Fraser Coast council votes to build Takura fertiliser plant

The expansion of a quarry on the outskirts of Hervey Bay has been given the tick of approval by councillors, with added conditions to address the concerns of nearby residents.

The fertiliser facility for 12 Toogoom Cane Rd was approved at Wednesday’s council meeting at Maryborough.

Fraser Coast councillors have given the green light to the development of a fertiliser plant at Takura.

Although the development has been approved, conditions have been added to help ease the minds of those residents with concerns about the proposal.

At Wednesday’s council meeting at Maryborough City Hall, councillor Jade Wellings moved an alternate motion that council approve the development, but add extra conditions.

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To address one of the major concerns from residents about dust pollution, one condition is that the facility is limited to screening the agricultural products of phosphate rock, aglime and gypsum.

If the facility wants to screen other fertilisers, it will need to be approved.

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Another condition, is that council liaise with the applicant to facilitate an information session with interested residents to help them to better understand the activity, and measures taken to minimise any impacts on the surrounding environment.

The fertiliser plant at 12 Toogoom Cane Rd, Takura, was approved at Wednesday’s council meeting. Photo: Fraser Coast Regional Council.

“Many in our community have said quite loud and clear that they don’t want an increase in scope at this site, and in particular of utmost concern, is dust particles from an unknown potential list of fertiliser materials...” Ms Wellings said.

“It’s the contents of what’s in that dust that most concerns people.”

Ms Wellings said the alternate motion was a compromise that allowed the applicant to expand the facility, but also addressed residents’ concerns about dust particles.

According to the development application, the facility at 12 Toogoom Cane Rd would be an expansion of the existing 57ha sand and gravel quarry currently operating at the site.

The applicant is Yougro Pty Ltd, who is the owner and operator of the existing quarry.

The location of the fertiliser plant at Takura. Photo: Fraser Coast Regional Council.

The application reveals Yougro Pty Ltd intends to bring soil conditioners and fertilisers onto the site and process them using the existing quarry.

Up to 20,000 tonnes of soil conditioners and fertilisers will be screened at the facility, which will include the processing of agricultural products such as phosphate rock, aglime and gypsum.

A report before the council reveals the development application attracted “significant public interest” which included a number of concerns from residents in neighbouring communities.

In total, 44 submissions were against the development, 38 of which were properly submitted, along with one petition.

The concerns included dust pollution, odour issues, wetland and waterways contamination, flood and bushfire hazards, and the proximity of the facility to residential homes in the area.

The application was publicly notified for 15 business days.

Access to the facility will also be via Toogoom Cane Rd which connects Pialba Burrum Heads Rd in the north to Torbanlea Pialba Rd to the south.

The fertiliser plant will be at the existing sand quarry site at 12 Toogoom Cane Rd, Takura. Photo: Google Maps.

According to the report, the screening of the soil conditioners and fertilisers process “will not carry any risk of dust generation, given the location of the use” and the types of fertilisers “are not odorous materials”.

“With appropriate mitigation strategies in place the risks associated with odour from this activity can be easily managed,” the report says.

The council and Department of Environment and Science have also included conditions to ensure the “protection of acoustic environment and nuisance monitoring”.

The report before council says there is a “medium bushfire hazard” on the eastern side of the site, but it is “unlikely to be susceptible” to bushfires.

While the screening of fertilisers and soil conditioners “present possible risks to the environment values of water”, Yougro Pty Ltd “will implement appropriate mitigation strategies to prevent” or “minimise potential impact” on water in the area.

A photo of the existing sand and gravel quarry at Takura. Photo: Steer Environmental Consulting.

The facility is also “not expected to affect the safety and well-being of the residential homes”.

According to the report, the proposed development “generally complies with the requirements of the planning scheme and does not raise any issues that cannot be addressed by reasonable and relevant conditions”.

The expansion proposal was also approved, subject to conditions, by the DES on September 16, 2022, and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

“If the applicant wishes to include manufacturing of Urea Ammonium-nitrate, further development applications and environmental relevant activity applications will be required to be lodged,” the report says.

Ms Wellings’ alternate motion was passed unanimously by councillors.