Wallagoot residents say a planned mine will destroy their peaceful coastal hamlet
Residents of Wallagoot were shocked when Melissa Caddick’s foot washed up on their beach. Now, they are reeling from a proposal to mine the area for volcanic rock.
The South Coast News
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South coast residents are concerned the proposed reopening of a mine will threaten their peaceful hamlet.
Locals were shocked when Sydney fraudster Melissa Caddick’s foot washed up on Bournda Beach at Wallagoot over the summer, now they say a proposal for a new quarry has surprised them again.
Nearby resident Jen McDowens, who received a letter from Bega Valley Shire Council about the development application, said she would “hate the area to change”.
She said she’s “definitely not keen to be hearing daily blasting for the next 12 to 17 years”.
Fellow resident Debbie Chisholm said she’s also concerned by the plan.
“The road will be a nightmare, and let’s watch the accidents and broken windows and more dead wildlife on the roads than normal, and that’s bad enough,” she said.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they are pushing for an independent study on the potential impacts the mine’s noise will have on the surrounding environment.
They said they have lodged an official objection with council, and a freedom of information request for further details on the proposal.
“What we are concerned about is the data they are relying on in the application is from 2004 at the latest and no longer appropriate,” the resident said.
“So many years have passed, so we want an independent study done.
“When the noise study was done there was lots of agricultural work like ploughing going on, so it’s not conclusive.”
The new application has been submitted to council by Pitch Designs on behalf on Blu Wren on a site which ran as a the Bournda Downs Quarry site from 1997 until 2010.
Council said they have extended the date for public feedback on the move until September 17.
“Once this advertising period closes, council’s assessing officers will review all submissions and may seek additional information from the applicant,” they said.
“Those who made submissions will be advised prior to a determination being made.”
The company intends to operate between through the day on weekdays, excluding public holidays, and Saturday mornings.
Council said the volcanic rock being mined, called rhyolite, is a “valuable” resource not commonly found. They said it is used in road construction, as aggregates for concrete, asphalt and sealing, and oversized rocks are used for erosion control and construction.
The National Parks Association Far south coast Branch said in a letter to council the application is “designed to avoid proper scrutiny”, with proposed daily production just below the level needed for a “proper environmental assessment”.
They described the surrounding landscape as “unique and special”.
“The environmental assessments provided are woefully inadequate for an major intrusive development proposed in a location highly valued by the community for conservation values and quiet rural residential living,” they said.
“Being located adjacent to important conservation areas and in an identified, regionally significant wildlife corridor will have a major impact.
“Impacts of blasting and crushing activities on endangered species have not been assessed. The proposal is for a site perched on a ridge above one of the Far south coast’s most important tourism and conservation assets and must be rejected.
“Blasting, crushing and screening were not permitted in 1997 because they were recognised as incompatible with the current land uses for tourism, conservation and quiet, rural living.”
Bega Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said residents shouldn’t be concerned about blasting operations at the site, as surface mining will take place first.
“It will take a while until blasting takes place,” he said.
“I don’t think there will be a lot of blasting until they get below the surface.”
The owner of the land, Troy Hollis, from Eurobodalla Quarry and Concrete, has been contacted for comment.
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