Community group calls for submissions
By Sonia Isaacs
COMMUNITY group advocates are calling for at least 100 individual submissions to be lodged as public submissions open this week for the proposed expansion of operations at Hanson Glasshouse Quarry.
Save our Glasshouse Mountains (SOGM) spokesperson, Megan Standring said now was the time for the community voice to be heard, and she strongly urged people to submit a public submission expressing their views and concerns as a matter of urgency over the coming three week period.
She said SOGM had worked hard over the past eight months to raise awareness about the proposed expansion to double annual extraction rates to 1.2 million tonnes;
which she said was astonishing to even be considered given the location of the quarry in such a culturally rich and National Heritage area.
“What we’ve discovered is that most of the local community opposed the quarry’s expansion, expressing deep concerns about its potential impacts.,” Ms Standring said.
She said SOGM had done their utmost to spread the message, and now it was crucial for the community to stand and speak up for the nationally and internationally significant Glass House Mountains.
“Failure to voice our concerns through the public submission process may result in enduring consequences not just for our local community but the community at large,” she said.
Some of the concerns raised by the community have included a perceived lack of comprehensive cultural heritage engagement, environmental impact considerations, and negative well-being and social impact for residents. Economic, tourism and heritage and natural beauty impacts – including a potential misalignment with Sunshine Coast’s Council Biosphere status have also been highlighted.
On July 27 2023, Hanson lodged their development application with Council to make changes to the existing quarry located at 22 Mount Beerwah Road, Glass House Mountains. Following the initial application, further information was sought by local and state authorities on a range of matters including noise and traffic issues.
A Hanson spokesperson said Hanson had now responded to the information requests from the Sunshine Coast Council and the State Government.
“We are pleased to have provided an extensive response, and look forward to the next step in the process. The public notification period is anticipated to run from April 10 to May 2, 2024,” they said.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said
“In order for a submission to be considered ‘properly made’, it must be made
within the public notification period and comply with requirements outlined on Council’s website,” they said.
The application can be followed on Sunshine Coast Council’s development website using the MCU23/0197 reference.
