The proposed clearing of vegetation around a hinterland quarry is on hold after the federal government ruled that the plan required further environmental assessment.
Quarry operator Cordwell Resources applied in 2023 to clear more than eight hectares of vegetation at its Kin Kin extraction site.
It requested that the federal Environment Minister determine if its proposal required assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
“For the abundance of caution and to provide the proponent with certainty up to May 2033, the clearing of vegetation as a consequence of the ongoing operation of Kin Kin Quarry is being referred,” the referral application said.
A notice from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water dated July 17 stated the proposed action – “to construct and operate an expansion to the existing hard-rock Kin Kin Quarry” – is a “controlled action”.
“The project will require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act before it can proceed,” it said.
“The project will be assessed by Public Environment Report.”
The material submitted with the EPBC referral acknowledged the land proposed to be cleared includes habitat for koalas and possibly grey-headed flying foxes and greater gliders, and two endangered tree species.
Noosa Council – which provided a submission outlining “serious concerns” with the application – welcomed the department’s decision.
“This decision acknowledges the likely significant impact on listed threatened species and ecological communities and requires the applicant to undertake a new application process, including further environmental assessment and public consultation,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
Related story: Little joy for residents in court quarry rulings
He said the outcome reflected strong advocacy and submissions from the community, as well as from local, state and federal government representatives.
“It is a step towards ensuring that environmental values and community concerns are given the consideration they deserve,” he said.
Cordwell Resources operations manager Martin Cordwell said the company acknowledged the decision, which he said was “not controversial”.
“Since commencing operations in 2019, we have remained committed to responsible environmental management. This includes commissioning comprehensive ecological assessments to better understand and minimise potential impacts to environmental values of state and national significance,” he told Sunshine Coast News.
“In 2020-21, we commissioned ecological assessments and proactively developed on-site remediation plans for koala habitat trees being removed within the southern expansion area. Planting of approximately 11,900 koala habitat trees on the Kin Kin Quarry site commenced at the end of 2021.
“In February 2022, the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water reclassified the koala from threatened to endangered under the EPBC Act. This change repealed earlier guidelines that had provided clarity to the essential materials industry when undertaking self-assessments at sites with planning permits which pre-date the commencement of the EPBC Act.
“Considering this policy shift, we voluntarily referred the proposed quarry expansion area acknowledging that, despite the site remediation work already undertaken, the repeal of previous DCCEEW assessment guidelines meant the project may now constitute a controlled action.
“As part of this process, we are preparing a Public Environment Report in accordance with DCCEEW’s guidelines. This report will detail the potential environmental impacts, proposed mitigation measures, and will include opportunities for public consultation.
“Cordwell Resources is committed to ensuring full compliance with all environmental obligations and is engaging openly with council and the community throughout the process.”
Advocacy group Save Noosa Hinterland – which organised a petition opposing the proposed vegetation clearing – also heralded the decision.
“The federal Environment Minister has declared the Kin Kin Quarry expansion a ‘controlled action’ under the EPBC Act, determining the proposal is likely to have a significant impact on listed threatened species and ecological communities,” it posted on social media.
“This means the proposal cannot proceed without full federal environmental assessment. The assessment required will be a Public Environment Report.
“It’s a direct result of your voices, your submissions and your determination to protect our environment.
“However, it’s not over. We’ve since learned that the disturbance area has grown from 9.64 hectares to 15.3 hectares of habitat critical to the survival of the koala.
“We must submit to the public comment periods as they emerge and fight for strong, fit-for-purpose terms of reference for the environmental assessment. This first stage will be over the next 20 business days.
“This is a massive step forward and we want to thank everyone who has supported us in these efforts. The assessment process will span many months and require input from the community along the way.”
The variation request submitted by Cordwell Resources on June 19, which enlarges the proposed disturbance area to 15.3 hectares, outlines why the revision was made.
“This change to the disturbance footprint has been incorporated to ensure the proposed action appropriately captures the expected disturbance area, and provides flexibility in the event that the disturbance footprint is revised,” it stated.
Mr Cordwell further explained the variation.
“The variation to the expansion included an increased disturbance area to allow greater flexibility in the long-term design of the quarry and to enable construction of essential access and infrastructure,” he said.
“As shown in the submitted drawings, the disturbance area represents only a portion of the overall quarry footprint, which was originally approved in 1987 and supported by council during the 2016 Planning and Environment Court decision. This variation to the disturbance area aligns with existing state-level approvals and enables the operation to proceed efficiently within recognised limits.
“As is often the case in the quarrying industry, Cordwell Resources has made the considered decision to forgo access to certain essential construction material in order to prioritise the protection of key environmental values. In doing so, we have focused the expansion to the south-west of the initial extraction area, where environmental impacts can be more effectively managed. This approach will deplete the availability of essential construction materials to projects within the Noosa region, including the availability of resources to support provision of affordable housing, associated infrastructure, road projects and community infrastructure.
“We recognise that, as a result of the EPBC determination, small consequential changes to the site’s existing approval may be necessary. Going forward, we respectfully encourage council to consider these changes in the context of the environmental benefits that will be achieved through this more targeted and responsible approach to site development.
“Cordwell Resources respects the community’s interest in this project and remains committed to open and ongoing dialogue. Our aim is to meet the region’s demand for essential construction materials, at commercially competitive rates, while continuing to responsibly manage and protect environmental values with integrity and care.”
The council had no assessment role regarding the EPBC vegetation clearing application.
The quarry was approved in July 1987 subject to conditions. Under the planning legislation there is no ability for this approval to be revoked or changed (without the owners’ agreement) until 2033.
The conditions require the quarry to operate in accordance with an approved Quarry Management Plan, which includes a number of requirements that address on-site operations.
“Kin Kin Quarry has been operated by various companies since commencement, including Noosa Shire Council, Ready Mix and the Neilsens Group,” the EPBC referral summary stated.
“The proponent (Cordwell) acquired the operation, by way of a lease, in May 2019. The lease expires in May 2033.”
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
