A public meeting in March discussed the plans to continue the Middle Creek Quarries and an expansion of up to 15 hectares.

The development application for the quarry is for crushing and screening of extracted materials, establishment of a waste management facility, importation of raw mulch, excavation of natural material and treated drilling mud, composting, blending and screening of imported materials.

Key issues discussed at the meeting were the visual impact on rural lot subdivision areas at Oberon West and the visibility impact when viewed from elevated areas within the Mayfield Garden facility.

Also discussed were heavy vehicle movements on public roads and the restriction of operating hours as well as the economic impact of the proposal.

Several verbal submissions in objection to the quarry were received at the meeting.

The panel's decision to defer the determination was unanimous.

The applicant is to prepare and submit to council a rehabilitation plan for the proposed development to address the provision of early implementation of bunding and vegetation screening to ensure the exposed quarry areas are screened from residences within the view catchment.

Particular attention should be given to the screening when viewed from large lot residential zoned areas at Oberon West the extent of visibility of the development when viewed from Mayfield Garden, and, if visible, measures to screen the quarry operations to ameliorate distant views.

The applicant must also prepare, and submit to council, an updated traffic assessment to clarify the traffic generation from the quarry development given the reduced hours of operation permitted in the EPA General Terms of Approval. 

The updated assessment should demonstrate that Abercrombie Road and Sewells Creek Road and associated intersections (including the site entry) will continue to operate at an acceptable level of service and safety.