‘Real crisis’: Quarry access blocked by Indigenous land use agreements

Hundreds of quarries will become off-limits amid fears of serious legal ramifications if quarrying continues without cultural compliance.

A western Queensland road project expected to cost $176,000 has blown out to $5.6 million because of unresolved indigenous land use agreements regarding access to gravel quarries.

Quarry access is now impacting regional councils across the state as hundreds of quarries become off-limits to council workers amid fears of serious legal ramifications if quarrying continues without cultural compliance.

Northern shires are growing fearful quarries will be off limits during natural disasters such as floods and cyclones when access to gravel is essential for emergency road repair

The issue was front and centre yesterday at the Bush Councils Convention in Goondiwindi as councillors across Queensland raised their concerns.

Ann Leahy, Opposition Local Government spokesperson, told the convention there were now more than 1300 quarry pits out of 2000 across the state which would require some form of Indigenous land use agreement by 2026.

“We are in a real crisis, it’s a real mess,’’ Ms Leahy said.

“We do have a crisis in gravel supply.’’

Ms Leahy said the problem, if not resolved, would eventually impact centres outside regional Queensland.

“The (2032 Brisbane) Olympics is going to needs access to gravel supply for road building and repair,’’ she said.

Quarries across the state could be subject to Indigenous land use agreements. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Andrew Martin, Blackall-Tambo Mayor, said councils understood that quarries were exempt from Native Title claims when the original Mabo decision was handed down in 1992.

But just recently the situation changed as Queensland Crown Law advice appeared to suggest that quarries were subject to land use agreements.

Cr Martin said both he and Cook Shire Mayor, Peter Scott, who is deeply concerned quarry access will be shut off during the looming wet season when gravel is urgently needed for road repair in the far northern shire, were hopeful that a series of planned meetings with Director Generals of various state departments in the next few weeks would resolve the issue.

But Cr Martin said work on the Donohue Highway in the western shire of Boulia had already ground to a halt because just four quarries in the shire were left open out of 108.

The cost of having to drive long distances to access one of the open quarries had blown out the cost of the project from $176,000 and 16 days to $5.6 million and 60 days, he said.

“They won’t do that job, they can’t do that job, they haven’t got the money.’’

Peter Hutchison, Director Native Title Agreements, said the agreements were complex but, in many cases, were long term arrangements where people had worked well together.

Difficulties arose when people connected with the original agreement had moved away and the original agreement had expired and needed renewal.

Cr Scott said his council was happy to negotiate an agreement with local Indigenous people but he believed there had to be emergency provisions to ensure quarries were readily accessible when floods arrived.

“People are going to need timely access to gravel during disaster periods, especially after floods.’’

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith said disaster access to quarries was essential.

“Quarry access is a critical issue to councils across Queensland,’’ she said.

“Communities need reliable supplies to build and maintain their roads, including rebuilding following natural disasters.

“We welcome the State Government’s inclusion of local government in a cross-agency working group to resolve this issue, and we look forward to the State implementing solutions ahead of disaster season.’’