Plans by Karreman Quarries to expand its West Mount Cotton Quarry have been published with an invitation for public comments, by close of business on 22 December 2021.
Expansion of Karreman Quarries
Karreman Quarries wants to expand its West Mount Cotton Quarry by an additional 50-60 hectares.
Because of impacts on fauna whose conservation is of national significance (Koala, Greater Glider, Grey Headed Flying Fox), in 2018 the proposed expansion was referred for assessment by the Federal Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, as reported by the Redland City Bulletin.
Instead of requiring a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the Federal Government decided on 27 February 2019 that the proposal would be a controlled action “assessed by preliminary documentation”.
The various ways that EPBC Act assessment may be done are shown below, with “Assessment on preliminary documentation highlighted in red by Redlands2030.
Ten working days to review 1,340 pages
A 1,340 page report ‘Preliminary Documentation – West Mount Cotton Quarry Extension’ was recently approved by the Federal Government to be published for invitation of public comment.
The period available for review of the ‘Preliminary Documentation is ten working days – from 9 December 2021 to close of business Wednesday 22 December 2021.
The invitation for public comment was advertised as a public notice (Page 42) in the Redland City Bulletin on 8 December 2021.
Copies of the Preliminary Documentation are available for viewing at the Redland City Council Library (Cleveland Branch) and at the State Library of Queensland in South Brisbane.
The Preliminary Report can also be accessed on-line as a single 283MB pdf document at the Karreman Quarries website – here’s a link:
Environmental impacts of proposed quarry expansion
The following information is included in the Preliminary Documentation:
- “The Impact Area (the area in which the proposed action will take place) associated with the Project is 51.52 ha, including 48.3 ha of regrowth and remnant vegetation, with the remaining areas non-remnant. “
- “The Project has undergone design refinement since it was initially referred, and the current Impact Area represents a reduction in the total impacted remnant and regrowth vegetation of 10.49 ha. Recent changes to the proposed layout have principally revolved around decreasing the footprint in proximity to nearby conservation areas. The Impact Area is shown on Figure 1.1.”
The Preliminary Documentation includes the following conclusions:
- “Based on an evaluation of all criteria, the Project may have significant impact on Koalas. As a result, potential impacts to 51.52 ha of Koala habitat are proposed to be offset.”
- “Based on an evaluation of criteria and presence of suitable habitat, the Project may have a significant impact on Greater Glider. As a result, potential impacts to 48.3 ha of Greater Glider habitat and as such offsets are proposed.”
- “Based on an evaluation of all criteria, the Project may a significant impact on Grey-headed Flying-fox. As a result, potential impacts to 48.3 ha of Grey-headed Flying-fox habitat.” [Seems like some words are missing here?].
Offsets proposed by Karreman Quarries
Destruction of important habitat is regularly approved by the Federal Government on the basis that the destruction is offset by provision of alternative habitat or other environmental benefits.
The Federal Government describes its consideration of environmental offsets in these words:
“Offsets are measures that compensate for the residual impacts of an action on the environment, after avoidance and mitigation measures are taken. Where appropriate, offsets are considered during the assessment phase of an environmental impact assessment under the EPBC Act. This policy provides transparency around how suitable offsets are determined. The suitability of a proposed offset is considered as part of the decision to approve or not approve a proposed action under the EPBC Act.”
Three environmental offset plans are included in the Karremen Quarries Expansion proposal.
Pineapple Farm
The first site, known as the Pineapple farm is owned by Karreman Quarries.
The Preliminary Documentation says:
“The proposed offset is located 1 km north-west of the Project. It consists of revegetated bushland which was established between 2012 and 2014 as an independent conservation program, along with remnant and regrowth vegetation. The total offset area is proposed to be 48.81 ha.”
The proposed offset deal includes various actions to be undertaken to improve the area as wildlife habitat, some immediately and some over a 20 year period.
UQ Farm in Mount Cotton
The Preliminary Documentation says:
“The proposed offset site is located on a rural property which was previously owned by the University of Queensland on Mount Cotton Road. The eastern boundary supports areas of riparian vegetation adjacent to Sandy Creek and the offset site borders Sandy Creek Conservation Area. The remainder of the property has been cleared for agricultural purposes. The cleared areas are currently being used for grazing by livestock including cattle and horses. The total area proposed to be offset on this location is 45.64 ha. The offset site is located 5 km to the east of the Impact Area.”
Audale – west of Boonah in the Scenic Rim
The third offset site is located west of Boonah in the Scenic Rim.
The Preliminary Documentation says:
“The proposed offset site is situated on a rural property located north of Dwyer Road and west of Falkenhagen Road, Tarome. The property has had various uses including cattle grazing and general agricultural activities. In its current state, of the offset site is part of a commercial grazing operation. The offset site is located approximately 80 km southwest of the Impact Area.”
Federal Government inaction on environmental law reform
An independent review of the EPBC Act by Professor Graeme Samuel found in October 2020 that the EPBC Act is ineffective and not fit for current or future environmental challenges.
It is thirteen months since the final report was presented to the Federal Government and to date the recommendations by Professor Samuel to improved Australia’s environmental laws have not been acted upon.
Redlands2030 views about the need for reform of australia’s national environment laws were set out in a submission to the independent review of the EPBC Act.
Redlands2030 – 12 December 2021
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
7 Comments
Hi.
I agree with Dave. How can an offset area be useful if it’s 80 kilometres away. We need some green corridors left in the Redlands. And do the animals want to be relocated? Will they be relocated? How is that fair to those other communities.
But dollars always make the difference. You are only giving us an opportunity to express our displeasure. But I am sure the deal is done!
Offsets are a poor excuse to destroy more bushland in the Redlands. We need what little habitat there is to remain untouched, so offsets in another area makes no sense at all. We certainly do not need any more of the quarry trucks on our roads.
Avalon Rd is home to so many animals and human beings. We don’t want anymore trucks, we don’t want more animals kill just because you want to have more property to ruin. This street is quiet, this is why my family bought it. I own 2 horses and 2 beautiful dog, who both don’t like trucks. This could be a serious safety hazard for my family. Avalon Rd was almost built for horse riders, and most of us know truck drivers can be a**holes and not slow down for us, this again can be a hazard and ruin Avalon for all of us
I am totally opposed to destroy further environment off Avalon Road Sheldon, as it totally contradicts any care, consideration and protection for fauna and flora this area stands for and smaller land owners had to live by. It will impact the life style we all bought into – for the protective reasons we accepted.
off sets will have no impact to the areas around the quarry and the people that live around the quarry, there will be more destruction, more airpollution/dust, more trucks. It has to have a detrimental affect on our area.
I see no problem with quarry expansion and proposed offsets are fair and square.
Brisbane and surrounding are expanding at a rapid pace and so should supplier’s of related products.
One cannot stand in the way of progress.
Are they serious…offsets near Boondah for environmental damage at Mt Cotton. How does that work in reality? Even the proposition shows how remote the thinking of Federal Government is from reality and communities. An offset in Boonah will have nil value to the impacted community or even the supposed targets (koalas etc in Redlands)!