Load & Haul

Quarry approved to increase production

The Valla Quarry has been operating since 2002 with an annual extraction limit of 50,000 cubic metres, but was found to be breaking that limit last year. 
According to a Statement of Environmental Effects submitted to the Nambucca Shire Council on behalf of quarry owner Quarry Solutions, Valla experienced a ?significant increase? in quarry material demand in 2012 and 2013. The increase was attributed to extreme weather events, major road reconstruction projects and works by the NSW Government Roads and Maritime Services.
?It is anticipated that this high level of market demand will continue into 2014,? the document stated.
The quarry applied to lift the extraction limit to 79,500 cubic metres, with the Nambucca Shire Council recently giving it the green light to increase its production capacity.
Residents have opposed the council?s decision, expressing concerns that dust coming off the quarry may contain arsenic, and that the quarry will transform the rural landscape.
However, the Statement of Environmental Effects maintained that despite the limit increase, the development would provide the same plant, operational controls, hours of operation, total extraction limit of 950,000 cubic metres, and total truck movements over the life of the quarry, as well as the same finished land form.
Nambucca Shire Council general manager Michael Coulter said that the development application would be reviewed again after 12 months.
Sources: ABC News, The Guardian News, Nambucca Shire Council

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