Yarra Ranges Council has thrown its weight behind Montrose locals opposed to the expansion of the Montrose Quarry, sending a letter to the Planning Minister calling for investigation into environmental impacts before any approvals are made.
1️⃣First step: About a week ago, the council sent a request to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny for an Environment Effects Statement (EES) to be prepared before any works or amendments were endorsed.
🤞Fingers crossed: Speaking to the Eastern Melburnian, Yarra Ranges councillor, Len Cox, said he hoped the council would “receive a positive response soon”.
🗣️ “Hopefully, it’s not just rubber-stamped,” said Cox.
Quick catch up: An Environment Effects Statement 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.
The decision on whether the proposal requires an EES is currently with the Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny.
🪧Returning issue: Yarra Ranges councillor Len Cox was part of the push for the council to refuse a permit to extend the quarry in 2004.
In 2008, then-Planning Minister Justin Madden decided to let the council’s decision stand despite an appeal from Boral Limited, essentially squashing that proposal.
🗺️Broader context: In October, Boral southern executive general manager, Duncan Harris, announced the expansion, which would increase the quarry’s boundary by 30 acres – providing access to about 26 million tonnes of additional material.
Online, a petition has attracted more than 2,100 signatures, calling for site owner and operator Boral to consider other supply sites.
On 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.
✍️How can it get approved? According to a statement from Yarra Ranges Council sent out last June, Boral had informed the council it was considering a potential expansion of the pit within their site.
However, due to changed provisions within the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme and the Victoria Planning Provisions, the proposal could be fast-tracked via the State Government’s Significant Economic Development process, removing red tape and delays around projects that significantly contribute to Victoria's economy.
🎤Open forum: Cox said on top of an EES, he hoped the final decision would come before a public meeting of council and could be sent out for public comment via council’s consultation channels.
🗣️“We’re supposed to have a democracy here in Victoria and the people need to have their say on important things like this,” said Cox. “I don’t know how many millions and millions [the rock is] worth…but then people’s lives – how much are they worth?”