“I fully support the local community”: Monbulk MP pushes for impact assessment of proposed Montrose quarry expansion

A local MP has added her name and influence to the push for an impact assessment of the proposed extension of Boral’s Montrose Quarry.

• In October, Boral announced the expansion plans for its Montrose quarry, which would increase the boundary by about 30 acres – providing access to about 26 million tonnes of additional material over about 32 years.

📈Building momentum: State Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino attended a meeting convened by the STOP Montrose Quarry Expansion group earlier this month to hear the community’s qualms with the plans.

• De Martino has since told the Eastern Melburnian she has raised these concerns and her own reservations with the Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, as well as indicated her support for an Environment Effects Statement (EES) to be prepared before any works are approved.

• Due to changed provisions within the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme and the Victoria Planning Provisions, the Planning Minister has sole oversight of the planning scheme amendment.

• Kilkenny could even fast-track the process via the State Government’s Significant Economic Development program, removing red tape and delays around projects that significantly contribute to Victoria's economy.

Quick catch up: An EES often includes issues raised during public and stakeholder consultation, predictions of significant environmental impacts, as well as proposed measures to avoid, minimise or manage negative effects.

• Boral has submitted a referral for the Planning Minister to consider if an EES would be required before plans could be approved.

😡 Locals not sold: Some locals living near the site and its proposed new boundaries have expressed their hesitation. 

• Online, a petition has attracted more than 2,300 signatures, calling for site owner and operator Boral to consider other supply sites. 

• Last Thursday morning, roughly 45 local residents and key campaigners met outside the Montrose site to protest against the plans and voice their concerns, including increased exposure to dust and noise.

👂Listening to locals: Monbulk MP De Martino said that she shared a number of the community’s anxieties around the plans.

• 🗣️“I have concerns regarding the incredibly close proximity of the proposed expansion to local primary schools and early childhood learning centres and the environmental impacts of the proposed removal of bushland,” said De Martino. “I fully support the local community and will use my voice to advocate for their interests.”

• Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi said a number of residents had contacted him recently to share their opposition to the project, but encouraged those affected to contact De Martino as the first point of contact.

🪧Decades of protests: Montrose’s rock quarry – and pushback from locals over its existence – has been a part of the landscape since the mid-1950s, including previous expansion proposals launched in 1996 and 2003, both of which were and eventually denied.

💬Months of talking: In a statement provided to the Eastern Melburnian, a spokesperson for Boral said its community consultation so far has included releasing the plans during an open day at the site in November 2024, briefing with Yarra Ranges Council officers and councillors and notifying immediate neighbours and the Montrose Environmental Group.

🪨 Changing geographies: A biodiversity impact assessment from March 2024 showed the works would impact about 21.7 acres of native vegetation – 30.83 percent of the total native vegetation on the site.

• After vegetation is cleared, drilling and blasting would be carried out to break the underlying rock.

• Studies estimated 150 to 200 occupied homes were within 500 metres of the proposed expansion site, therefore exposed to the highest blast vibration levels.