Monaro Rock
Monaro Rock Pty Ltd is proposing to develop a new quarry on its land 13km south west of Queanbeyan. The site is near the locality of Royalla, about 5km north of the Old Cooma Road intersection with the Monaro Highway.
To know more information about what’s coming in the next few weeks check our Community Events page.
About Monaro Rock Pty Ltd
Monaro Rock is a joint venture between two local family businesses which collectively have 75 years operating in the region’s construction and concrete industries and currently employ more than 200 people.
Indicative project location
Why a new quarry?
Estimates indicate the Canberra region market consumes about 1.5 million tonnes of hard rock aggregates each year and this is growing steadily. As well, there are large infrastructure projects such as the Barton Highway upgrade, Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Canberra’s light rail expansion, and a booming residential construction sector meeting the needs of the region’s growing population, which will all require additional hard rock aggregate from local resource sites. It is intended that Monaro Rock will provide resources for its parent companies as well as other regional construction and infrastructure projects. It is anticipated the quarry will employ 20-30 workers when fully operational.
Why this location?
The region is well-known for its high-quality hard rock and quarries have operated here for over 60 years. There are two operational quarries less than 10km from the Monaro Rock site, both run by multinational corporations.
What is the proposed size of the quarry?
Monaro Rock will seek approval to produce up to 1,000,000 tonnes per annum. The rate of production would be scaled to meet demand.
What is the approval process for the quarry?
The proposal is in the early stages of the environmental assessment process. The project would be a State Significant Development and therefore be assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). The Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) have been received for the Project and it is registered with DPHI under Application SSD-27223807 . Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is currently underway, and several environmental assessments have been commissioned.
How would the rock be transported from the site?
The method of transport would be by heavy vehicle, the same as other quarries in the area. The access route to the Quarry is designed to minimise traffic impact with a deliberate decision made to directly access the quarry via the Monaro Highway to avoid local roads.
How close is the nearest dwelling?
The proposed site is 1.5km away from the nearest house.
What about the local environment?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be submitted as part of the application process. This will include technical assessments, surveys and studies which are being completed to better understand the local environment with regard to noise levels, traffic on local roads, vegetation and the presence of threatened species, as well as the potential impact of transportation, water resources, dust and noise generation, vegetation clearing, social and visual impacts, and any impact on Aboriginal and historical heritage. Monaro Rock has engaged an environmental consultant to compile the EIS ready for submission to the DPHI.
How can the community comment on the proposal?
Community consultation is an important part of the development process. A virtual community event is planned for 11 June 2024 and community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the Project.
We are committed to ensuring local concerns are addressed and to providing opportunities for direct communication. We will continue this consultation throughout the project planning cycle via newsletters, online and face-to-face meetings, site tours and provision of information on the Monaro Rock website. Feedback and questions are welcome via the contact form below.