Lismore City Council ruled out of Santin Quarry decision in favour of Local Planning Panel

A Lismore quarry mothballed after a legal battle between the owner and council may soon be mining again, despite community concerns. Here’s why it could get the tick.

A development application has been lodged with Lismore City Council to expand the life of Santin Quarry on Riverbank Rd, Lismore.

A controversial Northern Rivers quarry mothballed after a legal battle between the owner and council may soon be mining again if a planning panel gives it the green light.

The fate of the Santin Quarry looked set in stone after owner Michael Santin withdrew action in the Land and Environment Court back in 2021.

It followed Lismore City Council knocking back an extension to continue using the site.

The quarry – previously deemed by the council as not in the public interest – would be able to operate on dated environmental protection laws if it was allowed to mine on its Riverbank Rd site without needing to submit a fresh development application.

Santin Quarry has now lodged its fourth modification application with the council. since October 2015.

Santin Quarry on Riverbank Rd, Monaltrie.

The issue was expected to be decided by Lismore councillors in March, but now the quarry’s future will be determined by a Lismore City Local Planning Panel on an undetermined date.

Meanwhile, Monaltrie Area Community Association has raised concerns operation of the quarry could threaten the Alstonville aquifer, a groundwater source farmers rely on for their livelihoods.

A spokesperson said the association was concerned there has been no adequate study of groundwater interference.

“This extraction also has the potential to alter the natural flow of groundwater affecting the environment and others who rely upon these complicated systems such as those involved in farming,” they said.

Michael Santin, owner of Santin Quarry.

Farms in Alstonville produce custard apples, avocados, macadamias, limes, medicinal cannabis, nurseries and a number of other products.

A Rous County Council plan to extract 1.2GL of water from the Alstonville Plateau, and prospect water from deeper aquifers, was met with fierce opposition from residents and Alstonville farmers in 2021.

The farmers on the Plateau, who normally don't have access to town water and rely on rain and bores for their irrigation, feared the interference could affect their water supply.

“As we know the groundwater levels can be affected by withdrawal through extracting rock and sinking bores,” a spokesperson said.

“The likely negative impacts of the quarry including upon the natural and built environment, the social impacts and economic impacts on the locality outweigh any economic benefit to council or the community or Mr Santin or his employees.”

Why controversial Lismore quarry could fire up again.

Mr Santin did not respond when asked about the concerns his quarry could impact the aquifer.

But he did write on Facebook he was glad the Lismore council would not be making the call.

“Best thing ever, great work planning panel,” he wrote.

The state government announced in December that a planning panel would be put in place in Lismore to make decisions on development applications.

Deputy Premier and Regional NSW Minister Paul Toole said the move would “speed up the delivery of new housing” in flood affected areas of the Lismore LGA.

Councillor Adam Guise said the government took away councillors’ planning powers.

Councillor Adam Guise.

“Councillors are still being kept in the dark about what this actually means for development decisions on Lismore council,” he said.

“It looks like we have no say at all.”