Quarry opponents dig their heels in

By Paul Dunlop
RESIDENTS opposed to an expansion of the Readymix Quarry at Pakenham have argued the proposal is unjustified and poses a significant threat to the environment and their own enjoyment of life.
They say the negative impacts of the proposal have been underestimated and far outweigh the benefits.
Debate over the quarry expansion continued to rage last week before an independent panel appointed by Planning Minister Rob Hulls.
At issue is Readymix’s bid to extend its Mt Shamrock Quarry by approximately 20 hectares to gain access to a further 20 million tonnes of hard rock resources.
Readymix has argued the proposal will deliver high grade hard rock product close to market demand in a manner that achieves a balance between environmental, community and economic factors.
But residents are far from convinced and mounted a concerted campaign against the expansion.
Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents Association president Gloria O’Connor said many people had taken leave from work and devoted most of their waking moments to make their case.
“It’s been a real David and Goliath exercise,” she said.
“I am totally opposed to it. I can see no justification whatever for the proposed expansion.”
The hearing has been held at the Cardinia Cultural Centre before a threemember panel.
It is scheduled to continue until next Monday with the panel then to provide a report to Minister Hulls for a decision.
Leading planning QC Chris Canavan, who also represented Cardinia Shire Council in the recent golf course panel hearing, has represented Readymix.
About 15 residents have made verbal submissions to the panel with former Berwick MP Robert Dean and Neville Bassett representing the Save the Valley group.
Readymix has said that not granting the extension could lead to a premature closure of the quarry and the loss of at least 40 jobs.
An Environmental Effects Statement produced by consultants on behalf of Readymix concluded that the proposal met the goal of ‘net community benefit’.
Residents’ fears include the visual impact of the expansion as well as blasting and vibrations, slope stability, noise pollution and air quality. Aboriginal groups have also expressed concern, saying recent archaeological digs suggest the area was once a significant cultural site.
Pakenham Upper resident Peter James, who lives two kilometres from the quarry, said noise from blasting was a major issue.
“We can clearly hear the noise of the crushing machinery and trucks,” he said.
Pakenham Upper resident Andrew Helps questioned the process undertaken by Readymix.
Mr Helps, who earlier argued the panel hearing should be postponed for a year to give residents enough time to build their case, said the EES presented a set of documents that ‘would have been typical in about 1968’.
He said the company was trying to avoid the highly contentious issues.
“It is apparent that the process has been carefully steered to avoid the hard ‘drop dead’ issues,” he said.
Toomuc Valley Road landholders Ann and Jeff Brown said they valued the beauty, grandeur and serenity of their surroundings and questioned whether the applicants felt the same.
“Readymix measures performance in dollars, but for the majority of those opposing the application, the currency is ‘lifestyle’,” their submission said.