Hinterland community forces pause on Council quarry plans
The community is asking Sunshine Coast Council to demonstrate it’s a level playing field for both public and private quarry operations and all residents equally in the Sunshine Coast region.
Northern Blackall Range and Image Flat hinterland communities have convinced Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) to pause its plans to seek private tenders to operate its Dulong and Image Flat quarries.
A detailed submission outlining community concerns with the proposal, and backed by numerous local and regional community advocacy groups, was presented to SCC in early August. Because of the range and seriousness of issues identified, the submission requested SCC put an indefinite hold on releasing the tenders until all matters raised could be addressed.
Following extensive investigations and professional advice, hinterland residents are of the understanding that SCC-owned quarries at Dulong and Image Flat may be treated differently from private quarries in the region under the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme (SCPC). If founded, the anomalies could offer planning and development, operational and commercial advantages to SCC that local private quarry companies do not share.
Lindsay Holt, Vice President of Blackall Range Land Use and Planning Association, is concerned that any advantages may also be transferrable to a successful lessee.
“Should a contract be signed between Council and a private quarry operator under the current planning arrangements, those potential advantages may never be wound back. Council needs to address these problems urgently,” Mr Holt says.
“Community investigations have also raised concerns that under the current SCPS, residents living near Image Flat and Dulong Council-owned quarries may not have the same essential and expected legal opportunities for participation in planning application decisions as those living near private quarries.”
President of Hinterland Quarry Action Group, Anne Veivers, says residents are rightly worried that if a private lessee applied to increase production at either Council-owned quarry, the community can’t have fair input into the decision.
“This is of huge concern to residents as they’re the ones who stand to be most impacted in their homes by any future changes,” Ms Veivers says.
“Hinterland residents living with Council-owned quarries must have the same rights as everyone else. The community is asking Sunshine Coast Council to demonstrate it’s a level playing field for both public and private quarry operations and all residents equally in the Sunshine Coast region.”
SCC advised hinterland residents late last week that it is taking the matters raised very seriously and will temporarily pause the quarry tender process while it considers the content of the community submission.
According to Mr Holt, it’s a good start.
“No one is against Council running their own quarries, but unfortunately, there may be problems relating to Dulong and Image Flat quarries that need urgent attention by Council. Addressing these issues must take precedence for Council before they can ever begin thinking about who runs the quarries.”
“At this stage, hinterland residents are just glad Council is listening and taking their concerns seriously.”
The community submission has the support of Blackall Range Land Use and Planning Association, Mapleton and District Community Association, Montville Village Association, Hinterland Quarry Action Group, Organisation Sunshine Coast Association of Residents and Sunshine Coast Environment Council.
Hinterland Quarry Action Group (HQAG) responded by saying “This is great news. Hinterland residents have worked tirelessly for 8 months to reach this point. Yet this is now actually the beginning of the real fight for the community to protect themselves and the Sunshine Coast hinterland.”
The hinterland community needs to fundraise $15,000 to cover legal and professional costs as it works to address the quarry issues with SCC. To donate, sign up as a member or for more information please follow Hinterland Quarry Action Group on Facebook.