Quarry plan quashed

LAND-USE restrictions placed on Graham Sheridan's Hernani property by Clarence Valley Council are against planning guidelines, according to the businessman.

LAND-USE restrictions placed on Graham Sheridan's Hernani property by Clarence Valley Council are against planning guidelines, according to the businessman and his consultant.

Mr Sheridan said he had a development application approved by the council on April 11 last year to operate a basalt quarry and processing facilities for which he was required to submit environmental impact studies.

He said the studies, which came at a considerable cost, detailed there was no conservation value in the around 1.2-hectare section of his property which the council wishes to place a title on, effectively restricting its use forever.

Gary Peacock, a planning consultant who specialises in quarries employed by Mr Sheridan, described the restriction on the use of the land as absurd.

"The council town planner argues in her report to council that the land has significance, even though the flora/fauna consultant has stated on page 42 of her report there isn't," he said.

"There is no statement with words to that effect in the flora and fauna report."

The consultant said in her report: "Habitat within the subject site of or downstream are not considered at any risk from the development, therefore it is considered very unlikely that the development as described will result in a significant impact on threatened fauna species or ecological communities,"

Mr Peacock said the parcel of land had been fenced at Mr Sheridan's expense and his client didn't intend to use the land.

"There must be a nexus between the development and the need for such onerous controls," he said.

"No expert (or council for that matter) have shown such a nexus."

"All we are asking for is a little bit of common sense to be applied and for council to realise that they don't need these controls which has been backed up in the flora and fauna report."

The quarry is intended to supply high-quality basalt to be used in road construction projects around the North Coast.

The matter will go before the council's environmental, economic and community meeting today.

On the agenda

• Clarenza cycleway project
• Traffic control options for Yamba Rd/Treelands Dr intersection
• Two-lot sub-division in Arglye St, Maclean
• Easement for substation and underground electricity - Duke St, Grafton, car park
• Constitutional recognition of local government
• Closure and sale of council public road at rear of 1 Spring St, South Grafton
• Draft policy on commercial recreational activities on public land
• Upgrade of Green Point Rd and car park, Angourie
• Mobile signs, merchandising and entertainment on public land
• Licence for Commercial (Recreational) Activities on Beaches and Adjacent Crown Lands
• Draft Wooli beach emergency action sub-plan for coastal erosion

Originally published as Quarry plan quashed