Stop White Rock Quarry Expansion

Anthony Pettinau is organizing this fundraiser.

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At the end of 2020 Hanson White Rock Quarry submitted an application for a massive expansion within the iconic Adelaide Hills & Hills Face Zoning.

A number of extremely concerned community members formed Residents Against White Rock Quarry, an association who are pushing strongly to prevent the approval for a 4 stage expansion and to address health and environmental concerns.

As this quarry is classified as a Private Mine under the Mining Act legally Hanson White Rock Quarry are exempt from public notification, Hills Face Zoning, visual and cultural regulations and separation distances between the MOP boundary and residential properties.

White Rock Quarry mines quartz also known as crystalline silica (the “new asbestos”). Crystalline silica particles at 10 micron or less can reach deep into the lungs causing silicosis and even pass onto other organs causing chronic bronchitis, cancer and other autoimmune diseases including lupus. This expansion includes lowing natural barriers that will bring the community closer to the mining operations. Infact there are homes already within 400m of the quarry boundary. We are concerned about the impacts this will have on wind patterns and dust dispersing over residential properties, educational facilities including primary schools and primary industries.

The current disturbance area of the quarry is 41.6 ha with the final result being 160.1 ha which will ultimately change the landscape forever. Stage 1 alone is double the current disturbance area of the current mining operations.

Stage 1 - 44.6ha
Stage 2 - 34.8ha
Stage 3 - 27.6ha
Stage 3a - 12.1ha

The White Rock Quarry property is home to the vulnerable Cunningham’s Skink, State Heritage listed Wellington Rock/Pizey’s Knob - a known nesting spot for the Peregrine Falcon, endangered Yellow-Footed Antechinus, endangered Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, endangered Australasian Bittern and the vulnerable Bassian Thrush. A cave which may hold cultural significance to our First Nationals on the northern ridgeline and hundreds of trees will be lost. Green areas on the below map represents revegetation but what grows on vertical escarpments?!

In the future White Rock Quarry can apply for a new MOP and cut Mt Skye in half (Which they originally intended to submit. Shown in red on below image) and flatten the landscape. Mt Skye can be seen on the Adelaide plains as far as Grote Street and it’s summit and treetop canopy forms the backdrop to our Adelaide Hills. The northern ridgeline has already been chipped away and Mt Skye could potentially have the same fate.

Residents Against White Rock Quarry urge for this expansion to cease past Stage 3, separation distances between the MOP boundary and residential homes of no less than 500m and for all un-quarried land be incorporated into adjacent Horsnell Gully and/or Giles Conservation Parks.

As Residents Against White Rock Quarry are run by volunteers they are asking for a donations to put towards marketing campaigns and promotional material and general running costs ie website & subscriptions, specialists, etc .

Any unused funds will be donated to Adelaide Koala Rescue.

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Thank you
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