Industry News

Farming couple stumble upon basalt ?gold mine?

Gladstone Regional Council recently granted HME Quarries permission to build a basalt quarry near Raglan, Queensland.

The quarry, which was first proposed in May 2014, is expected to produce 50,000 tonnes of road base and aggregate in the first year before eventually ramping up to a maximum output of 500,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

Anne Stunzner – who owns the land on which the quarry will be located with her husband, Gordon – described to Gladstone Observer how she first came to realise her property had potential for more than just cattle farming.

“When I was out mustering there was a paddock that I always noticed was very steep and very rocky,” she said. “One day I saw at the bottom of the hill where the topsoil had been disturbed there was some blue powder. We went out looking and found some blue rock at the top of the hill, so we got some sampling done. We knew we had good product when word got around and people were calling us.”

Stunzner and her husband had reportedly been seeking to diversify into areas that were not so heavily reliant on weather conditions, with Stunzner noting that the drought that occurred over 2009 and 2010 had taken its toll on the couple both mentally and financially.

The quarry’s approval appeared to be a long-term boon for the pair. Although an exact estimate was yet to be ascertained, HME Quarries managing director David Hills told Quarry he believed the site contained a “huge amount” of resources and that the quarry could potentially have a life of 50 years.

“It will also enable the next six generations to remain on this piece of land and gives us the means to look after our in-laws – to give them the retirement they deserve,” Stunzner told Gladstone Observer. It is believed the property has been in Stunzner’s family since her ancestors settled in 1868.

The quarry will not only support the Stunzners – it is expected to be beneficial for the local region as well. The construction phase of the development will create about 10 jobs, with four employees – including mobile plant operators – to continue on through the operational phase. A number of haulage contractors will also be employed during this period.

It was said that a number of local road upgrades that would be undertaken as part of the project would additionally “facilitate greater mobility and an enhanced transport network” for users.

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