Dulong locals call for clarity on quarry

Dulong resident and Dulong Quarry Action Group spokesperson, Anne Veivers.

50 people from the immediate area attending the group’s first public meeting at Kureelpa Hall on Saturday.

A growing number of Blackall Range locals and community groups are concerned about the potential impacts of Sunshine Coast Council plans to lease the Dulong Quarry to a commercial operator by mid-year.

Council resolved at its ordinary meeting on 8 December 2022 to contract its Dulong and Image Flat quarry business and operating sites to a private operator by 30 June 2023. It’s aiming for a 10-year lease with 2 x 2 year options. It  plans to release Expression of Interest packages later this month, with submissions due 12 weeks later in April. Council’s evaluation process will be closed.

Worried residents have formed the Dulong Quarry Action Group, with 50 people from the immediate area attending the group’s first public meeting at Kureelpa Hall on Saturday, and additional apologies and concerns flowing in by email. Dulong resident and group spokesperson, Anne Veivers, says people are frustrated there’s been no community engagement and an inadequate amount of clear communication from Council on the matter.

“People in our area only heard of the plans thanks to a local community organisation sharing the news initially, and neighbours spreading the word from there,” Anne said.

The quarry currently operates around 12 weeks per year, with trucks transporting material along Sherwell Road and the busy Mapleton to Nambour Road in the first instance.

“Operations are permitted at the quarry six days a week between 6am and 6pm, but we’ve heard there’s a possibility of 24-7 operations, so we’re fearful of how big and busy the Dulong Quarry could become in private hands, right on our doorstep.

“We believe the commercial operator will be bound to work within all current operational restrictions, but we’re unclear on those details, and despite spending weeks seeking information from Council to address our apprehensions, nothing has yet been provided.

“People have expressed valid concerns about dust and associated health impacts, noise, road damage, road safety, environmental impacts to nearby waterways and native animals, negative effects on property prices and lifestyle and more.

“Blasts are currently limited to two times per year, but we don’t know if that will continue or what the parameters on those blasts will be going forwards.

“We believe the minimum extraction amount will be 50,000 tonnes of material per annum, but we’re not aware of any upper limits. So, for all we know, it could increase to a million tonnes with hundreds of truck movements per day.

“We support economic growth for the broader region, but not at our expense as ratepayers, residents, business owners and road users, and certainly not at the expense of this special and beautiful area we call home.

“Our community shares a strong sense of stewardship and responsibility for protecting our local natural environment as well as each other, and we think it’s reasonable to expect Council to do the same.

“It’s beyond time we got the consideration and answers from Council we deserve.”

The Dulong Quarry Action Group will hold its next open meeting at 7pm on 9 February 2023 at Kureelpa Hall, with Councillor David Law and State Member for Nicklin Robert Skelton both invited to attend, and all concerned community groups and individuals welcome.