Support for 'no dam spill' order
SUNSHINE Coast council including Mayor Mark Jamieson voted overwhelmingly in support of a no dam spill order for the operators of Kin Kin quarry in a move that went only part of the way in satisfying more than 550 people who wanted them to reject a new management plan outright.
Council staff last Thursday was resigned to at least one breach a year of the quarry sediment basin, but Division 12 Councillor Tony Wellington said that was not good enough to protect the Noosa River catchment.
Cr Wellington, with a clapping Kin Kin Community Group in the council chamber public gallery, demanded an amendment that stipulated a sediment control plan that ensures "untreated water is not released from the detention basins into the downstream watercourse" and all but two councillors supported him.
This was after the councillor had tabled a Kin Kin petition signed by 553 people that urged council "to consider wisely and vote against the plan to prevent the environmental and social upheaval that will ensue" from the approved Sheppersons Lane quarry.
"This new resolution seeks to place proper environmental controls on the Kin Kin quarry," Cr Wellington said.
"Any over-topping of untreated water into the Noosa River catchment has the potential to cause long-term environmental damage. The resolution I'm requesting asks (quarry operator) Neilsens to meet their own stated objectives to ensure all stormwater is managed, to protect downstream water quality.
"Overtopping of the sediment dam would have disastrous impact on the Noosa River system."
Cr Wellington said staff had admitted "overtopping once a year is not appropriate".
Neislen Group CEO Mario Panuccio said a hidden pipe referred to in a DERM report, was a pre-existing overflow pipe between two dams,not a waterway, on the previous owner's land.
"It was plugged by the Neilsen Group when the Kin Kin quarry operation was taken over," he said.
"The Neilsen Group have not received an official copy of the council motion and cannot comment on it specifically. We look forward to the approval and intend to continue operating the Kin Kin quarry in an environmentally responsible manner."
