Victoria's Planning Minister orders environmental review of Montrose Quarry expansion

Plans put the pit’s edge closer to houses and schools.

Matthew Sims
February 04, 2026

The operator of Montrose’s quarry will have to pay for an environmental assessment as it looks to prove that keeping it open for another 32 years – and digging another 26 million tonnes of rock – won’t have a significant impact.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny determined the project would require a full environmental audit on Wednesday morning, sparking a celebration from local residents and politicians.

What is happening? After months of considerations, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has ordered Boral to complete a full Environment Effects Statement (EES) before its proposed expansion of the Montrose Quarry can go ahead.

🔍 What is an EES? An EES is an in-depth analysis of a project’s potential environmental impacts, as well as proposed measures to avoid, minimise or manage negative effects.

If a project is expected to potentially have a significant effect on the environment, the company proposing the project needs to ask the Planning Minister if an assessment would be required.

If the Planning Minister says an EES is required, the developer is then responsible for covering all costs of preparing and completing the work, including technical studies and environmental investigations.

“Massive scar on the edge of Mount Dandenong”: Montrose locals rebel against planned ridge impact

If approved, the project will result in the removal of about 21.7 acres of native vegetation.

🗓️ How’d we get here: In October, Boral southern executive general manager, Duncan Harris, announced plans to expand the Montrose quarry by 30 acres and provide access to about 26 million tonnes of additional material.

Since the announcement, the STOP the Montrose Quarry Expansion group has attracted more than 3,700 signatures on an online petition against the project, while Monbulk MP Daniela de Martino has launched a similar effort.

✊ Politicians push: Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino was among the local members who advocated for an EES to be required and said the decision was a “great outcome” for nearby residents.

🗣️ “The Montrose community has been clear about the impacts they are already experiencing and their fears about a larger quarry footprint,” said De Martino.

🚛 Boral’s reaction: A spokesperson for Boral said they respected the minister’s decision and were keen to get started on work to deliver the EES.

🗣️ “We are confident we have developed robust environmental mitigation strategies and look forward to reviewing the full scoping requirements once issued and finalising an Environment Effects Statement for the Government's consideration,” the spokesperson told the Eastern Melburnian.

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

Daniela De Martino said the fact schools and early childhood centres would be “incredibly close” to the planned pit boundary should trigger a deeper analysis.

🪧 Welcome news for locals: STOP the Montrose Quarry Expansion member Phillip Dane said the decision validated the need for a “comprehensive and transparent assessment”.

🗣️“A project of this scale and duration must be subject to the highest level of environmental scrutiny, and we will continue to engage constructively throughout the EES process to ensure community health, environmental values, and planning integrity are properly protected,” Dane told the Eastern Melburnian.

⏭️What’s next: The Department of Transport and Planning will soon publish the minister’s decision and her reasons, followed by information on the timeline of the EES process and how the community can give input.

Following recent changes to the state’s Planning Provisions, the power to approve or decline the extension sits with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, who is also able to fast track the process.