Montrose locals in a dust-up over quarry expansion’s air quality concerns

Tensions continue to boil over the proposed 30-acre and 32-year expansion of a quarry in Montrose, as the company running the development says perceived health risks around silica dust are not a concern.

❓How we got here: In May 2024, Resources Victoria announced an approval to extend the Works Authority for Montrose Quarry for the removal of another seven million tonnes – or about eight years of production.

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

• Boral has submitted a referral for the Planning Minister to consider if an environment effects statement (EES) – an in-depth analysis of a project’s environmental impacts – would be required before plans could be approved.

💨Dust in the air: Much of the public revolt to the project has surrounded dust and other debris caused by digging, specifically silica.

• According to University of Sydney occupational epidemiologist, Professor Tim Driscoll, silica is a “naturally occurring substance” found in most rocks.

• Silicosis, a disease caused by inhaling silica dust, can lead to scarring of the lungs, a reduction in a person’s ability to convert oxygen to carbon dioxide and possibly other chronic lung diseases or cancer.

⚖️Past breach: In May 2023, the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court fined Boral $180,000 and required they pay $13,886 in court costs, after atmospheric monitoring found a number of workers had been exposed to levels of crystalline silica exceeding workplace exposure standards.

• The court found it was reasonably practicable for the company to require workers to wear fit-tested respiratory protective equipment and provide adequate supervision.

🪧Parents protesting: A parent who has been connected with the nearby Billanook Primary School, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were concerned about the impact of silica dust on children and teachers.

• 🗣️“We don't want them to stop going outside and enjoying that space,” the parent told the Eastern Melburnian. “We could also lose some of our good teaching staff if that air quality does change.”

🧪Additional tests: Between July 2022 and July 2023, consultants for Boral carried out air quality monitoring and modelling, but found the risk of locals who lived near the new site contracting silicosis would be low.

🚛What does Boral say? A Boral spokesperson said the impacts of airborne dust would be “avoided, minimised or managed” to meet the required standards to protect both workers and nearby residents from any harm.

• According to Boral, staff at Montrose quarry have employed a number of dust management measures, including a fixed speed limit for all vehicles, water sprays with dust suppressants and sprinklers along main internal roads.

🧑‍🔬What do experts say? Professor Tim Driscoll said developing silicosis was more likely to be a concern for those working in the site than nearby residents or school children.

• 🗣️“I wouldn't say the risk is zero, but I wouldn't consider it a high risk for the people living around the quarry,” Driscoll told the Eastern Melburnian. “If the quarry has appropriate dust control measures, then I would expect that risk to be very low.”

Pollie pushback: Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino told the Eastern Melburnian her office had been inundated with emails concerning the proposed expansion.

• "This is so significant," she said. "What's happening here, this will have quite an impact on a lot of people.”

⏭️What’s next? The issue is unlikely to disappear overnight.

• Locals in the community have already successfully blocked expansion of the sites proposed in 1996 and 2003, and seem steadfast on doing the same with this latest proposition.

• In an email sent to a number of major stakeholders and seen by the Eastern Melburnian, long-time local Kim Wormald said the blasting, crushing, mixing, screening and transferring of rock to carry out the expansion of the pit would create a “cumulative, long-term exposure burden for residents”.

• Ultimately, the decision is with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, who is able to single-handedly approve due to recent changes to the state’s Planning Provisions and could even fast-track the process.

🤐Limited response: A State Government spokesperson said “any proposal will be considered on its merits” and it would be “inappropriate” to comment while the project was being considered.