Page 1848 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 June 2021
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MRS JONES: Can you categorically rule out misappropriation of funds?
MS CHEYNE: That is a matter for the review.
MS CASTLEY: Minister, given that you have acknowledged there are serious questions to be answered, when will you give us the answers?
MRS JONES: When the review is completed. In addition to that, as you noted, with my almost 50-minute statement this morning I went to some lengths to answer as many questions as I had answers to, but I appreciate that there are most questions out there, including questions that we have. That is exactly why I have commissioned a review.
Environment—Monaro Rock quarry
MR DAVIS: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and it relates to the proposed quarry development on Monaro Road, just across the ACT border. Minister, a number of my constituents in Tuggeranong have contacted me about the proposed quarry development on Monaro Road. They have voiced concerns about health, environment and noise issues. What is your understanding of the proposed quarry development?
MS VASSAROTTI: I thank Mr Davis for the question. Yes, we are aware of a proposal for a quarry in the Royalla area, which is actually located in New South Wales, and it is about two kilometres away from Tuggeranong residents. We understand that it will probably produce around 750,000 tonnes of hard rock each year.
We do not have any formal information regarding the proposal, but we understand that it has been identified by the New South Wales government as a state significant development, so it will be assessed by the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment instead of the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
We understand the planning and assessment process is at a fairly early stage, and that the New South Wales government will issue environment assessment requirements that will describe what the proponent must do and must include in any environmental impact statements. If an application is lodged, it will be notified by the New South Wales department. That will then provide an opportunity for the community and stakeholders to provide comments on the proposal.
We have contacted the council, and they have provided some information that the proposal is likely to require access through territory land, so there will be formal engagement regarding that at the time. We will continue to keep a watching brief and, when the process goes forward, we will be engaging formally, because we know that there will be environmental and other concerns.
MR DAVIS: Minister, given that the quarry is, as you stated, just two kilometres away from residential homes in my electorate of Brindabella, and that concerns constituents greatly, what can the ACT government do to respond to those concerns?
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