A FIGHT that lasted for more than four years concluded last Tuesday when the State Government approved the Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) and with it, the North Central Quarry.
The Mitchell Shire community woke up to the news that Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, approved the PSP, which will see the development of more than 15,000 homes in the next 20 to 30 years, along with seven schools, four town centres and the controversial quarry.
The basalt quarry, which Conundrum Holdings will operate, was recommended to be added to the PSP in 2020.
It will be situated between Wallan and Beveridge – just two kilometres from existing houses on Taylors Lane, Wallan.
In a statement to the Review, a Victorian Government Spokesperson said the quarry will support development in the Mitchell Shire as well as across Melbourne, which requires a significant supply of construction material.
“We want Victorians to be able to have the same opportunities their parents had. The new precinct will be delivered across stages in a careful and considered way,” the spokesperson said.
“Around 2400 homes will initially be built in the first stage and future stages will only begin once key infrastructure and services, including the Camerons Lane interchange, are delivered to cater for this new community.
“We are delivering a pipeline of infrastructure projects across Melbourne’s growing north, including the Donnybrook Road and Mitchell Street Intersection Upgrade and Bridge Inn Road Upgrade – which will slash travel times and keep busy families moving.”
The Victorian Government said utilising nearby materials would reduce the cost of transporting materials long distances, citing that increasing transport distance by 25km almost doubles the cost of construction materials for consumers.
The statement also said the quarry would cease operation in 2052 and Conundrum Holdings would “work closely with nearby residents to ensure operations impacts are minimised”, which also included maintaining the buffer zone around the quarry. Conundrum Holdings said on its website that the land would eventually transition into parkland and residential space.
While fighting against the quarry, the Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) had stated concerns about the impacts on health, wellbeing and liveability for residents, the potential blockage of essential infrastructure, the bringing of dust, blasting noise and truck movement and the belief that the quarry would deliver little benefit, with more suitable quarries already approved elsewhere.
Conundrum Holdings, in indirect response to these concerns, said wind and environmental factors were assessed during the site’s design, with the EPA recommending 500 metres between the quarry and existing residential areas and it would expect an estimation of two blasts a month.
Sarah Andrew, Resources and Land General Manager for Conundrum Holdings, said they welcomed Ms Kilkenny’s decision and were “humbled by the show of faith in our industry’s ability to support the growth of our State by approving North Central Quarry.”
“We are pleased the state has chosen to protect and utilise this resource for the community’s long-term benefits. The high-quality basalt from this quarry is as close as practical to its end use within Victoria’s fastest growing municipality and will help build our community with the lowest possible carbon footprint,” she said.
“While we are thankful to finally reach this milestone, the opposition from the Mitchell Shire Council has meant that an inordinate amount of time and expenditure has been taken to reach this point.
“This process has taken nearly two decades, and as such, we will continue to seek clarification on the details and next steps forward. We thank our many community supporters, as well as our suppliers, clients, friends and family, who have supported us throughout the approvals process.”
The opposition referred to by Ms Andrew was the two rejections against the quarry made by the MSC, residents marching in opposition on Parliament steps, over 1500 letters and emails sent to MPs, more than 600 community submissions lodged during Victorian Planning Authority consultations, and independent reports showing the quarry’s contribution to the basalt market would be negligible.
MSC released a statement following the announcement, saying it was “extremely disappointed” with the Government’s decision.
“This is not a win for our community. After four years of campaigning, thousands of letters, and countless hours of advocacy, people are heartbroken. They did everything right – but their voices have not been heard,” Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor John Dougall said.
“We are concerned that legitimate community concerns have been ignored. This is a bad planning decision – it ranks right up there.
“It’s a planning failure on the scale of Brooklyn Greens in Casey – where homes were approved next to long-established industrial land, and families have been living with the consequences ever since.”
In its statement, the MSC is asking residents to email Members of Parliament and Ministers to revoke the decision to include the quarry in the PSP under Section 38(2) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The MSC, alongside the NO QUARRY for Beveridge/Wallan Action Group, is now reviewing the decision and is seeking legal advice.
The proprietors of this masthead own the land on which the quarry is to be built.
