RPH Industries transport depot proposed for site off Rifle Range Road, Mount Marlow
Residents have said their neighbourhood is under threat amid plans for a transportation depot close to a dangerous intersection, family homes and children’s bus stop in the Whitsunday region.
Community News
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Mount Marlow residents are fighting a development application submission by mining machinery company RPH Industries to establish a Transport Terminal close to family homes.
The Whitsunday company has been operating on the rural residential property for the past nine months, with the hope of changing the land use from General Light Industry to a Road Transport Terminal.
Neighbours came together this week to express health and safety concerns caused by the increase in noise and traffic.
The heavy duty machinery currently turns off busy Shute Harbour Road onto Rifle Range Road past a children’s bus stop.
Neighbour Cheryl Howard said the traffic exacerbated an already deadly intersection.
“There have been fatalities here, so I’m not sure what will happen when you combine a hazardous corner, a children’s bus stop and large trucks,” she said.
“The new subdivision in Hidden Valley at the bottom of Rifle Range Road means more families are moving in to the area as well.”
Whitsunday region Councillor Gary Simpson said he had advocated for a reduction to the speed limit along Shute Harbour Rd to no effect.
“It is a very dangerous corner and as we grow, it’s our kids, our families, our future,” he said.
“But if enough people speak up, it’s a matter of ‘squeaky wheel gets the grease’.”
Managing director of RPH Industries Andrew Jefferies, who also attended the meeting, outlined widening the road and moving the bus stop as part of the proposal.
“The mining equipment is just used around town and we only have two trucks,” Mr Jefferies said.
“I was trying to get out of town to somewhere with infrastructure already in place and I thought it worked well.”
Close neighbour Jacqui Matthews also expressed issues the noise and dust caused.
“We can feel the vibration of the equipment in our home and they continue to use reversing beepers,” she said.
“It’s not a forklift backing back - it’s reversing of earth moving and mining specified equipment, which is meant to be out in a mine, not next to a family home.
“They’re also servicing the large equipment on site and the dust coming into our house is horrendous.
“Not only is it affecting my husband’s health, it is now affecting mine and my children’s mental health.
“A lot of people didn’t receive a notification (about the plans) until last week, so we are trying to get as much information and support out there as we can.”
Mr Simpson urged residents to correctly submit objections to the proposal by November 14.
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