Sand mine key resource campaign meetings revealed

Court documents reveal the access afforded proponents of a controversial 105ha sand mine planned for the heart of the Sunshine Coast.

PROTEST: About 200 people have gathered in Nambour today to appeal to councillors to reject a sand mine proposal.

COURT documents have revealed the access afforded proponents of a controversial 105ha sand mine planned for the heart of the Coast.

Affidavits filed in the Supreme Court showed Maroochydore Sands Pty Ltd directors Michael Mullins and Trenton Clark had several meetings, calls and email exchanges with State Government ministers and department officials over a year, as they sought to have the Forest Glen site declared a state-significant sand resource.

The site remains subject of a Planning and Environment Court appeal, after Sunshine Coast Council rejected the Maroochydore Sands development application for a 105ha sand mine in October, 2016.

The appeal is next due for court review in early April.

Aerial view of the proposed Forest Glen sand mine.

According to the affidavits, Mr Mullins and Mr Clark met with State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick, his chief of staff Barnaby Kerdel and Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning executive director of planning and development services Graeme Bolton in May, 2018.

Mr Mullins and Mr Clark, on behalf of Maroochydore Sands, expressed concern with the handling of the designation of Eudlo Creek Key Resource Area 162.

Their legal advice indicated Deputy Premier Jackie Trad's deferral of the key resource area designation until the ongoing appeal was finalised had been wrong from an administrative law perspective.

Emails were exchanged, and further meetings held, during which it was indicated the State Government had been "mindful to try and help the applicant reach a resolution in the matter".

The applicants threatened to take the matter to the Supreme Court and seek a writ forcing the State to "follow its own legislative framework" and designate the key resource area.

Sand mine opponents attend the Nambour Council Chambers.Councillors vote for the proposed mine.A large crowd attended the meeting.

A narrative provided to Mr Kerdel by the applicants said the legal appeal in relation to the refused development application didn't impact the designation.

"The site having met the criteria will be designated as KRA 162 as a matter of due process," the narrative read.

"We are pleased that the Government made the right call without us having to go to the Supreme Court to seek a writ forcing the Government to follow its own legislative framework," the media release supplied to Mr Kerdel read.

An email in May, 2019, from Mr Clark to Mr Kerdel advised they would not delay lodging Supreme Court action any longer, given Mr Kerdel's belief the Minister would approve the key resource area.

Maroochydore Sands Pty Ltd director Michael Mullins Photo Scott Sawyer / Sunshine Coast Daily

Mr Clark advised Mr Kerdel to call to clarify anything, "otherwise we look forward to you confirming our KRA" the email read.

The ensuing Supreme Court application was dismissed on December 19.

Mr Mullins declined to comment when contacted by the Daily on Monday.

Former State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham had declared the site to be a sand resource of state significance in 2017, sparking backlash from a large community group formed to fight the proposed development.

State Government figures reported in August, 2017, showed there were enough existing sand resources in the region to build about 20 million new homes.

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