SAVE Our Glass House Mountains says it was “outwitted and out-funded” during its unsuccessful court fight against the expansion of the Glass House Quarry.
SOGHM spokesperson Burnice Starkey said the volunteer group had entered the Planning and Environment Court process with limited funds and little experience of complex litigation.
“The court process was beyond any of our experience,” Ms Starkey said.
“Nevertheless, we did our best with the limited financial means we had.
“We didn’t have the finances to secure legal counsel for the entire pre-trial and court process, although we were fortunate to receive some pro bono assistance at the eleventh hour.”
The court this month allowed Heidelberg Materials, formerly Hanson, to deepen the quarry and increase annual extraction to as much as 1.2 million tonnes, subject to final conditions.
In her judgment, Judge Nicole Kefford criticised aspects of the case advanced by Sunshine Coast Council and SOGHM, including their failure to retain ecological experts.
She also acknowledged the “sincerity and conviction” of SOGHM members and their “strong feelings for this area and its attractions”.
Ms Starkey said the group could not match Heidelberg’s legal and technical resources.
“We could only really afford one expert,” she said. She said SOGHM was disappointed evidence from residents about blasting, truck movements, dust, silica concerns and water quality appeared to carry limited weight. “Our lay witnesses were speaking from the heart about the pressures our community endures,” she said.
Ms Starkey said the group felt “enormously let down by the judicial system”.
The group will also continue working with the Sunshine Coast Environment Council and pursue its call for greater federal scrutiny of the project.
https://gcnews.com.au/council-blasted-over-henny-penny-glass-house-quarry-fight