Mary's Mount quarry production increase request still being examined

Earlier in the year, Mackellar Excavations and Gunnedah Quarry Products applied to Gunnedah Shire Council to increase its production from 360,000 tonnes per annum to 511,000 tonnes per annum and use bigger trucks so it can tender for the Narromine to Narrabri Inland Rail project.

Read also:

The application was on public exhibition until late January and a council spokesperson said public feedback received during this time had been sent on to the applicant.

At the February council meeting, councillors determined to refer the development application to the Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP). The applicant has since submitted a modification to the original application so that document is now on public exhibition to garner feedback to pass onto the panel.

"As this is considered a regionally significant development, Gunnedah Shire Council is not the determining body. However, council is still regarded as the consent authority," a council spokesperson said.

"Council's role is to undertake public consultation, review submissions received and carry out assessment of the proposal, including providing recommendations and any draft conditions to the panel. The proposal is then subject to the panel's determination."

The spokesperson said the public consultation included an expanded neighbour notification to those in the vicinity of the proposed quarry expansion, and notification to all persons who made a submission to the original development proposal.

"When the exhibition period is completed, submissions will be presented to the applicant for consideration and response. The matter will then be considered by the NJRPP for final determination," the spokesperson said.

As part of the panel process, the Modification of Consent Application is on exhibition until July 30. The Modification and Statement of Environmental Effects is on exhibition on the council's website http://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au