A third stakeholder meeting has been scheduled this Friday at Noosa Council offices to discuss truck movements to and from the Kin Kin Quarry and their impact on the community.
Kin Kin Community president Jann Bonsall said this week a representative from Transport and Main Roads would be present, having not been in attendance at last week’s meeting.
Residents say the movement of about 200 gravel-carrying trucks a day through their town and along the narrow winding Kin Kin-Pomona Road is damaging the road and threatening their safety, affecting local businesses and residents’ mental health.
Ms Bonsall said at last week’s meeting quarry operator Cordwell Resources had provided the quarry’s own nine-point traffic management plan and said they would decrease the number of trucks going through the town.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to get too excited until we see changes,“ she said.
Mayor Clare Stewart said the most recent stakeholder meeting discussed Cordwell Resources plan which focused on reducing truck movements on Saturdays to an absolute minimum and to limit loading during peak school bus periods.
“This is encouraging and council will continue to monitor any traffic breaches under the traffic management plan,“ she said.
Council announced they would be issuing a breach notice of traffic requirements on Cordwell Resources which Cr Stewart said indicated how closely council staff were monitoring the quarry operator within the approved management plan requirements.
She vowed that council would continue to strongly advocate for the Kin Kin community to ensure the quarry was adhering to the approved plan.
“The operator has the right to conduct their business within the strict approved management plan, while police, Council and Transport and Main Roads also have specific responsibilities,” she said.
“Kin Kin Pomona Road is a state controlled road and therefore Council has limited control over any improvements or upgrades.
“There’s no doubt the quarry operations have a significant impact on other road users and residents along this route.“
Ms Bonsall said at the last meeting stakeholders heard the quarry had a contract to supply material for the Bruce Highway upgrade on the Sunshine Coast and supplied material to their concrete holdings at Yandina which they were expanding.
They also heard under its management plan the quarry trucks were only able to use an alternate route along Dr Pages Road to deliver locally to the east of the quarry, she said.
Council’s Development Assessment manager Kerri Coyle said the quarry approval was in place until May 2033.
“The quarry was approved by Council in July 1987 subject to 12 conditions and under the planning legislation there is no ability for this approval to be revoked,” she said.
“Council actively monitors and takes necessary action when required and on three separate occasions have issued notices or infringements to the quarry operators for breaches of the approval.”
Ms Coyle said monitoring also included regular site visits and joint inspection with officers from the Department of Environment and Heritage.
Council has instigated and facilitated regular round table discussions involving residents’ groups, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton, Police and Quarry operator Cordwell Resources.
“These discussions are certainly productive and are helping to open the dialogue between all parties,“ Cr Stewart said
“I empathise with the residents and understand their concerns about truck movements and ongoing speed issues.“
Cordwell Resources representative Martin Cordwell was contacted for comment but failed to respond.
