Johnston Crescent residents concerned about quarry proposal

After finally getting the pine trees that shaded their properties during winter removed, and for two months of the year also left the homes covered in yellow pollen, the residents are now facing another problem.

A proposed quarry on the north-western tip of Blayney, which if approved would operate six days a week for the next two decades, has them feeling so worried that they have submitted a petition and a series of letters to Blayney Shire Council outlining their concerns.

Of greatest concern is the potentially-adverse impact the dust being raised during the 20 year life of the quarry might have on their health, and way of life.

However, the developer Ben Volkovsky said in its DA to council that there were no air quality, biodiversity, heritage, water or soil concerns arising from the project. 

His proposal submitted to council claimed the project would create “between one and three full-time jobs”, as well flow-on effects to the community.

Belinda Newstead has only recently moved back to her Johnston Crescent home and at first was elated the pine trees were gone, now however she’s fighting to stop what she believes will be an assault on the senses.

“Now that the pine trees are gone we have the beautiful sight of green rolling hills,” she said.

“If this development passes that will be gone, and all we’ll have is a dust filled home, a quarry to look at and the constant sound of the drill, the noise of the crusher, as well as trucks reversing and 10 times a year, blasting.”

Adjacent to the proposed site is the current Blayney Shire Council quarry known as White’s Quarry, and resident Helen Hodder said now the trees have been removed the noise from that site is much clearer.

“That quarry was established prior to all the houses in this area and while the residents can hear some noise from drilling, the hill shields most noise from residents. If this hill was removed or lowered there would be no buffer and residents would be affected by noise and dust from both quarries,” she said.

Mrs Hodder added the health concerns caused by the dust shouldn’t be ignored.

“Small children growing up nearby will have to listen to the noise and breath in the dust all their lives.

“This could have long term effects on their health.”

Residents in the area received notifications from Blayney Shire Council that the time-frame for making a submission regarding the proposal has been extended following council’s discovery of an administrative error.

The Director of Planning and Environmental Services Mark Dicker said that council had missed sending notifications to some key government bodies and that they were re-sending them, and that resident’s prior submissions would still be included.

“Rather than send them separate submissions we decided for the sake of transparency to re-undertake the entire notification process,” he said.

“The development application hasn’t changed at all.

“Residents can lodge another submission if they want and everyone’s existing submissions still stands.”

The DA will be posted on the council’s website from December 21 and residents have up until January 25 to make a submission.