Michelle Slater
The proponents of a proposed sand quarry in Maryvale have tried to assure objectors there would be minimal risks associated with the project at what was at times a tense on-site meeting on Thursday, February 24.
Latrobe Valley Sands was responding to local concerns to the project being planned within an existing pine plantation on Traralgon West Road.
About 60 people showed-up to the meeting raising questions over dust, airborne silica and other environmental concerns associated with the development.
Matthews Quarries chief executive officer and Latrobe Valley Sands partner Jason Comben said the project would not involve any grinding or crushing that could lead to airborne dust.
He said a vegetated bunged-clay wall would be built to buffer surrounding properties.
“You would have an equal chance of getting silicosis from our plant as you would from living near the beach,” Mr Comben said.
“The greatest potential for any crushing or grinding is from the rubber tyres from the trucks creating dust on along the roads on site, but we will be watering-down the roads.”
Latrobe Valley Sands has lodged a planning application with Latrobe City Council for the quarry on a 162 hectare parcel of land with a license area 700-metres from Scrubby Lane residents.
The new quarry will support the business’ existing plant to the north of Traralgon West Road, which is expected to be expired and rehabilitated within the next eight years.
The quarry would provide 100 years’ worth of coarse sand for manufacturing concrete and roof tiles.
“From all the time we have had the existing quarry, there were no known cases of workers with any silicosis, and these are the guys who work at the coal face every day,” Mr Comben said.
Mr Comben said the state government had described the site as a “unicorn”, with no cultural heritage or native vegetation values, with the right zoning near the Australian Paper mill.
The project has already gained approvals from a host of statutory bodies including the earth resources regulator, Environment Protection Authority and Gippsland Water.
The company would begin excavating and rehabilitating in stages, with the first 30-year phase to take place on 40-hectares closer to the paper mill.
But Scrubby Lane resident Mick Seychell said he was unconvinced about the developer’s assurances, and vowed to keep objecting to the proposal.
“This project has been in the pipeline for a long time, but we were the last to know. We have been described as sensitive receptors, but we are really just collateral damage,” Mr Seychell said.
“This is growing daily as we are letting more people know about it, we will rally up and get together. You cannot contain dust, and the problem is a lot broader than what they are saying.”
Latrobe City has received a significant number of objections to the application, and is planning its own consultation sessions before councillors make a decision at a future council meeting.
