Open day gives insight to Bunyip quarry plans

About 40 people recently took the opportunity to be updated on progress of studies associated with plans to develop a major granite quarry at Bunyip North.

Hanson, a subsidiary of the global Heidelberg Cement Group, held a public open day at Bunyip last Saturday week to enable people to have one-on-one discussions with project consultants.

Hanson is undertaking major studies in association with its Environment Effect Statement for the quarry’s development and operation in an area where local protest groups claim would threaten the popular Mount Cannibal Reserve and cause significant problems for residents living in the area.

Spokesperson for Hanson’s Daniel Fyfe said the major topics for discussions at the open day were directed at concerns local people have about blasting, town planning and heritage.

He said another open day was likely to be held later in the year to provide updates on studies relating to visual effects, noise, dust and ground water.

Hanson’s own almost 440 hectares of land at Bunyip North and estimates are the quarry could yield up to 70 million tonnes of granite over its lifetime.

The company also outlined its proposed schedule for its ongoing studies and public exhibition of them ahead of a State planning panel hearing into the proposal.

Mr Fyfe said it could be almost two years before a decision was reached.

He said the aim was to complete a draft EES by the end of the year that would be on public exhibition for submission from January to March next year.