Approval for extension of Austen Quarry at Hartley

An application to expand the Austen Quarry near Hartley to continue the supply of construction materials and preserve jobs has been approved by the Department of Planning and Environment, subject to conditions.

The hard rock quarry has only three or four years of extraction resource remaining from its existing extraction area.

The company, Hy-Tec, applied to expand the area of the quarry site by 24 hectares to allow for operations at the quarry to continue for another 30 years.

A Departmental spokesperson said that issues raised in the submissions had been addressed by the strict conditions the Department put on the project.

“This project would make use of the existing processing and stockpiling infrastructure on the site and avoid new impacts associated with alternative ‘greenfield’ extraction locations,” the spokesperson said.

“In approving this application, we’ve applied stringent conditions to strengthen requirements around water management, progressive site rehabilitation and other environmental issues.

“There are no proposed changes to the approved production rate, methods, volume or haulage.

“This project would generate social and economic benefits for the local and regional economies, including on-going employment for 16 operational staff and around 40 indirect jobs.

“It would also allow the quarry to continue to provide a reliable supply of affordable material for the building and construction industry in the region and in Sydney,” the spokesperson said.

“The quarry has operated at this site for 20 years and will continue to be regulated under environmental protection provisions.”

Source: ProjectLink.com.au

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