SSD 6395 - Bobs Farm Sand Mine Project

I object to the sand mine going ahead

This sand mining operation is not only damaging to our environment, but
also puts too much pressure on existing roads. It will negatively
impact our community and I oppose it.

I would like to register my strong objection to the proposed Bobs Farm
Sand Mine going ahead for many reasons:

Most of all, I'm really concerned about my kids safety. My both kids
David (year 4) and Emilia (year1), attend Bobs Farm School. The
proximity of the proposed mine (right behind my kids school) is really
worrying.

The level of the noise caused by the trucks and the number of trucks
(180 per day) will affect daily school and my kids performance.

Air quality (silica dust particles) may affect the health of my
children

Water quality - school is only relying on tank water

Road safety for school kids (the number of the trucks and the
proximity to the school)- crossing the road while catching school bus.

I'm also very concerned, as a resident of Salt Ash and Port Stephens
and strongly object to this proposal.
The additional number of sand mining trucks on Nelson Bay Road will
affect the safety and our daily commute. We already have a sand mine
in Salt Ash and I know from my personal experience how much this
affects traffic and safety at Salt Ash roundabout.
Im also concerned about my health:
air quality (breathing in silica dust)
water quality (we are on tank water)
Im also very concerned how this proposal affect water table and all
our surrounding farms (avocado farms, bluberry , organic produce farms
etc) - we might see economic loss if the ground water will be
affected.
Im also concerned about our native local flora and fauna and what will
happened to them if this proposal go through.

Therefore, I raise all my concerns in this submission, and state here,
that this proposed, planned mine is an inappriopriate development in
this area.
Kind regards,
Barbara Symons

Please find below a list of concerns:

* The effect on groundwater that is connected to the drinking water
catchment. Will this mean that the drinking water in our dam will be
contaminated and if so what measures are being taken to combat this.

* Most properties in Bobs Farm have spearpoints for irrigation. Will
the drop in the water table result in these spearpoint being useless
or will be need to spend money to make these irrigation points deeper
and if so will we be compensated?

* Not only will there be 180 trucks a day exiting the site on to Marsh
Road, which is currently rated with a 3 tonne limit, but there will
also be refuelling trucks, delivery trucks, maintenance vehicles etc
using this stretch of road which is very narrow. Those of us living on
Marsh Road will have deal with this traffic yet it was stated at the
community meeting that there would be negligible impact upon road
safety. All this traffic would also be entering a 40kmp school zone
with children arriving and departing from school a short 100 metres
from the exit of the mine.

* The time of operation is also a concern. This area is very quite
with any noise travelling quite a distance. With a starting time of
6am this will have a negative effect on residents.

* Drainage is of major concern. Marsh Road is very low lying and
floods when we have heavy rain. Council drains, flood gates and levies
are inadequate presently and there are no Council plans to improve
this situation so what will happen down the track with this huge hole
that will be left during and after the mine? Will any overflow flood
our properties even more. How is this being addressed?

* As this mine will result in silica being mined there is concern
about the air quality in the area. It was stated at the community
meeting that the dust will generally not exceed acceptable limits and
the dust is not expected to be a nuicance for sensitive receptors. And
the response to this coment was that this information was incorrect as
crystalline silica can be suspended in the air from 10 kilometres
away. So yes no immediate affect but down the track we could have
people who live close to the site being affected in 15-20 years so 15
years of mining could mean that children in the area who are toddlers
could be suffering from silicosis when they are in their teenage
years.

Finally it was stated at the community meeting that no other
activities would be undertaken that would be likely to increase the
environmental, social or economic impacts of the proposal. Won't the
activities that will be undetaken by the approval of this sand mine
have enough impacton on the environement, our living conditions and
the only economic impact will be the money that his company will make
by ruining our little piece of parradise.

