The Issue

NEW OWNER IS A COMPANY WITH CLOSE ASSOCIATION TO LANDSCAPING, HARDWARE, GROCERIES, CIVIL CONSTRUCTION AND QUARYING TO TATHRA AND THE BEGA VALLEY

The quarry has been bought by new local businessman or associated entities (shell companies) who has also recently bought other local ventures in the Tathra area and Bega Valley as far as Bombala. They are determined to push ahead with the quarry. 

THE QUARRY HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED. WE NEED YOUR VOICE

The DA is still current and will come up very soon at local council meeting where 9 elected councillors will decide on whether it will be approved or not. There has been no public consultation. We need your voice to let the elected councillors know that there is still strong community opposition and the community does not want this quarry.

If approved the quarry will be allowed to operate 6 days a week for 20 years. 

This will affect you if you live in or visit Wallagoot, Kalaru, Tathra, Tura beach, Merimbula, Bega.

The Old Bournda quarry ceased operations in 2012 due to environmental concerns. Those concerns are even greater now as the previous quarry did not allow crushing and screening of the Rhyolite material onsite. This quarry will introduce toxic silica dust into the surrounding communities and area. Silica dust can travel up to 40 km from the quarry in strong winds.

The nearest home is just 1km away. 

KALARU is 8 km away

WALLAGOOT LAKE is 3km away

TATHRA is 12 km away

TURA BEACH is 14km away

MERIMBULA is 17 km away

BEGA is 17 km away

Silica Dust could travel as far as Kalaru, Tura Beach, Merimbula, Tathra and Bega – this affects every local person.

How far away is your home from Bournda Quarry?

Do you want to live with this risk to your health?

WRONG LOCATION

The location for Bournda Quarry is in the middle of a growing rural area that is also a popular holiday destination. Surrounded by homes and families who rely on the land and water every day. This is not a remote industrial zone. It is a living community that is continuing to grow and it’s zoning reflects this (E3 & E4). This zoning does not allow extractive industry.

It is also a popular tourist destination due to the areas pristine beaches, national parks, clean air and water. With 1.24 million annual visitors generating $490.1 million contribution to economy, it really is the ‘Heart of Australia’s coastal wilderness’* (Bega valley annual report) 

Approving an industrial quarry here would introduce heavy truck traffic, silica dust, blasting, constant machinery noise crushing rhyolite on site, light pollution and serious risks to air and water quality. These impacts do not stay confined to one property. They spread outward, affecting neighbouring homes, health, access to clean water, wildlife, property values, and overall quality of life.

There is no way to contain all of the dust within the quarry. Once the dust is introduced it is a risk. Other quarries that have the strictest quality controls still have residents developing health issues and struggling with dust introduced into their communities.

According to Bega Valley Shire annual report 24/25 Bega Valley Values are 

‘‘Quality of life’ ‘Conservation of environment’ ‘Connection to country’

‘We conserve and rehabilitate our natural environment’. A quarry is incompatible with these values.

Now is the time to make your voice heard.

CONTACT EACH OF YOUR COUNCILLORS AND ASK THEM WHY THEY CANNOT ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE COUNCIL STAFF DIRECTED THEM NOT TOO?

BEGA COUNCILLORS CONTACT DETAILS

Further all the regrowth that has been highlighted in all the reports were not approved and is visual from all the satellite imagery.