MORE TRUCKS FOR MT OUSLEY

            In January 2014, the NSW Department of Planning and lnfrastructure gave approval for Hansons for their Bass Point Quarry Project, with the option of more quarry trucks on the Mt Ousley and other roads. 

            If this was not enough, an approval was given in February 2014 for Boral to put more quarry trucks on our roads from their Dunmore Quarry. 

            Cleary Brothers also want more quarry trucks on our roads. The only concession to motorists who use the Mt Ousley and other roads and people who live near the roads is that the three quarry operators shall co-fund and "cause to be prepared an independent Cumulative Traffic Impact Study. The study must be undertaken by a suitably qualified traffic consultant, … be commissioned by 30 June 2014, and completed by 31 October 2014 and is to:

*  include a comprehensive assessment of current and future projected cumulative traffic impacts of the three quarries on the classified road network, undertaken in consultation with the RMS; and

*  identify any reasonable and feasible measures that can be implemented to minimise the traffic and road safety impacts of quarry trucks on Mount Ousley Road, and the likely cost of implementing these measures.

            WTC would suggest that the Cumulative Traffic Impact Study should have a steering committee comprising not only the industry and RMS but also a representative from Wollongong City Council and the community.

            Also in January 2014 Scott Corporation was meeting New South Wales authorities in relation to the use of A-double style heavy vehicles in the NSW Illawarra region for coal haulage. WTC would ask that full consultation with Wollongong City Council and the community take place before any approvals are given, and that any trials are for a small number of vehicles only.   

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Maldon Dombarton Rail Link Needs Accelerating

Whilst Infrastructure NSW in their 2012 report “First things first” considers that Maldon Dombarton can wait until the 2020s, the Federal Government in late 2012 awarded contracts for engineering, planning and environmental works for this long overdue railway line.

As SCLC Secretary Arthur Rorris noted on ABC Stateline on 26 September 2012 (view here):  "It is probably the most studied piece of half finished piece infrastructure on the planet by now."

The need for Maldon Dombarton has again being highlighted by formal advice from rail freight operator Pacific National to Boral: that Pacific National Bulk Rail is unable to identify a suitable commercial or operational train path for Pacific National to provide a 3^rd daily train for PN’s current operations for haulage from Boral’s Dunmore siding into Sydney.

As a result:

“Highway hell: quarryexpansion would see 55 more truckloads a day”  

(Illawarra Mercury Jan. 25, 2013)

Truck movements from Boral's hard rock quarry at Dunmore could jump 50% under a proposal being considered. The company is seeking to modify its existing development consent to increase the size of the quarry by two hectares and also to increase the amount of product hauled from the quarry by road.

The change would allow material approved for road haulage to rise from 1 million tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes a year.

WTC says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The Mt Ousley Road has seen a notable increase in heavy truck movements in recent years (more coal, imported cars, grain and now quarry products). How much more at a time heavy bulk truck operations are effectively being subsidized through underpricing of road access and add to road safety risk whilst there is no effective control of noise?

Some members of WTC can recall Premier Wran in September 1983 announcing that the Maldon Port Kembla Railway would be completed within three years.

WTC would welcome an announcement in 2013 that the Maldon Dombarton rail link will be completed by 2016.

In addition, WTC would like to see Port Kembla expanded to have container facilities with use of the new rail link to Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.