Sand mining at the gateway to Port Stephens is one of the worst ideas
I've ever heard of. 180 estimated extra trucks coming and going along
Nelson Bay Road is ridiculous and unthought of. The road itself will
never have the capacity to carry extra vehicles to what it already
carries. Bobs farm school will also be greatly impacted along with the
WORIMI land that our government wants to destroy for its own benefit,
this land is already home to many species of birds and various
creatures and insects, if you dig a massive hole in their habitat you
can't just throw them back into the hole!!! Rethink this plan and take
it somewhere else where it won't affect anyone. Australia is huge why
do we need to build a sand mine in so many peoples back yards. DO NOT
PROCEED WITH THE SAND MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not support the proposed sand mine at Bob's Farm. The vehicle
movements on Nelson Bay Road and at the Port Stephens drive round
about will be a huge increase and they will be unsafe. The road does
not have suitable capacity to deal with the volume of traffic safely.
The eco system will be at risk. There are issues attached to the depth
of the mine and the water table which could jeopardise the eco system
further. I object to the wholesale clearing of 36.1 acres of land -
Port Stephens is one of the last koala habitats in NSW and we also
have many rare and endangered species of both fauna and flora. I have
grave concerns about the void that will be left after the mining is
completed a 24.5 hectare hole in the pristine environment of Port
Stephens is not desirable to anyone! At Katherine at least the mine
had to make good the land. Here we are looking down the barrel of a
hole in the environment that nothing can fix - it won't be a natural
waterway, but it will change the flow of water for the region.
Bob's Farm is a small community which has a school which will be
threatened by this development. The school has been in operation for
over 100 years and that should count for something.

I am opposed to the Sand mining at Bobs Farm as I am concerned about the
depth of mining and possible damage to potable water supply in the
area.
I am also concerned that the lifestyle of many residents at Bobs Farm
will be affected by truck movements over the span of operations. Also
the safety of current road users will be affected with so many extra
trucks in the road.
The students at the school will also be affected by noise which could
result in it being closed.

I support the community of Bobs Farm, who have made it very clear that
they do not support this sand mine being approved and built.

As a local government representative, I believe that listening to the
views of locals is incredibly important in making decisions that
affect their area - especially a decision such as this which will
undoubtedly impact on the Bobs Farm community in such a significant
way.

The amount of trucks proposed to be travelling along our local roads
each day as a result of this proposal is alarming, especially when
considering the mass of trucks already travelling in the local area as
a result of other extraction activities.

The roads in this area are already dangerous. In the last twelve
months, there's been countless crashes on roads local to this
proposal, and adding extra heavy vehicles will not help the safety of
motorists on these roads.

This proposed sand mine is located immediately adjacent to a primary
school. This is perhaps one of the most dangerous, disruptive things
that could be proposed next to a primary school, and I have no doubt
it would affect the learning and safety of all students, staff and
parents.

I also worry about the environmental consequences of this proposal,
which so far seem to be mostly unexplored. We must protect our local
environment, and this site is on top of sand dunes and next to the
swamps of Bobs Farm.

There are many other reasons as to why this proposal should not go
ahead, but the most significant reason is the community. If the
community isn't on board, then there is no social license to go ahead
with a proposal like this. I support the local community in opposing
this sand mine.

I am extremely concerned about the heavy vehicle traffic on Nelson Bay
road as a result of this mine operation. It also concerns me that I am
not aware of any commitment by the operators for reparation of the
land after the mine is closed.

I think all the extra traffic trucks etc you will have an adverse effect
on the area and the environment in general.

I wish to oppose the sand mining operation at Bobs Farm due to the
negative impact in will have on wildlife particularly the Koalas.
Koalas are in serious decline suffering from the effects of habitat
destruction.

The negative impact on the surrounding areas with regard to Air, Noise
and truck movements should also be considered.

Extracting 15 meters below the water table are you kidding!!!!!

I do not support the proposed sand mine at Bob's Farm. The vehicle
movements on Nelson Bay Road and at the Port Stephens drive round
about will be a huge increase and they will be unsafe. The road does
not have suitable capacity to deal with the volume of traffic safely.
The eco system will be at risk. There are issues attached to the depth
of the mine and the water table which could jeopardise the eco system
further. I object to the wholesale clearing of 36.1 acres of land -
Port Stephens is one of the last koala habitats in NSW and we also
have many rare and endangered species of both fauna and flora. I have
grave concerns about the void that will be left after the mining is
completed a 24.5 hectare hole in the pristine environment of Port
Stephens is not desirable to anyone! At Katherine at least the mine
had to make good the land. Here we are looking down the barrel of a
hole in the environment that nothing can fix - it won't be a natural
waterway, but it will change the flow of water for the region.
Bob's Farm is a small community which has a school which will be
threatened by this development. The school has been in operation for
over 100 years and that should count for something.

