Stone Ridge Quarry Project

Public meeting notification

The community will be able to have their say in a public meeting on a proposal by the Australian Resource Development Group Pty Limited to develop the Stone Ridge Quarry Project. The proposed quarry would extract up to 1.5 million tonnes per annum of hard rock from a State Forest site at Italia Road, Balickera and operate for 30 years.

This State significant development application (SSD-10432) is located within the Wallaroo State Forest at Balickera, approximately 5km north of Raymond Terreace, 30km north of Newcastle and 25km north-east of Maitland. The decision on whether the Stone Ridge Quarry Project will be given planning approval has been referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission because the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure received at least 50 unique submissions objecting to the proposal.

Commissioners Ms Janett Milligan (Panel Chair), Mr Terry Bailey and Mr Richard Pearson have been appointed by the Commission Chair to determine the development application.

The key issues identified in the Department’s whole-of-government assessment of the development application include impacts on biodiversity, air quality and water resources, and traffic and noise impacts.

The Commission has access to all previous written submissions made to the Department on this proposed development, however it is particularly helpful for the Commission Panel to also hear the community’s views about the Department’s assessment of the key issues and conditions of consent. These documents are available on the Commission’s website.

A public meeting on the Stone Ridge Quarry Project will be held at the Seaham School of Arts at 10 Warren Street, Seaham on on Thursday 14 November 2024 (10:00am AEDT start). 

The deadline for speaker registrations is 12:00pm AEDT on Thursday 7 November 2024.

The Commission is also inviting the public to make written submissions which can be lodged via the ‘Make a Submission’ portal. The Commission will also accept submissions made via post or email.

Written submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Thursday 21 November 2024.

Please note
Registered speakers for the public meeting will be asked to indicate a preference for presenting to the Commission Panel either in-person at the venue or virtually over the telephone. The public meeting may also be livestreamed on the Commission’s website. Please note that if the demand for either in-person or telephone attendance is low, the Commission may opt to conduct the meeting either entirely virtually, or entirely in person.  Similarly, if demand for speaker timeslots is high and Thursday 14 November 2024 becomes fully booked, the Commission will endeavour to schedule a second day.

If either of these scenarios occur, this will be fully communicated to all registered speakers in advance, including how the Commission can assist people to attend the meeting virtually.  Please read the Speaker Registration Form carefully, and provide as much detail as possible. These flexible arrangements ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to be heard, while also making best use of public resources.