By Bonny Burrows
Bunyip North Quarry developer Hanson Constructions has vowed to increase its community consultation as the controversial proposal moves forward.
About 100 people attended an open house forum conducted by Hanson on Saturday 22 July to hear from the developer about the Environment Effects Statement, which has entered its draft scoping stage and is open for public comment until 9 August.
During this stage, residents can voice their concerns over the proposed 134-hectare granite quarry, planned for a site about 500 metres from local icon Mount Cannibal, which will be then investigated in the EES process.
The EES was ordered by State Planning Minister Richard Wynne in 2015, to identify the quarry’s significant environmental effects and proposed measures to reduce these.
The process is expected to take two years.
July’s meeting kicked off the community feedback on the proposal and saw community members sit down one-on-one with 10 specialist consultants to discuss specific issues.
Representatives of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the Department of Economic Development, Transport, Jobs and Resources and the Shire of Cardinia were also present and available to talk through areas of concern.
Despite Hanson reaching out to the public through this forum, tension remains between the company and the proposed quarry’s surrounding residents, who feel community consultation could be improved.
A graffiti wall erected by Hanson during the open house for community feedback saw participants scribe messages comments such as “silica dust causes cancer”, “think for the long-term not the money” and “why here, where all the families are?”
And a survey handed out to all attendees only received 19 responses, the majority of which stated Hanson should have done more to promote the forum to residents.
Mount Cannibal and District preservation Group Secretary David Bywater congratulated Hanson on making the time available to the local community, however expressed disappointment that not all involved consulting firms were in attendance – limiting the information that could be provided.
He was also “a bit annoyed” at the choice of location for the meeting – the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre (TEC), “as this is an asset they essentially stole from the community”.
The centre was purchased by the company in 2014, to the dismay of local residents.
Community members had asked Hanson to relocate the meeting to “mutual ground”, but this was declined by the company who said the centre was an appropriate venue due to its location and amenities, “further it provides the opportunity to demonstrate that the TEC is not lost to the community as suggested”.
Hanson’s Bunyip North Quarry project development manager Stephanie Salinas said the company would “consider increased promotion, including letterbox drops to facility neighbours, for future activities”.
“In this instance, Hanson was subject to DELWP’s timing of the release of the draft scoping requirements document and so had a small window of time to organise and advertise the event without leaving it too late in the public exhibition period,” Ms Salinas said.
“Hanson will be able to promote future events in a more timely manner throughout the EES.”
