Recently I attended a meeting at the Kin Kin town hall to further understand the problems locals are going to face when the quarry expands its production in late January. 

The increase in mining will result in some 40 trucks with semi trailers leaving the site per day, each carrying approximately 40 tonnes of rocks. The trucks will I believe be leaving at 9 minute intervals which by my calculations means 6 hours a day of large trucks rumbling down the Kin Kin range.

If you have driven this road lately you will understand that this is a frightening concept. The road in not wide enough to safely pass a truck in many areas, and there is a school bus frequently stopping to pick up kids which has to park in the road as there is no where else for it to go. "Lives will inevitably be lost" were the very words of a key note speaker at the meeting, and absolutely no one disagreed with him including attending councilor Lew Brennen.

Other concerns are that the Quarry will have a lot of water run off into our Noosa river system to combat the issue of dust. This which will affect Noosa and Tewantin residents along the river and other river users.

Another proposed route for the trucks is past the Tewantin primary school or through Pomona township.

The Noosa trail network will have several of its trails deemed unsafe for horse riders due to the increase in traffic and noise pollution caused by the large trucks.

The Kin Kin community has launched legal action against the quarry owners, but sadly there is no support from Main Roads who will take no responsibility. Read the letter below from Warren Truss for more details. 

Below is a list of persons that can be contacted to express your concerns, also our local councilor:

Division 12 councilor Lew Brennan is responsible for Kin Kin. Lew infers that the Quarry which was granted the application back in 1988 has the rights to go ahead with the expansion, and would like all concerned residents to express their concerns in writing to him asap.
Fax: (07) 5441 8338
Lew Brennan
Locked Bag 72
SUNSHINE COAST MAIL CENTRE QLD 4560  

 

addresses.pdf (283.87 kb)

Warren Truss Letter.pdf (176.33 kb)

“No Quarry in Kin Kin” fundraiser

“Passing Wind” – a solo show by Linsey Pollak
Friday February 5th. 7.30pm. Kin Kin Hall.
Entry $10 (families - $20)
This show is a quirky look at how wind instruments work and how they are invented using some pretty unexpected materials such as balloons, rubber gloves, irrigation pipe, a feather duster, a watering can and a carrot. We even get to hear Mr Curly (a contra-bass clarinet made from garden hose). Some of these instruments are made as you watch.
All proceeds from this concert go to the “No Quarry in Kin Kin" Fighting Fund

 
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Call to clean up roads

As entrance statements go to Noosa, the drive in along Noosa-Eumundi Road is being trashed according to Doonan resident Murray Hopping.

He said from the Beckmans Road roundabout out to the Sunshine Coast council refuse tip, the roadside was usually strewn with loads of rubbish which had fallen off the backs of dump-bound vehicles.

And a frustrated Mr Hopping said while the initial responsibility should be getting tip-users to secure their loads properly, he could not find an authority prepared to take responsibility for cleaning up the renegade rubbish.

“I contacted the council a while back and they said that the roadside is a matter for Main Roads and Main Roads said they only handle the roadside slashing,” Mr Hopping said.

And the very mention of slashing is enough to drive Mr Hopping mad - because he said whenever the slashers did their handiwork the result was a bigger shredded mess.

He said all manner of objects ended up along the road including mattresses.

“It is a terrible entrance statement for Noosa - I don't think (mayor) Bob Abbot would allow that sort of thing in Hastings Street, so why do we have to put up with it along this road?”

He suggested a special clean-up might be arranged and the collected junk be put in an industrial bin with a sign saying this litter was left along our roadways.

John Netherton, manager of civil works services for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, said council was aware there was a chronic litter problem along this stretch of road and believed it was mainly caused by vehicles transporting uncovered loads.

“Although this is a Main Roads Department road, council staff currently schedule four to five clean-ups per year, with the next clean-up scheduled for the end of September. We attempt to schedule these clean-ups around important events, or the level of litter,” he said.

“Each clean-up is labour intensive, as council staff must walk the stretch of road, hand picking the litter, which takes around three days.”

He said residents and visitors should understand the importance of covering refuse transferred to landfill.

Publishing permit given by Noosa News

 
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A major problem was the control of the surface water (road area). One big concrete pipe ends in one of the subdivision blocks. Before NSC took over the road, the road builder had to make sure that all pipes were free of any silt. Great attention was needed to keep the area in front of the outlet level with the pipes. This was done with the help of a bobcat.

Now after 2 years, the whole stormwater system needs attention, specifically the area in front of the pipes. The build up of silt is about 250 mm. I asked the new property owner to inform NSC because most of the storm water goes thru his property and the build up of sand, stones and debris on the outlet side is considerable. Because we are told not to touch anything and the water drainage area is a wetland, he was told to his amazement that is it his job to clean the said area. In order to do this, he needs a special permit from NSC for which he has to pay around $ 90 plus the costs for a bobcat.

 

The same property owner enquired by NSC if he could cut down a specific tree which is uncomfortably close to his workshop. During the conversation she explained that she likes trees more than people. No one asked for her opinion. This has nothing to do with her job. I think there is plenty of room for professional improvement.

 
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