YOUR FREE NOT-FOR-PROFIT NEWSPAPER I #heartofthehinterland I Ph: 0481 906 451 I Email: editorial@cooroyrag.com.au I 5 November 2024
Frozen in time: the art Page 8 of taxidermy
Sue and Kev having a chuckle at Cooroy Golf Club's annual Pink Ribbon Day on 17 October. The day brought smiles and sunshine whilst raising money for a good cause. More page 34.
NEW! Police Beat with OIC Sgt Ryan Hanlon
Page 32
Kin Kin Quarry: controversy, petitions, parliament BY SARAH JANE SCOTT
THE Kin Kin Quarry controversy continues to stir strong emotions among residents. A petition signed by 1855 citizens was recently presented to the Federal Parliament, calling on the government to intervene and protect the region's critical habitat from further quarrying operations. Residents of the hinterland are rallying to prevent the clearing of approximately 9.35 hectares of critical habitat, which they argue will cause irreversible damage to the environment and local communities. The quarry, which has
been operating since 1987, saw a significant increase in activity in 2020 when Cordwell Resources took over operations. According to Nick Cooke, spokesman for the Save Noosa Hinterland group, the number of truck movements skyrocketed, causing major disruptions for residents. “At capacity, the quarry can run 288 truck movements a day, that is approximately a truck every few minutes, through several of our hinterland villages,” Nick explained. Locals have long expressed concerns about the safety of the narrow roads that the trucks must navigate, particularly Pomona
Kin Kin Road. A Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) report revealed that 26 corners along the route are too narrow for trucks, forcing them to cross the centre line or drive off the sealed road. According to Nick these conditions have led to several close calls with school buses and residents. “The quarry is approximately 22 km from the highway, over a mountain range, on unsuitable roads, and through townships like Kin Kin, Cooran, Cooroy, and Pomona.” Beyond traffic issues, the quarry’s expansion threatens the surrounding environment, including core koala
habitat and critically endangered ecosystems. Noise, dust, and vegetation clearing are already impacting nearby communities and tourists, with many avoiding the Noosa Trail Network’s trail that crosses the quarry’s haulage route. The ongoing battle worsened in August 2023, when Cordwell Resources submitted an application to Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to clear 9.35 hectares of land for a largescale quarry expansion. The proposal, if approved, could further threaten endangered species and diminish habits.
The community has responded swiftly, with Nick leading the charge with a federal e-petition titled Protect Noosa's Critical Habitat. “Our petition calls on the minister to reject the proposal,” he said. “With less than nine years left on the quarry approval, the environmental cost outweighs any benefit. Once this old growth critical habitat is gone, it’s gone.” In just four weeks, the petition gathered 1855 signatures, with more than 100 written submissions sent to the environment minister. Continued on page 3.
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Cooroy Rag, 5 November 2024 - Page
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