Hanson running out of time to reply to ten page letter from Council
By Kirra Livingstone
HANSON Quarry said it would be working to answer a series of detailed questions from Sunshine Coast Council to advance plans to double rock extraction from its Glass House Mountains site.
Council officers have asked Hanson for more information regarding development application to increase rock extraction to 1.2 million tonnes per annum, including cultural, traffic and environmental matters.
It pointedly told Hanson that it had been speaking to the wrong Indigenous group and required significantly more information about its communication efforts. Although Hanson said it had consulted with the Kabi Kabi people, the council noted the Jinibara were the appropriate group for the area.
A spokesperson for Hanson Quarry said the organisation would continue to engage with the Jinibara people on cultural and heritage matters. “Hanson will continue to work through the Council’s request for information to ensure they are in a position to meet the growing demand for quarry materials on the Sunshine Coast, including major infrastructure such as the Kawana Motorway and Sunshine Coast Rail projects,” a spokesperson said. “These projects have long-lasting benefits for the Sunshine Coast region as a whole.”
Save Our Glasshouse Mountains co-founder, Megan Standring, said she was happy with the council’s range of questions. “I think it’s fantastic that they’re enquiring deeper about these things,” she said. “It’s very promising for the community and shows that they’re listening to us, so I thought that was really positive. “I really like that they have recommended an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) referral, which involves the federal government. “It’s not only a local issue because the Glass House Mountains are quite symbolic, so I thought that was a great recommendation.”
Megan said that although the EPBC referral was positive, it should have been made through addressing the national heritage values of the Glass House Mountains. She also voiced concerns about a similar situation with a Hanson Quarry in Wales, where the community successfully rallied to protect a natural treasure.
“In Wales, where basically the exact same thing is happening, the council said no twice, then the organisation went to the Welsh government, and they overturned it,” she said. “We don’t want the same thing to happen here if the council votes against it. They are a fairly new council, so I hope they vote for our side. “This won’t be voted on in an ordinary meeting until the new year. I’m hoping the councillors vote no, but you never know.”
Megan acknowledged that Hanson had a specific deadline to respond to the council’s letter, seeking further crucial details for the development. kirra@gcnews.com.au
