entire life cycle is estimated to release approximately 48.4 million tonnes of CO2-e into the atmosphere’ – 2.5 million tonnes less than Sweden’s total emissions in 2017 (https://en.wikipedia.org/.../List_of_countries_by_carbon...). The proponent seeks to contribute greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere equivalent to those of an entire country at a time when the planet is warming, and the effects of climate change are affecting all life on earth. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean says "no one can deny" that climate change is to blame for the smoke haze choking Sydney as bushfires burn across NSW. In the state government's strongest comments yet on the link between climate change and bushfires, Mr Kean said: "This is not normal and doing nothing is not a solution". This quarry undermines any actions our community take to adapt to and mitigate climate change for our community health, safety and sustainable economic prosperity into the future.

I wish to lodge a formal objection to the proposed Sancrox Quarry Expansion Project. My objection is based on the following issues:
1. The unacceptably high level of CO2-e emissions over the project lifecycle
2. The loss of native forest vegetation, including an EEC and 43ha of core koala habitat, which will adversely impact local biodiversity
(a) As a consequence of the recent fires, no more koala habitat should be cleared.
(b) There will be destruction of an identified critical link needed to maintain vegetation connectivity for animal movement
(c) The development will divert a native flora and fauna watercourse to industrial use
3. The inadequate offsetting strategy:
(a) offsetting with a vegetation association (Paperbark) that does not occur in the development site and paying into a fund (i.e. locating the remainder of the offset area anywhere in NSW and not within the local community).
(b) not generating koala ecosystem credits despite the presence of PCT1265 in the development site
(c) of the vegetation associations identified in the project area, two are not included in the proposed offset area
4. Potential significant local noise pollution from proposed 24/7 operations

I understand that Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd were fined $15,000 in 2016 for breaching the conditions of its Environment Protection Licence at the Sancrox Quarry. The fine highlights a flagrant disregard for environmental considerations by this business and an inherent/proven “untrustworthiness” of this business being given approval for further development in this sensitive area.

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 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)
During November 2019 a State of Emergency was declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires. Hundreds of koalas may have been killed. Injured and now homeless koalas may migrate to, or have to be moved onto, the proposed development site.
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. The clearing also destroys an identified critical link needed to maintain vegetation connectivity for animal movement.
Insufficient field work was conducted in 2015, four years ago. A major flaw of the EIS is that it fails to record koalas at six locations and the presence of habitat critical to the endangered Swift Parrot. (Refs: Office of Environment and Heritage Records, 2008 -2013; Ref. DA Annex C)
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 bats. The native vegetation on site should be retained to combat Australia’s abysmal record of extinction of plants and animals in Australia. (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)

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 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)
During November 2019 a State of Emergency was declared in NSW due to the catastrophic bushfires. Hundreds of koalas may have been killed. Injured and now homeless koalas may migrate to, or have to be moved onto, the proposed development site.
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. The clearing also destroys an identified critical link needed to maintain vegetation connectivity for animal movement.
Insufficient field work was conducted in 2015, four years ago. A major flaw of the EIS is that it fails to record koalas at six locations and the presence of habitat critical to the endangered Swift Parrot. (Refs: Office of Environment and Heritage Records, 2008 -2013; Ref. DA Annex C)
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 bats. The native vegetation on site should be retained to combat Australia’s abysmal record of extinction of plants and animals in Australia. (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)

24/7 work is outrageous for homes near by. The birapi scaring tree is in the area also. Also i have seen koala's in this are crossing road in last month. We need to conserve our naturefor them.