Ken Fullerton joins Hanson quarry appeal
By Sonia Isaacs
GLASS House Mountains farmer and business owner Ken Fullerton has stepped into the legal battle over the controversial Hanson proposal to double rock extraction at its quarry, joining the Planning and Environment Court appeal as a co-respondent.
It is the latest development in a dispute that has pitted neighbour against neighbour.
Mr Fullerton, whose family has lived near the quarry for decades, says his decision is rooted in support for local business and the quarry’s longstanding contributions to the area.
“The quarry’s been here since the early 1960s, and it’s put a lot back into the community – helping the school, maintaining roads, and providing jobs,” he said.
Mr Fullerton believes many of the recent opponents are newer residents who “should have known the quarry was there before they bought their houses”. He warned closing the quarry would drive up housing and road costs, harm the local economy, and remove a district-supporting business. “It’s a business, so why close it? … houses are going to cost more, the roads are going to cost more.”
However, opposition to the quarry remains strong with opponent Save Our Glasshouse Mountains also joining as a co-respondent in the legal battle.
Many residents have raised concerns about increased truck traffic, noise, and dust, particularly its potential impact on children’s health at the local school. Some fear the environmental consequences of continued quarry operations, including the risk of further expansion and the effect on the iconic Glass House Mountains landscape.
“There’s too much emotion into it,” Mr Fullerton said, but opponents argue their concerns are based on real impacts to quality of life and the environment.
Mr Fullerton noted that as a co-respondent he is not required to pay legal fees and may only be called as a witness.
Hanson, which has rebranded as Heidelberg, launched the appeal in August after Sunshine Coast Council’s failure to decide on its application within the statutory period, triggering a ‘deemed refusal’.
The company is seeking approval to increase rock extraction to 1.2 million tonnes per year.