The Sunshine Coast Council last year declined a development application by Parkland Blue Metal after receiving more than 5000 objections. The Planning and Environment Court upheld the decision but Parkland Blue Metal is now filing an appeal.
“The strong message was we are fighting for the character of the area, which will change forever if the project goes ahead,? said community representative Casey Macneil. “It will potentially lead to the area becoming more industrial than residential.” He added that the project would impact “hundreds of houses” and “probably thousands of people” because the haulage route includes Coolum-Yandina Road.
If Parkland Blue Metal’s appeal is successful, the quarry could produce up to 500,000 tonnes of rock a year for the next 50 years.
The appeal hearing was delayed in July to allow the filing of information on the application’s potential impact on the Sunshine Coast Airport realignment. Judge John Robertson ordered the trial start be extended until 30 July, which was the deadline for air quality experts to finalise their reports and for council to expand its submission.
?Now the airport issue has come up, it’s given a big reason for all parties to agree to postpone,? Macneil said. ?It’s a good thing council has another big reason for refusing this inappropriate quarry application.?
French champagne, oil paintings and even tax returns were auctioned to help fund the community’s $200,000 legal bill in its fight against the proposed Coolum quarry.
Sources: Sunshine Coast Daily, Fraser Coast Chronicle, Coolum and North Shore News