The Petition of The Williamtown Residents Action Group, local citizens, residents and business holders,

Brings to the attention of the House a proposal by Castle Quarry Products to construct a large scale Sand Mine at 398 Cabbage Tree Road WILLIAMTOWN NSW 2318. This will involve the destruction of 700,000 square meters of native bushland removing 600,000 tonnes of sand a year, with a minimum 15 year operation life, bringing with it an extra 140 truck movements per day all within the confines of a small local community surrounded by homes, businesses and hobby farms.

We have serious concerns over the potential of the mine to contaminate and permanently destroy our valuable water supply – the Tomago sand beds and aquifer. We all use this water for our crops, pastures and animals and is a major water source for Newcastle and the Hunter.

There is the real threat of large amounts of silica dust spreading throughout the local community with the potential to cause serious lung disease and cancer.

Noise pollution through the use of heavy machinery and increased truck movements is also a major concern.

The total destruction and levelling of the bushland which contains many native animals including koalas, goannas and snakes.

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to save our community, our water supply and our way of  life, by putting a stop to the Sand Mine development and or any future Sand Mine development on this site.