Group fears worst outcome for blasting
By Sonia Isaacs
RESIDENTS are being called on by opponents of the Glasshouse Quarry expansion to attend the Sunshine Coast Council’s ordinary meeting on March 27 to show solidarity in their demands to reject the proposal.
Advocacy group Save Our Glasshouse Mountains (SOGHM) has criticised the project’s transparency to date and has called for independent environmental and engineering assessments instead of relying on reports provided by Heidelberg Materials.
Despite the opposition, the State Government earlier this month granted environmental authority for the expansion. The final decision now rests with the Sunshine Coast Council, which is assessing the development application.
If approved, quarry production will double from 600,000 to 1.2 million tonnes per annum (TPA). However, a Heidelberg spokesperson has noted those figures relate to the full 1,200,000 TPA scenario, which would not be every year.
“The quarry (If approved) will not operate at 1,200,000 TPA every year,” the Heidelberg spokesperson said.
“The quarry operations and the truck movements will fluctuate in response to customer demand to accommodate key and local projects.”
Residents fear the expansion will worsen congestion, noise, dust, and road wear, posing heightened safety risks for pedestrians and cyclists.
They have also questioned the accuracy of blasting impact data and the potential impact on Mt Coonowrin, which sits adjacent to the existing quarry.
Concerns have been raised over suburban streets not being designed for industrial traffic, with double-trailer trucks frequently passing homes, a primary school, and a narrow railway bridge before reaching Steve Irwin Way.
Glass House Mountains resident Burnice Starkey said she was deeply concerned about increased traffic, noise pollution, and environmental degradation.
“Some days, the noise from the trucks is just horrendous,” she said. “Heidelberg’s response to Council suggests truck movements fluctuate based on demand, but with ongoing housing developments, I believe their estimates undervalue what the actual tally of heavy vehicles on the roads through town will be.”
Ms Starkey also highlighted safety concerns along Coonowrin Rd, Burgess, and Reed Street, noting the lack of sufficient traffic data.
Glass House Mountains residents Steven and Sarah Minns, who have lived in the area for 19 years, expressed frustration over the quarry’s proximity to Mt Coonowrin and the surrounding heritage-listed area.
“Sitting state and local politicians have publicly acknowledged that the quarry should never have been approved at the foot of Mt Coonowrin,” Mr Minns said. “To align with the Council’s commitment to protecting the Glass House Mountains, Mayor Rosanna Natoli and councillors must reject the expansion.”
SOGHM’s Megan Standring criticised what she said was a lack of transparency around the traffic impact.
“Without an independent engineering assessment, the risk to public safety remains unknown,” she said.
The group has written to key government agencies, demanding explanations for discrepancies in Heidelberg’s DA response. They say that despite previous requests, Heidelberg has failed to provide critical information.
“We stand firm against quarry expansion and believe public support can demonstrate this is not in the best interest of the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Standring said.
Hinterland Quarry Action Group spokesperson Anne Veivers said while the recently approved Environmental Authority addressed on-site impacts, off-site effects—such as noise, dust, and road safety—remained a significant issue.
“The community is highly concerned about off-site impacts which directly affect people’s liveability and the possible integrity of Mt Coonowrin,” she said. “Council has a dual responsibility: to maintain resource access while protecting surrounding communities. That balance must be more equitable.”
