Dulong and Image Flat Quarries

Last reviewed: 28/01/24

Sunshine Coast Council Surreptitiously Releases Quarry Expressions of Interest:

The Sunshine Coast Council has released the Dulong and Image Flat quarry Expressions of Interest packages, which has angered and disappointed Blackall Range residents. The council gave the community only one business hour’s notice of the release, despite having advised the Hinterland Quarry Action Group one week earlier that they had placed the release on hold while they considered the contents of a detailed written submission presented by the community in early August.

The EOI documents reveal that the council is contemplating entering into an agreement for a commercial operator to operate the quarry sites who will invest in and grow the quarrying operations. The Hinterland Quarry Action Group is concerned that increased quarrying operations will result in greater noise, traffic, dust, and blasting impacts on the local residents living near the quarries and along the truck routes. The EOI also expresses the opportunity for a private operator to reopen the old asphalt plant at Image Flat, which was forced to close through community action in 2020 due to non-compliant toxic air emissions.

The Hinterland Quarry Action Group continues to fight hard to represent the interests of hinterland residents, visitors, and the natural environment to Council. The group is asking for more helpers to join them. The EOI documents are available by sending a request to aveivers@iprimus.com.au.

Hinterland Quarry Action Group

The Hinterland Quarry Action Group (HQAG) advocates for community consultation and transparency in the quarry development process in the Sunshine Coast region. The group has addressed several key issues, including the council expression of interest process, action group issues, council quarry operations, and concerns regarding water discharge from the Dulong quarry. In August 2023, the group set up an inaugural management committee in preparation for incorporation.

Background

The MADCA is very concerned about the potential impacts of the Sunshine Coast Council’s plans to lease its quarry business to a commercial operator from mid-2023, as the council explores options through an Expression of Interest process.

In 2022, Sunshine Coast Regional Council initiated a strategic review of the operation of the two quarries to help decide its future operating model and budget deliberations. Councillors, decided the fate of the council-owned Image Flat and Dulong quarry business and operating sites at the last ordinary council meeting on December 8th 2022, resolving to lease the quarry sites to a commercial operator by June 30.

Material extracted from the Dulong Quarry, Sherwell Road is basalt rock, which is used for production of asphalt and bitumen aggregates for road surfacing. The Image Flat quarry, Image Flat Road is a source of rhyolite.

Key elements for potential operators of the quarries include:

• Industry expertised in the operation of the quarries.
• sustainable development of the sites in accordance with land use devlopment and environmental requirements.
• Support research and developmen of local supply of recycled materials as a subsitute for sand and road aggregates.
• Maintaining the land in council ownership.

MADCA's Concerns

The council's decision without any public engagement caused concern throughout the local and wider community. It was not at all clear whether the council would have any control over the quarries operations once they had been leased. Trucking rates had not been determined by the council. There were other concerns such as the blast frequency, impact of dust, noise, road damage, road sefety, property damage, environmental impacts to waterways, native animals, and the negative effects on local properties such as land prices and lifestyle. Residents and road users from Nambour to Mapleton and beyond would all potentially be affected.

Community Response

The community in the immediate vicinity formed the Dulong Quarry Action Group which included residents from Image Flat. The first meeting took place on the 14th January 2023 in the Kureelpa Hall. Following this, a second meeting took took place on the 9th February 2023 with both Councillor David Law, Division 10, and Rob Skelton MP attending.

Council Information

The Sunshine Coast council held three public drop-in information sessions on the 19th April in Nambour.

Sunshine Coast Council - Public Presentation 19th April.
Sunshine Coast Council - Image Flat and Dulong Quarry Information Page..

Hinterland Quarry Action Group Advocates for Community Consultation and Safety

To better reflect the representation of both Council quarries, Dulong and Image Flat, in June, the Dulong Quarry Action Group formally changed its name to the Hinterland Quarry Action Group (HQAG). HQAG is working to ensure community consultation, transparency, and safety in the quarry development process in the Sunshine Coast region. Significant progress has been made since January 2023, with key developments in the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's expression of interest process, action group issues, Sunshine Coast Regional Council quarry operations, and concerns regarding water discharge from the Dulong quarry. The HQAG remains committed to representing the interests of hinterland residents, minimising impacts on residents, roads and the environment, and promoting responsible quarry development practices.

September Update: Preparation for Incorporation and EoI Review

The HQAG recently convened a general meeting, culminating in the election of its inaugural Management Committee. This decisive step signifies the start of organisation's transition into an Incorporated Organisation. Until the formal incorporation process reaches fruition, the HQAG will maintain its status as a sub-group under the aegis of MADCA. Notably, the HQAG has garnered a considerable influx of financial support from private donors, bolstering its capacity to further its mission.

