Bywong Community, following a vote of members and local residents at a public meeting, opposes the development of a major quarry near Sutton. The Community believes such a development would impact unfavorably on Bywong. The Community co-operates on this question with the No Quarry Committee, which is made up of local residents.

The following update is provided by David Booth, who convenes the No Quarry Committee.

1. At the public meeting held at Bywong Community Association a motion against the quarry was passed unanimously and we circulated a petition against the proposed quarry. We have put the petition on

hold for the moment, but will ask you to start canvassing for more signatures if quarry work starts.

2. Sutton Community Association also discussed the proposed quarry and moved an identical motion against the quarry. The impact on Sutton residents with a view of Mt Bywong would be a view of a quarry

from about 2 kilometres. Especially for residents who live on the east side of the village on the slopes down to Yass River.

3. It is emerging that the risk of changing the flow of the Yass River and potential pollution of the Yass River are more important issues against the quarry now than in the 1990's. The proposed quarry

is located at the headwaters of Donnelly Creek. Even those who knew about the quarry from the 1990's thought that no development during more than seven years meant that the

6. Some people who recently bought into the area were not told about the quarry by their Real Estate Agents.

7. Many people in Sutton Park will eventually have a view of a quarry from about three kilometers if it proceeds.

8. Some bankers Road properties overlook the quarry site at a distance of 2km and are downwind.

8. At the Bywong meeting we were told that both the Tiocliff quarry at Collector and the proposed quarry near Sutton have been sold to another company. This was subsequently confirmed by Councillor David Needham. We do not know the company name of the new owners.

9. The Tiocliff sale of the "approved but lapsed quarry" to another company makes us wonder what value could have been placed upon the lapsed quarry. What does the new owner intend to do with a lapsed

quarry? Perhaps they will run sheep on it? Perhaps a golf course? Perhaps a Disneyland?

10. Tiocliff has also recently re-stated to Yass Valley council their intention to proceed to construct dams on site. We do not know why they persist if indeed the quarry has been sold. Perhaps the quarry

would have more value to a buyer if Tiocliff can prove it has not lapsed.

11. As soon as we can find out who the buyer is, we would aim to commence some form of consultation with the new owners, along the lines of the "best practice" standards for consultation as issued by

the Mining industry Council. Tiocliff failed to consult at any stage and has been a poor corporate citizen, we would expect any new owner to make efforts to rectify this deficiency. Perhaps we can consult with the new owners (and the affected councils) to find out what the new owners hope to do with the lapsed quarry.

As almost eight years have elapsed since approval we believe Tiocliff has forfeited the right to proceed with the quarry, as they have not acted in good faith to commence a quarry within the time limits of the EPA Act. However this remains to be tested, possibly in the Land and Environment Court.

So we don't know the outcome of the sale. The quarry approval remains lapsed until proven otherwise.

We are watching the site and remain ready for further action. We will seek to find out more about the new owners and their intentions for the quarry.

At the moment we continue to remain in the dark about the quarry's future.