As you can see from below, the proposal was for trucks to enter the Hornsby CBD from 7.00pm to 6.00am. ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT. Now who in their right mind would accept a deal like that, and no where in the proposal have they said the Quarry would be given to Council for FREE. Click on the link below to see the CSR proposal.
CTION from Planning Meeting on  06/09/2000
Item No: 22 Subject: HORNSBY QUARRY LANDFILL PROPOSAL BY CSR


Report Number: PLN268/00

File No:  PP022828

RESOLVED ON THE MOTION OF COUNCILLOR  RUSSELL, seconded by COUNCILLOR  MUIRHEAD,

THAT Council make representations to the New South Wales Premier's Department and New South Wales Department of Urban Affairs and Planning requesting that the Hornsby Quarry landfill proposal not be supported by State Environmental Planning Policy and not be supported as the preferred landfill site if it is to be reliant upon transport of spoil material to Hornsby by road.

(This report should remain confidential under Section 10(a) (2) (d) of the Local Government Act, 1993.  This report contains commercial information of a confidential nature which would, if disclosed, prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it.  This report should be made available to the public upon receipt of a corresponding development application.)

COUNCILLOR BERMAN LEFT THE MEETING DURING THIS ITEM, HAVING DECLARED A NON-PECUNIARY INTEREST.


The Shire of Hornsby

Executive Manager's Report No. PLN268/00
Planning Division
Date of Meeting : 06/09/2000




Item No:         Subject:
22 HORNSBY QUARRY LANDFILL PROPOSAL BY CSR


CONFIDENTIAL

This report can be considered in confidential session under Section 10(a) (2) (d) of the Local Government Act, 1993.  This report contains commercial information of a confidential nature which would, if disclosed, prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it.  This report should be made available to the public upon receipt of a corresponding development application.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

A Mayoral Meeting was conducted on 7 August, 2000 with a representative of CSR Limited and his consultants.  The representative advised that discussions had taken place with the New South Wales Premier's Department and the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning regarding CSR's proposal to transport spoil from the Parramatta/Chatswood rail link to the Hornsby Quarry site.  The proposal is to transport the spoil by road or rail to railway land adjoining George Street, Hornsby and to discharge the same into a tunnel beneath the railway line and then by conveyer across Council land in Old Man's Valley to Hornsby Quarry.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this report is to help Council form a preliminary view of the proposal and make representation to the Premier's Department and the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning in respect of same.
DISCUSSION

Spoil from the construction of the Parramatta/Chatswood rail link has a number of options for spoil disposal cited in the Environmental Impact Statement, including Hornsby Quarry.

CSR representatives indicated that they are seeking to progress the use of Hornsby Quarry for the disposal of spoil from the rail link construction through a State Environmental Planning Policy which will integrate the spoil disposal and the rail link construction.  This could potentially take determination of a corresponding development application away from Council and place it in the hands of State Government.  The representatives also indicated they were having discussions with the Premier's Department seeking to press their proposal as the preferred option for disposal.

A document entitled 'Hornsby Quarry Restoration - Concept Plan' dated January, 2000 was presented to the Mayor.  A copy of this confidential document is attached.

The proposal is to drill a tunnel under the railway yards in George Street emerging beyond Hornsby Pool, and then  erect a conveyer which would take the spoil across Council land to Hornsby Quarry.  Vehicles would enter railway land from George Street and discharge the spoil into the tunnel.  Alternatively, rail trucks would discharge the spoil from a siding.

The CSR representative indicated that material would be gathered from Chatswood, Epping and Macquarie over a period of 2 years and would consist of shale and sandstone.  He estimates that there would be 2 million cubic metres of material available between 2002/2003 out of a total of 3 million cubic metres.

Pennant Hills Road and Pacific Highway would the main arterial roads involved in transporting the spoil by road.  One laden semi-trailer would be expected to visit the disposal site per minute between 7.00 pm and 6.00 am.  It is not stated why road transport would be confined to this period.  Albeit that road transport would be less congested during this time, road noise and the associated loading and unloading of trucks at the origin and destination points may be of concern.

George Street has been declared a State road by the State Government and is to provide the main arterial route through Hornsby.  Additionally, it is to provide a significant role in facilitating the circulation of traffic in the Hornsby CBD.  It is not considered appropriate to introduce laden semi-trailers into the heart of the Hornsby CBD on grounds of traffic safety and congestion.  If the material is to be transported by road, Council can expect 65,000 truck movements one way or 130,000 truck movements into and out of Hornsby town centre as a consequence of this proposal.  It would be preferable for this material to be transported by rail.  In fact, rail should be regarded as the only means by which this material should be transported to the Hornsby town centre to prevent traffic congestion, traffic noise, disturbance to the Hornsby town centre, deterioration of road infrastructure and the generation of greenhouse gases.

Consultants to CSR indicated at the Mayoral interview that it was not possible to transport all of the material by rail owing to the necessity for double handling and limited capacity of the rail system.  If this is the constraint then it is not considered appropriate for Council to support the landfill option.  An additional concern is that the proposed siting of the transfer facility and tunnel is located in the area designated for high rise residential development under Council's housing strategy.  The two uses are incompatible.

Owing to the above concerns, it is of concern that CSR representatives have made representation to the NSW Premier's Department and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning seeking to give support to their proposal and to remove Council as the consent authority under a proposed State Environmental Planning Policy.  Both the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and NSW Premier's Department have been contacted by the Executive Manager, Planning.  Mr Bill Dunbar, Manager of the Infrastructure Co-ordination Unit for the Greater Metropolitan Region within the Premier's Department advised that no preference has been given to CSR for their proposal nor has there been any suggestion that such a proposal, if supported, should be incorporated into a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).  Mr Dunbar has undertaken to keep Council informed of any representations made in respect of this matter by CSR and to seek Council's views in respect of same.

Mr Mark Hather of the New South Wales Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Assessments Branch advised that the draft SEPP that is currently under preparation for the Chatswood/Parramatta rail link does not incorporate any site for the disposal of spoil from the railway construction.  He also advised that it was not anticipated that the SEPP would be modified to incorporate a waste disposal option.

It is apparent that CSR Limited is endeavouring to further its waste disposal strategy as the preferred option.  Whilst ever it seeks to progresss its proposal through State Government, Council should be vigilant in seeking to prevent such a proposal proceeding if it is reliant upon transport of spoil to the Hornsby town centre by road.

BUDGET

There are no budget implications.

POLICY

There are no policy implications.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

The responsible officer is Mr Peter Hinton, Executive Manager, Planning Division, telephone 9847 6750.


RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council make representations to the New South Wales Premier's Department and New South Wales Department of Urban Affairs and Planning requesting that the Hornsby Quarry landfill proposal not be supported by State Environmental Planning Policy and not be supported as the preferred landfill site if it is to be reliant upon transport of spoil material to Hornsby by road.




PETER HINTON
Executive Manager
Planning Division

PH:JT

Attachments:     Confidential - Hornsby Quarry Restoration - Concept Plan (10 pages)

File(s) required for Meeting:  PP022828


RECO PRECIS

THAT Council make representations to the New South Wales Premier's Department and New South Wales Department of Urban Affairs and Planning requesting that the Hornsby Quarry landfill proposal not be supported by State Environmental Planning Policy and not be supported as the preferred landfill site if it is to be reliant upon transport of spoil material to Hornsby by road.

 

 
Authorised by Stephen Evans.   10 Higgins Place, Westleigh NSW 2120.
Ph: 02 – 9484 9412  •   Fx: 02 – 9484 7911
Designed & hosted by
Solution Graphics