Plans to build new stone quarry with major infrastructure projects planned for the Shire

The quarry, given the working name 'Tyrone Quarry' would be developed in Eurobodalla, southwest of Bodalla, if approved.

The proposed quarry would not be far from the existing Blue Ridge Quarry.

According to documents lodged with the DA, the quarry would be built at 51-53 Nerrigundah Mountain Road on a site of about six hectares including ancilllary facilities.

Extraction of "basalt, tuff, and weathered rock" would be done on a five-hectare patch of land over a "15 to 20 year period" and result in a proposed 1.87 million tonnes of rock over two stages.

The quarry would comprise a mobile processing plant, excavators and loaders, sedimentation ponds, stockpiles, prefabricated offices and amenities buildings, storage, and a car parking area according to the DA documents.

"Access to the site is by way of an existing formed public road that runs off Nerrigundah Mountain Road approximately 7.5 kilometres southwest of Bodalla," the paperwork reads.

"The quarried material would be processed on site to provide aggregates for the construction industry and for the provision of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and dams."

A planner from Zenith Town Planning, on behalf of the applicant Stevdav Pty Ltd, said the quarry would be important to keep up with increased construction demand over the next 20 years.

"New bridges are planned for the Clyde River at Nelligen and the Moruya River at Moruya, including a town bypass," the planner said.

"The new water storage facility near the Tuross River and a regional hospital at Moruya are other significant projects that will require the resource able to be produced by the proposed quarry.

"To maximise benefits to the community and local economy, it is recommended that labour, goods and services associated with the quarry be sourced locally wherever possible."

The paperwork for the DA also includes several studies done on the proposed site, details of which can be found below.

The DA is on public exhibition until September 13.

Noise Emissions

A noise assessment study has found the potential for noise impacts as extraction progresses to the southern end of the proposed quarry. However, the study found that positioning equipment at the southern end of the quarry and the use of either pit geometry or a berm, noise levels can meet the required criteria.

The nearest home on Eurobodalla Road is expected to reach peak hour noise levels "in excess of criteria by 5dBA", however, of this exceedance "it was found that the proposed quarry operations would be expected to generate only a 1dB of that increase, which is considered imperceptible" according to the study.

Air Quality

A study on expected air quality says all "suspended particles and dust deposition" would comply with assessment criteria. The study says safeguards and mitigation measures "include the use of dust suppression of quarrying activities using water collected in the sediment pond".

Water

Documents suggest there may be a potential change to water quality and quantity leaving the quarry area, but also said "when mitigation measures are implemented, overall discharge, total suspended solids, total phosphorous, and total nitrogen levels are reduced". Initial test drilling did not find any groundwater down to 50 metres below ground level.

The study also said the proposal was "unlikely to affect downstream erosion or cause sedimentation", but acknowledged the need for an investigation into whether "culverts, rock armouring, and the like" were needed during "discharge from the quarry during high-flow events".

Biodiversity

The development of the quarry would result in the removal of PCT 777 Coast Grey Box, a Mountain Grey Gum tree. However, the vegetation is "in a highly modified state and is not listed as a threatened ecological community" according to a biodiversity study.

The same study found there would be little to no fauna disturbed as there are "no water habitats, no substantial rock habitats, no caves, cliffs or overhangs (and the) ... understorey cover is limited and fallen logs rare due to disturbance and bushfire impacts".

The study found there to be "no serious and irreversible impacts, and it is unlikely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance". It suggests setting limits of clearing for each stage of the quarry.

Heritage

A heritage study found a "high degree of disturbance across the development site". There is a "moderate likelihood of occurrence of open camp sites, stone artefact scatters or isolated finds, a low-moderate likelihood of potential archaeological deposits, a low likelihood of culturally modified trees, axe-grinding grooves, bora ground/ceremonial sites or contact/historic sites, and a nil-to-low likelihood of occurrence of a burial". The study found there were "no Aboriginal sites or Aboriginal cultural values identified on the site, and it was found to have nil to low archaeological significance".

The nearest place of heritage significance is the Charles Harpur and Son's graves located 1.32 kilometres to the south-east.

Traffic and Parking

The quarry is not expected to exceed 48 heavy vehicle movements per day, and a maximum of 20 passenger vehicle movements per day for staff. The largest vehicle used would be used during construction would be a 19-metre truck according to DA documents.

DA documents suggest traffic lights be installed on an unnamed public road leading to the quarry, road widening measures, a guard rail barrier on the eastern side, and corrective works and vegetation removal at the southern entry to the quarry.