The HQAG has proven instrumental in disseminating its expertise and experiences to a quarry group in Glasshouse. This collaboration arises in response to plans for an ambitious production expansion at the Hanson Glasshouse Quarry, aimed at achieving an annual output of 1.2 million tonnes of aggregate.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has opted to temporarily halt its 'Expression of Interest' process. This decision stems from a comprehensive submission presented by the HQAG. Within this submission, the HQAG highlights a number of concerns addressing the potential disparate treatment between council-owned quarries and their privately-owned counterparts. The submission highlights issues surrounding zoning under the existing scheme, potentially giving planning, development, operational, and commercial advantages to private entities. The HQAG's primary request is to ensure an equitable playing field for both public and private quarry operations, thus safeguarding the interests of residents and stakeholders alike.

June Update: Advocating for Consultation and Addressing Concerns

The recent meeting of the Hinterland Quarry Action Group addressed several crucial points, highlighting the ongoing efforts to ensure community consultation, transparency, and safety throughout the quarry development process.

SCC EOI Process:

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has encountered delays in releasing the quarry tenders, leading to increased uncertainty and a lack of information for the community. The SLG-IFQ (the liaison group) has not provided any updates, further emphasising the need for ongoing engagement.

Action Group Issues:

The HQAG sought legal advice on the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's plans to seek expressions of interest from private industry for quarry operations. The current dual zoning of Image Flat and Dulong quarries leaves the hinterland communities vulnerable, as future development applications are code assessable rather than impact assessable. The community bears the risk of limited legal opportunities for consultation in case of changes or increased extraction activities at the quarries. The HQAG also requires funds for legal representation. However, HQAG, supported by the community and organisations like OSCAR, is actively addressing these concerns and working towards incorporating as a not-for-profit group.

Sunshine Coast Regional Council Quarry Operations:

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council initiated a planned six-week rock transport from Dulong to Image Flat on the 29th of May, 2023. Although most truck drivers have displayed good behaviour, some concerns have been reported, including speeding, uncovered loads, crossing centre lines on corners, and excessive noise. Of particular concern was an alleged incident involving a loaded truck failing to give way to oncoming traffic, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. The community is urged to exercise caution, be patient, and share the road responsibly with quarry trucks to ensure safety.

Dulong Quarry Water Discharge Concern:

Concerns were raised by residents that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council had begun pumping out a significant volume of stormwater from the Dulong pit, directly discharging it into the upper South Maroochy River causing discolouration. Concerns about water quality were raised, prompting reports to the council and the Department of Environment and Science Pollution Hotline. Councillor David Law pursued the availability of water testing data to address community concerns. The council confirmed the incident was not to do with quarry operations but to do with a sediment control product being used on the Dulong School Road. Whilst the product was environmentally friendly, control measures were put in place. The full report from the council is provided below:

However, the Dulong quarry continued pumping water from the quarry into Dulong Creek resulting in high visual turbidity. Explanations have been requested from both the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and the Qld Department of Environment.

April Update: Progress and Extended Timelines

Following the Quarries Community Meeting held on the 9th February, 2023, the Sunshine Coast Council initiated formal engagement with local community representatives through the Stakeholder Liaison Group-Image Flat and Dulong Quarries (SLG-IFQ). The first meeting was held on the 16th March, where discussions revolved around establishing the Terms of Reference for the group. The SLG-IFQ, consisting of nominated community representatives, council members, and key stakeholders, aims to ensure a balanced and effective platform for addressing the community's needs. In addition to these efforts, dedicated volunteers in Dulong, Mapleton, and Image Flat continue to work diligently on behalf of the community.

As a result of collaborative efforts and effective engagement with the Action Group and the community, Sunshine Coast Regional Council has revised the timelines for the Quarries Project. Originally planning to release expressions of interest in late January 2023 with a potential private contractor start date of 1st of July, 2023, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council now intends to review the entire project. The expression of interest process will commence after Easter, and the possible start date for a private contractor has been moved to January 2024. The Sunshine Coast Regional Council is diligently reviewing the project, and it's possible that these dates may be further extended. This revision provides the community with additional time to work directly with the council toward their desired outcomes and encourages the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to continue operating the quarries themselves.

Conclusion:

The Hinterland Quarry Action Group continues to advocate for community consultation, transparency, and safety in the quarry development process. They have made substantial progress in addressing issues related to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council expressions of interest process, working towards incorporating as a not-for-profit group, and collaborating with relevant organisations to tackle zoning concerns. The HQAG emphasizes the importance of community engagement and encourages reporting of any observed concerns regarding quarry or truck activities to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's Customer Services. Safety remains a top priority during this period of increased truck movements, and the community is urged to exercise caution and share the roads responsibly.

To remain up todate please follow the Hinterland Quarry Action Group on Facebook:

Hinterland Quarry Action Group
or email your contact details to: aveivers@iprimus.com.au

Documents

The following documents have been shared by the Dulong Quarry Action Group.

• Truck calculations
• Community Concerns presented to MADCA - Feb 23 (PDF

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