Sutton Forest Sand Quarry

This will not be good for the environment nor the monastery near it. The
monastery aims to provide a tranquil and peaceful area for visitors,
the sand mine will ruin this atmosphere. Furthermore, the development
of the sand mine will harm native flora and fauna.

I believe that any potential benefits of the sand mine cannot outweigh
the negatives. The development of the sand mine will not only harm the
environment but also ruin the atmosphere for any visitors to the
monastery. The monastery is meant to create peaceful atmosphere for
visitors, the sand mine will ruin this atmosphere through noise and
light pollution. The sand mine will also harm native flora and fauna
and may also pollute the water supplies

The development of the sand mine will harm both the environment and be a
distraction to those who visit the monastery. Noise and light
pollution throughout the day will ruin the experience for those who
visit the monastery for tranquillity. Also, the sand mine may pollute
the surrounding water supplies as well as harm the native flora and
fauna. Too much native flora and fauna will be lost if this project
goes ahead.

I'm not in favour of this development due to the disruption it will cause
to surrounding homes, churches, flora and fauna.

My major areas of concern are 1. Drilling into the aquifer and below the
water table leading to a very real contamination risk for local and
Sydney water supply . The partial destruction of the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor which is at its narrowest at that point. 3.
Increased dust and noise pollution and the associated health effects 4
. The effects on farms and livelihood and in particular a place of
worship located right next door( Penrose Park) . 5. The increased
traffic ( an extra 300+ sand laden trucks/ day) on the already
dangerous stretch of Hume Highway.

Against the damage to the flora and fauna in the area and the amount of
trucks required to operate this type of business. Have friends and
family in the area and I am deeply opposed to the whole idea. The
whole area would be affected.

This type of quarry would completely wreck this beautiful area, including
flora and fauna. My inlaws have a farm with organic status close by,
and this sort of work would destroy it.

I am opposed to the Sutton Quarry Water Project as it involves tipping 18
million tons of Sydney waste fill into the Highlands.

I have two major concerns for this project.

One is the disruption to the water table and the need to address the
security of the quality of water in the Sydney Drinking Water
catchment. There should be no favouritism for mines and quarries,
water quality and quantity laws should apply to every person and
project and existing consumers considered..

The second is the huge extent of clearing of native vegetation
proposed.
Many people in this Shire have spent years, an enormous amount of
money, time and labour in revegetating corridors as encouraged by
various government organisations. The Government should NOT be
granting permission to clear any more uncorrupted bush. It is known to
be impossible to restablish a vegetation community so any off sets
suggested are rubbish and have been shown to fail. The project simply
continues the horrific clearing that is destroying NSW and causing
extinctions in the biota.

There needs to be far more consideration of the LONG TERM consequences
of these sorts of developments, not simlpy the short term gain for a
few people..

This applies to the proposed fill material which over time will leach
into the waterways and add to the cumulative effect of uncontrollable
problems.

There are already two large sand quarries in the Shire both of which
already drain into the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment
.

I object to this proposal on the basis that it will have significant
negative impacts on the environment and local residents.

I am particularly concerned with the destruction that will come
through the land clearing of 63.2ha of native bush in the Great
Western Wildlife Corridor. This puts much of our native flora and
fauna, including theatened species (five bird species and four bat
spieces), at risk.

Additionally, I am concerned that the mining activities will produce
air and noise pollution which will significantly and negatively impact
the lives of local residents. The proposal states that mining will be
ongoing for 30 years. This is a very serious disruption to the lives
of local residents. Particularly those local residents, and other
visitors, who visit the Grotto on the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy. The
proposal states the minimum distance of blasting from the Grotto will
be only 0.5km. Additionally, the proposal states that the number of
truck movement per day during operations will range anywhere from 140
to 344 per day. This will be a serious disruption to local residents.
This is further excacerbated by the fact that the operations of the
plant could be ongoing for at least 17 hours a day, every day and some
operations ongoing for 24 hours a day. This is a significant and
unacceptable disruption to local residents and the environment.

Further, such a high number of trucks will impact traffic on nearby
roads and the Hume Highway.

This proposal should not be accepted and such a proposal should never
be made again.

Have just become aware of the sand mine proposal at Sutton Forest, a
beautiful rural area of the Highlands. At present we are undergoing
enormous development without any prior infrastructure planning or
upgrade. The Highlands, including Sutton Forest, are promoted as a
tourist attraction for their beautiful surrounds (trees and local
gardens are spectacular at change of season) as well as the rural
aspect of local farms and attract many visitors to the Highland which,
hopefully, will continue to attract small business and local jobs. As
a long term resident of the Highlands and proud citizen of our amazing
surrounds, I believe the proposed mine will have an enormous
detrimental effect on both the area and the hard working residents of
Sutton Forest as well as the disruption to the locals.

We are appealling to please dis allow the quarry project near our beloved
and Sacred Penrose Park. The existence of the quarry will destroy the
sanctity and sacredness of the Place. We go to Penrose Park as part of
our Pilgrim and practice our catholic and apostolic faith. To the New
Soutj Wales government, please listen to our appeal. Thank you very
much

I have a very sensitive lung condition and left Sydney to live in the
Southern Highlands.
I have invested my hard-earned money into this area so that I can
improve my health,I would feel devastated if this Sand Mine was
approved as the prevailing winds would effect my health outcomes.
I trust my voice will be considered as this is my only forum.
Please consider the local impacts on our community.

As a concerned resident of Moss Vale I feel that the sand mine is going
to have a very detrimental affect. My husband and I left Sydney
because he has some health issues created by working in a polluted
environment. I have a genuine love of this area and thought we would
be able to live in an unpolluted environment.
The proposal of the sand mine in Sutton Forest is to me most upsetting
because of the long term affects on this area.

