TO:  Mayor and all Councillors of the Douglas Shire Council

       Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Shire Council

Re:  Council Application Number MCUI 2024_5682/1

NQ Asphalt Pty Ltd., Impact Assessable Development Application

For a Material Change of Use from Rural Zoning to Extractive Industry Zoning – Lot 1 on RP 893855

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development of Lot 1 on RP 893855 lodged by RPS Group on 16 October 2024.  I have significant concerns about the potential impacts if the DA Is not refused.

1.      The proposed development is inconsistent with the intent for the area.  The area is sugar cane farming and cattle fattening.  A large scale sand quarry is out of character with the surrounding area.

2.     The proposed development does not fit within the Extractive Industry Code.  It is not a “small scale operation” whether it be extractions  of 30,000 tonnes, or 100,000 tonnes.  It does not comply with the Strategic Framework 3.6.4 -Resource Extraction.

3.      The sand quarry site will not be visually unobtrusive as required under the Strategic Framework.  Everyone travelling along Bonnie Doon Road or the Captain Cook Highway will be able to see it.  In their report RPS has failed to comply with the requirement of a 10 metre wide densely vegetated buffer to all road frontages and to all perimeter boundaries

(Acceptable outcome A06.2 of the Criteria for assessment – Extractive industry code).

4.      A sand quarry operating 6 days per week from 7  a.m. to 6 p.m. hauling sand with 20 tonne trucks onto Bonnie Doon Road will create a traffic hazard.  There is insufficient road width for a truck turning out of or into the un-named road.  This will create a dangerous situation as a lot of road users travel along Bonnie Doon Road at speeds up to 100 km/per hour.

5.      Bonnie Doon Road floods every wet season and we are cut off at Cooya Beach.   We cannot travel to Port Douglas or further south.  This sand quarry will create further drainage and flooding problems in the area.

6.     The proposed mining site adjoins a wetland area of significant importance to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji People.  The vast mangrove system provides an abundance of food source for Traditional Owners, including muscles, periwinkles, crayfish, black jew fish, silver jew fish and swordfish as well as turtles and dugong. The wetlands contain spawning sites for various sea animals and  significant beds of seagrass which is a primary food source for green sea turtles and dugong.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Douglas Shire Council reject this development application for a sand quarry development at LOT 1 ON RP893855, Bonnie Doon Road, Killaloe, QLD, 4877, as it contravenes the Douglas Shire Town Planning Scheme and raises significant environmental, social, and economic concerns.

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Principal Petitioner: Name: Bernard Nagan Contact Information: 

ADDRESS: Lot 54  on SP292874 (88 Bonnie Doon Road) Killaloe, Qld, 4877

 Email: bernie.nagan@gmail.com