EXCLUSIVE: Quarry owners take fight to court after decision delay triggers appeal
By Sonia Isaacs and Mitch Gaynor
Hanson has hauled Sunshine Coast Council into court after its bid to more than double output from the controversial Glass House Mountains Quarry stalled in planning limbo.
The long-running and controversial application, lodged two years ago, sought to lift the quarry’s extraction cap from 600,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes a year, extend operating hours, deepen the pits and shift processing operations on site.
Council agreed to several extensions of the statutory decision period, but when that timeframe expired in August, Hanson treated it as a deemed refusal and launched an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court.
“We are deeply frustrated and disappointed with the timeframe it has taken the Sunshine Coast Council to assess our development application for the existing quarry at Glasshouse Mountains,” a Hanson spokesperson said.
“We have provided extensive scientific responses, backed by data, to address all concerns raised by Council and have agreed to three extensions of time over the past six months since the application entered the decision-making period in February 2025,” the spokesperson added.
“Council has had more than two years to assess the properly made application, and it has become evident that the matter has seen minimal progress in recent times. To provide greater certainty around the supply of construction materials to the Sunshine Coast region, we have lodged an appeal with the Planning Court.”
In its notice of appeal, filed on Monday, September 1, Hanson said the land is already zoned for extractive industry under the state’s planning framework and is identified as a Key Resource Area, earmarked for its hard rock reserves.
The company argues the expansion complies with all relevant planning instruments and benchmarks and should be approved.
Hanson also noted the site has long been recognised under earlier planning consents, including a 1999 permit that allowed up to 600,000 tonnes a year.
It argues the expansion is essential to meeting demand for construction materials across South East Queensland, while maintaining the existing truck haulage route via Coonowrin Road and the Steve Irwin Way.
The council extended its decision period several times but did not hand down a ruling before the August 2025 deadline, resulting in what Hanson describes as a deemed refusal.
The matter will now be determined by the court.
The Save Our Glass House Mountains group has spearheaded community resistance, warning of increased traffic, dust and noise, and arguing the expansion threatens the scenic landscape that underpins the region’s tourism economy.
Hundreds of submissions were received during the public notification period earlier last year, many raising concerns about heavy vehicle movements through the township and the quarry’s proximity to the heritage-listed mountains. SOGHM has been approached for comment.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson confirmed Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd (now Heidelberg Materials Australia) has lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court following a deemed refusal of its Material Change of Use application to intensify quarry operations at 22 Mount Beerwah Road.
The spokesperson said that under the Planning Act 2016, applicants may lodge a deemed refusal if an impact-assessable application is not decided within the legislated timeframe. “Council and the applicant had previously agreed to multiple extensions of the decision period. However, the applicant declined to extend beyond 8 August 2025 and lodged a deemed refusal before Council could make a decision. As a result, the Court is now the assessment manager,” they said.
The application was publicly notified from 9 April to 2 May 2024, attracting 528 submissions (488 properly made submissions). Properly made submitters will be notified of the appeal and may elect to become co-respondents. Further information is available on Council’s website or via the Planning and Environment Court.
Hanson maintains the expansion is consistent with state and local planning policy.