By Rowan Forster
Property values in Bunyip North and Tonimbuk could plummet by as much as 20 per cent if Hanson’s proposed super quarry is approved, opponents claim.
The revelation came during a packed community meeting at Tonimbuk Hall on Sunday, which attracted more than 100 dubious residents.
Mount Cannibal and District Preservation Group president Bill Pearson said he recently had an estimate put on his land, and was startled by the result.
“We valued our house – it is worth about $1 million, and we had it estimated that if the quarry goes ahead in the close vicinity, it will be worth about $800,000,” he said.
“It’s going to devalue people’s properties regardless.
“If you live closer by, you’ll have a bigger devaluation.”
During the meeting, the group discussed various ways to further strengthen their fight against the development giant.
The proposed location for the quarry rests less than 400 metres from Mount Cannibal and within 1.5 kilometres of 71 homes.
It would see up to 2 million tonnes of granite extracted yearly over a period of 100 years, with 550 truck movements to and from the site on a daily basis.
Barry Crees, a would-be neighbour to the development, outlined a myriad of concerns to the community.
“We’ve seen examples of people selling properties close by to new quarries and they’ve generally seen 10 to 20 per cent in devaluation,” he said.
“It’s a huge flow on effect.”
He also expressed fears of health-related repercussions from Silica dust – produced at the site.
“All the people who work there wear breathing apparatus, but yet we’re going to have it on our roofs, in our freshwater tanks, on our fruit and vegetables,” he said.
Those against the quarry have long voiced their concerns about potential impacts on drinking water, air quality, pollution, local flora and fauna and increased traffic and noise.
The bid has now reached the Environmental Effects Study (EES) stage.
A spokeswoman for Hanson said the corporation has taken every measure to ensure community consultation is upheld.
“Since the commencement of the EES, Hanson has conducted three Open House Community Meetings, meetings with local community groups, one on one meetings with local residents including visits to residents’ properties, door knocking, an online survey, poster displayed at local community hubs, an advertisement in every issue of the local community newsletter, a dedicated webpage from which all information can be accessed, and a dedicated community email address for residents to communicate directly with Hanson for the duration of the ESS,” she said.
