Hanson’s Glass House Mountains quarry plans swamped with public submissions

A controversial quarry expansion has been swamped with more than 130 public submissions as the community vows to fight against the proposal.

A drone shot of the Glasshouse Quarry. Picture: contributed

Health concerns and environmental impacts are front of mind for outraged residents in a Sunshine Coast community as they flood public submissions regarding a proposed quarry expansion.

As of Tuesday, six days into the Sunshine Coast Council’s public submissions on a quarry expansion by the company Hanson, more than 130 submissions had been made.

The proposal to expand the quarry at 22 Mount Beerwah Rd, Glass House Mountains was submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council in August last year.

Hanson’s proposed expansion would allow the quarry to double production to 1.2 million tonnes a year.

The application proposed to relocate the processing plant to a central location and increase the depth of extraction.

Among the issues raised within the public submissions are concerns for the environmental impacts due to increased heavy vehicle activity, the health implications for nearby childcare services as well as issues it may cause for local farmers growing crops in the region.

Local resident Daniel Dekel said as more people move into the Glass House area a larger quarry, bringing with it more traffic, was not appropriate.

“Now it is quite residential, lots of cars and kids on bikes, it would just be dangerous,” Mr Dekel said.

“It has become a lot more built up, it is just not suited for commercial trucking routes.

“It would no longer be the quiet, peaceful town everyone wants it to be.”

Daniel Dekel is among more than 130 residents who submitted their thoughts on the Glasshouse Quarry expansion to the Sunshine Coast council.

Glass House Mountain resident of more than 20 years, Jenny Waldock, said she believed the proposal threatened the safety of residents, as well as farmers.

“I am very concerned on the impact of increased depth of quarry extraction on the natural water table,” Ms Waldock said.

“Deeper excavation will cause deep water pollution that will impact badly on local fauna and flora.

“There are also many commercial fruit growers locally, how will their crops be kept safe from water pollution from quarry dust?”

The state member for Glass House, Andrew Powell, did not reveal whether he supported or opposed the proposal, but said state agencies would be making submissions to the council.

“Whilst a number of state agencies, like the Department of Transport and Main Roads, will provide technical submissions on the application, the decision to approve or reject the expansion sits with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council,” Mr Powell said.

A spokesperson for Hanson said the company encouraged people to reach out “directly” with questions and concerns about the project.

“Hanson has responded to the information requests from the Sunshine Coast Council and the State Government in relation to the development application for the proposed changes to the existing Hanson Glasshouse Quarry,” the spokesperson said.

“We are pleased to have provided an extensive response, and now in the public notification period which is anticipated to run to May 2, 2024.

“We will continue to work with council and the relevant departments in the State government.”

The public submissions will close on May 2, 2024.

Originally published as Hanson’s Glass House Mountains quarry plans swamped with public submissions