Hanson handed 10-page series of questions over plans for quarry expansion
By Mitch Gaynor
SUNSHINE Coast Council has questioned whether Hanson has been speaking to the correct Indigenous authority in relation to an application to double rock extraction from its Glass House Mountains quarry.
The development comes after the council considered hundreds of public submissions made earlier this year, the vast majority of which were against the proposed expansion.
In a 10-page letter sent to Hanson, council officers asked the company to address a number of concerns including:
Cultural heritage;
Community consultation;
Traffic increases;
Dust and pollution;
Noise;
Vibration;
Ecology;
Environment;
and Scenic amenity.
Three pages of the letter were focused on Indigenous cultural matters.
Hanson’s original application had argued that matters of Indigenous culture sat outside the development application process.
Hanson said despite this, it had still been liaising with Kabi Kabi elders.
But council has now responded taking into account public submissions and it’s concerns over Indigenous authority.
“The majority of submissions received during public notification have raised concerns regarding impacts of the development on Aboriginal cultural heritage,” the council officers wrote in a request for further information.
“While the applicant maintains a position that work is continuing with the relevant Aboriginal Party, there does not appear to be any evidence of this being undertaken with the correct, recognised Aboriginal Party, being the Jinibara People.”
It is now seeking extensive information within an ‘Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Report’ with the information requested running over three pages.
The council also questioned the company’s community consultation efforts.
“Not all of the 471 properly made submissions and petitions objecting to the proposed development have been addressed. More detailed community consultation is also required,” it stated.
“Provide a comprehensive summary and response to the community concerns based the outcomes of the public consultation and how these would be addressed/managed.”
Further information was also sought regarding traffic increases from the doubling of rock extraction.
Hanson must provide information that separates estimates of the daily vehicles generated by the existing site operations and the daily vehicles generated by the proposed increase across weekdays and Saturdays.
The company was also asked to provide further information about potential dust pollution, saying its original application did not provide adequate information.
editorial@gcnews.com.au