I object to the sand mine as I am concerned with the evironmental impact
it will have on the sand dunes and surrounding area also the fact that
it is right behind Bobs Farm public school.

This mine will create an environmental mess plus all the extra trucks on
the road exiting next to the local public school

The proposed area is critical for native flora and fauna, including
endangered Koalas. The area includes old growth forest. The additional
traffic will greatly increase the risks of accidents with locals and
children.

I am concerned about the effects of the proposed sand mine.
1-The safety of school children with many truck movements near Bobs
Farm school.
2-The ability to run classes with the additional noise from truck
movements close to the school.
3-The safety of students and local community with the silica dust from
mining activities.
4-The detrimental effects on tourism with an open cut mine at the
gatway to port stephens.
5- The negative mental and physical health impact on the imediate
community from noise fumes and dust. I read somewhere that a residence
was not to be built within 250m of a boundary to land which has a
mine. There are residences closer than that.
6- The dangers to road users with that many more trucks traveling on
Nekson Bay rd.

There will be approximately 180 trucks per day moving in both directions
on Nelson Bay Road. This will probably cause:
- traffic congestion as the trucks pull out,
- create significant wear and tear on the existing road surface.
- increase the potential for traffic accidents as people try
to avoid slower moving trucks.
- Increase noise and dust pollution
- significantly disrupt/damage the wildlife environment
- significantly increase the potential to kill local wildlife

To add another 360 truck movements per day to a dangerous road, where the
road kill is already horrific, is negligent.The project will destroy
the habitat of Koalas, Powerful owls, Sugar & Squirrel gliders.
Disruption of the sand dunes & acid sulphate soils will put an already
compromised aquifer system, on which many homes & animals depend, at
critical risk, as will the contaminated "lake". To allow this project,
with its attendant noise/air pollution & traffic hazards, next to a
school would be a breach of the duty of care. To believe miners will
adequately rehabilitate 12 hectares of forest & 24.8 hectares of
contaminated lake is farcical.

I object to this development on the basis it will
1. Destroy the local environment and the habitat of many local species
of wildlife. We have observed wallabies, echidna, bandicoot, goanna,
several species of snake, possums and antichinus on our property which
is approx 2km from this site. It will remove a large pocket of old
growth forest much of which has been already illegally cleared (common
knowledge! yet why did the authorities allow it to proceed?) This will
be impossible to rehabilitate.
2. cause traffic congestion - an added 180 trucks to the already busy
road will not only affect traffic flow it will affect the condition of
the road. Already there is major damage to Nelson Bay Rd from sand
mining trucks
3. cause major disruption to Bobs Farm School - the trucks are
planning to drive past the school into the 40km/hr school zone twice a
day this is a recipe for disaster.
4. possibly cause erosion leading to the demise of Nelson Bay rd
5. cause health concerns due to silica dust being expelled into the
air and destroying air quality in the local vicinity.
6 Cause noise pollution to the many homes in the area and Bobs Farm
School
7. Destroy the 'look' of the entrance to The Bay! it will be very
visible to the public from Nelson Bay rd and it will be an eyesore
8 decrease property values along Nelson Bay rd.
9 disrupt our natural resource of groundwater and potentially lower
the water table.
10 block access to property and infrastructure.

I propose that if this development is allowed to proceed that
1. the depth of the mine be limited.
2. the trucks be only permitted to enter and leave the mine via Nelson
Bay Rd
3. that the proponents be instructed to downsize (it is grossly
overexaggerated to purposely avoid Council approval) the development
therefore not making a it a state significant development which only
requires Council approval.

I have lived at this address for 26 yrs. My concerns are contamination of
my tank water and our general health from silica dust which is known
to travel for more than 10 klms. It is hard enough to get out of Marsh
Road during peak periods let alone having to put up with the
congestion of trucks every 3 minutes. The trucks should exit onto the
dual carriage way of Nelson Bay Road and not so close to the school.
I know for a fact the SES has been called to the Go Cart Track due to
flooding because of poor drainage in that area in recent years. I am
concerned about how the sand mine is going to deal with the drainage
of the vast amount of water of the lake it proposes to leave behind
during extreme rainfall periods.
My 4 children went to Bobs Farm School. To propose a Sand Mine Site so
close to the school is surely detrimental to the health, well being
and future of the school and for families involved to be subjected to
this proposal is criminal.