I strongly oppose the Sutton Forest Quarry proposal. This is a quiet
rural residential area where the proposed extraction and processing of
sand will lead to widespread environmental damage, impacting on the
flora and fauna of the area and the lives of not only the local
residents but those in the greater region.
As a regular visitor to the Southern Highlands from Sydney, I travel
along the Hume Highway and I am very concerned about the reported 300+
extra trucks that will be using the Highway and the roads in and
around the Highlands. The extra pollution and serious risk of road
fatalities is of great concern. This poses a huge threat to this
already busy and notoriously dangerous section of the Hume Highway.
The development proposed will irrevocably destroy assets of this very
special environmental area, such as its unique Fauna and Flora. For
example, the removal of a wildlife corridor used by local birds and
animals, and disrupting the flight path of the endangered Black
Cockatoo, are just two potential environmental disasters to the area.
The removal of the topsoil and the sandstone to a depth of 39 meters
and then dumping fill into the resultant pit in a rural, residential
area will affect not just the local residents and the native flora and
fauna but on the clean water supply to Sydney as it is part of the
Nepean water catchment area feeding into Warragamba Dam. Also lowering
the water table at Sutton Forest will adversely affect the bores on
which so many locals depend for their livelihood.
The Southern Highlands is an area that is enjoyed by many tourists and
because of its proximity to Sydney there are many families who visit
the area on a regular basis to escape the busy city. We love the fresh
air and untouched natural beauty of the area. Let's please keep it
this way!
There are many reasons why this proposal should be rejected
outright....these are just a few. This is a very special unique area
which if destroyed is gone forever!

Sylvia Bell

I am a resident of the Wingecarribee Shire and have been for about
thirteen years. I chose to live in the Highlands for a number of
reasons, but primarily for the pristine nature of the environment, the
mainly rural aspect and the air quality.
The proposed sand mine at Sutton Forest is an industrial complex in
the middle of agricultural and native fauna corridor, which will
disrupt the well being of residents and native fauna.
It is incompatible with the environment, the health and the lifestyle
of all who live in the Shire.
I with many thousand of others visit regularly the monastery at
Penrose Park (an adjacent property to the proposed project) for
religious services, which are mainly held in the outdoors. Any
industrial activity on the neighbouring property will by its nature
cause considerable noise, dust and traffic issues that will have a
detrimental effect on all who attend. I am also concerned that all who
live in the monastery will be exposed to these conditions on a daily
basis, and will will adversely affect their health, both mentally and
physically.
Due to the short notice period of this proposed project I reserve the
right to provide further submissions when additional material is made
available for comment.

The proposed quarry looks flawed in so many areas. Many environmental
problems will be caused.

Blasting and noise: the sound, shock wave and vibrations from blasting
will cause issues with wildlife and farmed animals. Noise from the
machinery of rock crushing, vehicles and truck movements will destroy
the ambience and again affect wildlife and farm animals.

Water issues, with the water table being broken, with likely effects
on local wells, water access for vegetation due to level drops, the
ease of access to the water table by pollutants, the lack of filtering
effects of the to be removed sandstone, and the flow on effects into
the water catchments for Sydney and surrounding areas. During rain
storms the quarry will be subject to large amounts of water, where
will this go?

Large increase of truck movements along the highways, seems to
coincide with the start of peak hour, extra wear on roads, extra noise
and localised traffic problems.

Likely dust and pollution issues, from the crushing and removal /
blasting of the sandstone / rock. Dirt roads will also cause more
dust; winds in the area can be quite strong, how will the dust be
suppressed? What about issues will silicosis and health effects from
fine particle blowing around into the environment, to people reached
by the dust and the workers on site?

Th swamp area nearby looks like it will be badly affected, as the
sandstone to be mined is currently acting as a filter. Pollutants,
salinity levels, suspended solids etc will flow more easily into the
swamps area and likely damage / destroy it.

The area is in a wildlife corridor that is already partially reduced
and this will take a large area out of action. Wildlife needs as much
protection and this mine will cause a huge issue with transit routes
for the animals.

The levels of employment are stated at about 20 jobs once operating,
however it is likely the a similar number of jobs could be lost in
surrounding areas due to the effects of the quarry. Tourism and
farming will suffer a downturn.

Thank you for your consideration.

I oppose the mine. As a resident of the district, not a weekender, I am
also a regular visitor to Penrose Park, where I have met visitors not
only from interstate but also from overseas. When asked why they were
there, the reply is usually to enjoy the peace and serenity of the
surroundings as well as the wildlife.
Also since the gas, fibre optic and water pipelines run through not
far from the proposed mine, I wonder what the blasting will do to
their stability. If there is a breach how far along the pipeline will
the effects be felt, as this goes through our property also.
I know that with the pipeline we are not allowed to put up any
permanent structures, so how can the proposed mine be allowed to build
a road over it.
There needs to be a lot more information and research done, so I may
wish to further comment when more information is released.

I wish to object to commercial plans to mine sand in the Sutton Forest
region.
As indicated by the project's own environmental impact assessment, the
mining of sand will affect water quality in local creeks and
tributaries, it will reduce remnant vegetation and habitats, that in
turn will result in a loss of biodiversity.
This is an unacceptable loss to the broader community and no amount of
land and soil rehabilitation will ever restore the topography and the
habitat we have lost. The risks are too great.
All this at a time when science tells us we should be protecting
remnant habitats and trying to reduce greenhouse emissions, not add to
them. Under no circumstances, not for any profit, is this acceptable
especially in times when land clearing is going on unchecked.
Not now, not ever.
I feel for the residents who enjoy this bushland, and I write on
behalf of those of us who want to protect our environment for future
generations.

It's a violation of religious freedom