The proposed clearing of more than 15 hectares of habitat of native wildlife including koalas for an expansion of Kin Kin Quarry has been suspended after the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water on Friday determined that the proposed ongoing extractive activity at the Kin Kin Quarry site was a ’controlled action’ under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
“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,” Noosa Council Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
Mayor Wilkie said the outcome reflects the strong advocacy and submissions from our 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.
Save Noosa Hinterland’s Nick Cooke attributed the Minister’s decision to two years of campaigning by the community, including a federal government petition and numerous submissions.
“The Federal Environment Minister has heard the community and formally acknowledged the significance of the biodiversity on site,“ he said.
“This is a major win for the community of Noosa and we are so thankful to everyone who has supported us and taken the time to write to the Minister.
“Not only has it been declared a ’controlled action’ requiring full EPBC assessment, they have designated a high level assessment process requiring significant federal oversight, a ’Public Environment Report’.
“This is especially important as Cordwell Resources submitted a variation to the original proposal, which has revealed an enlarged disturbance area, growing from 9.64ha to 15.3ha of habitat critical to the survival of koala.“
Mr Cooke said the battle to retain the habitat for native wildlife including koalas was “not over“
“The proposal now goes through a statutory assessment process with community consultation phases requiring further community submissions,“ he said.
“This first stage will determine the terms of reference for the assessment which will span the next 20 business days.
“We need fit-for-purpose Terms of Reference to ensure the environmental assessment is not watered down. It must encompass the cumulative impacts of the operation, including impacts of quarry operations, impacts on and off site and also the social impacts.
“As the proposal has been given prior approval by Noosa Council, the EPBC assessment is the last hope to save this habitat and prevent a major expansion of the quarry, which would devastate our Hinterland communities.“
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Our Kin Kin site is a TMR-approved hard rock quarry that produces andesite/latite, a type of rock from the basalt family. The rock and aggregates produced from this quarry is utilised in a wide range of applications, including tier 1 infrastructure projects, community projects, backyard constructions and ready-mix concrete.
