For 40 years, the State Government operated the Burrum Quarry. More recently, recognising the communities increased need for quarry materials in the area the State made a decision that it was time to better utilise Burrum Quarry.
Having previously legislated the Burrum Quarry site as being of State Significance, in 2014 the State called for interest from companies who would be competent to extend the Burrum Quarry to meet its full and needed potential.
This is not an unusual process for the State as around 20% of Queensland’s quarry materials are won from State owned resources operated by private companies.
The States tender process is rigorous, the best outcome must be returned to all stakeholders, the State, the SCRC, and the community, both commercially and sustainably.
The State chose Barro Group as the company that was most capable of meeting their future objectives for the Burrum Quarry.
In order to meet the objectives and requirements of Barro Group, the State and the SCRC for the quarry, Barro Group has lodged a development application with SCRC to extend the quarry.
The development application contains an exhaustive environment assessment of the site and its surrounds and the operation of the site has been planned to enable this important resource to be developed in an efficient, sustainable and environmentally responsible way that will meet the objectives of the State Government, Sunshine Coast Council, the local community and Barro Group.
The proposed operation will initially involve the extension of the two (2) existing quarry pits on the site, and establishing associated facilities including a site office, amenities building, weighbridge and a caretaker’s accommodation.
The principal objectives for the proposed operation are to:
- Continue utilising a key resource of local and State significance.
- Minimise potential environmental impacts associated with the development and operation of the site.
- Contribute to the efficient and affordable supply of construction materials for the Moreton and Sunshine Coast regions.
- Ensure that operations are well managed and carried out safely and efficiently.
Environmental Reports have been prepared for the operation, which outline the operational controls and measures that will be employed to ensure that potential impacts are managed to relevant and acceptable standards.
It should also be noted that the quarry site is currently subject to intermittent illegal dumping and activities relating to crime and theft are occurring in this area. Cars have been dumped and burnt on the site which presents a significant fire risk for the surrounding timber assets and the local community. The approval of the quarry extension will result in a halt to these activities and an improved site visual amenity and improved fire safety environment than currently exists.
In regards to visual amenity it has been established that the quarry development, given the location and topographical features of the site and surrounds, including existing surrounding native vegetation, there is no potential for direct and distinct views of the site. Glass House Mountains Lookout is some 4.8 kilometres away and any view of the quarry would be difficult, if not impossible to pinpoint, depending on the growth cycle of the surrounding pine plantation.
For the local community probably the only aspect of the development that may be noticed is that there will be an increase in trucks passing through Beerburrum from time to time. Fortunately as this route used to form part of the highway north there is already very good infrastructure in place. Barro Group engaged experienced and certified traffic engineering consultants to complete a full traffic analysis that concluded that “Although the site would necessarily result in more trucks using Beerburrum-Woodford Road and Beerburrum Road, the development traffic would not create any significant link capacity or safety concerns”.
Certified traffic engineering consultants also conducted site inspections and observed the through traffic in the vicinity of the Beerburrum State School, both out of drop-off/pick-up hours and during drop-off/pick-up hours. It was confirmed that the existing traffic infrastructure and car parking arrangements have been designed with through traffic, including trucks, in mind. It is considered that this existing infrastructure and arrangements will continue to function safely and efficiently with the additional traffic that would be generated by the proposed quarry operation.
Barro Group will implement a “Driver Code of Conduct” that will require all drivers to drive in a safe and professional manner. Non-conformance will not be tolerated.