By Sonia Isaacs
THE Sunshine Coast Council has, for the first time, outlined why it refused Hanson’s bid to double rock extraction at its Glasshouse Quarry, citing significant concerns about environmental and community impacts.
Court documents filed after Hanson appealed the proposal’s deemed refusal show the council feared increased blasting and truck movements would cause unacceptable noise and dust impacts for nearby properties.
The council also said Hanson failed to properly address flooding and stormwater issues, potential groundwater contamination, and visual amenity.
Filed in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane last week, the council’s “Reasons for Refusal” against Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd detail why the proposed development was rejected.
The expansion sought to increase production from 600,000 tonnes per annum to 1.2m tonnes per annum and deepen the quarry from 18 metres to a final depth of 48m at the 22 Mount Beerwah Road site.
The council said the proposal failed to meet the overall outcome of the Rural zone code, which requires that “adverse environmental and amenity impacts are avoided or appropriately managed.”
The council stated that the proposed development would create unacceptable adverse noise and dust impacts for sensitive land uses located to the north, south, and east of the quarry.
Traffic concerns were also central to the refusal, as Hanson had not adequately demonstrated that the resulting increase in heavy vehicle movements would be acceptable for the local transport system and road network. Critical water management issues were also cited. The council argued Hanson provided insufficient information on acceptable water quality discharging from the site and failed to demonstrate whether flood flows from Coonowrin Creek would enter the quarry. There was also inadequate detail regarding potential impacts on groundwater, including risks to surrounding groundwater users, the site water balance, and geological data.
Visual amenity concerns were raised due to insufficient information on the rehabilitation of extraction boundaries and impacts on surrounding viewsheds.
The council concluded on November 21 2025 that, due to the insufficient level of detail provided, compliance with assessment benchmarks could not be achieved, even with the imposition of lawful development conditions.
Local groups, including Save Our Glass House Mountains, Ken Fullerton, and Fullerton Farms, are listed as co-respondents by election in the ongoing appeal.
Save Our Glass House Mountains (SOGHM) said the filing confirms the basis for rejecting the quarry proposal.
“This is a significant milestone for our shared effort and a testament to the combined strength of our community in upholding the values and protections of the Glasshouse Mountains,” said SOGHM spokesperson Megan Standring.
Co-respondent SOGHM, is preparing its own submission by December 5.
sonia@gcnews.com.au