Quarry still silent on silt issue

Anti-quarry campaigners fear silt may still be leaching from extraction company Neilsen’s dams after the latest heavy downpours.

Kin Kin Community Group president Gary Martin said he had spoken to neighbours concerned by the discolouration of water of Wahpunga Creek.

Mr Martin said he was aware at least one downstream farm using the water for cattle had stopped pumping from the creek.

Further works were carried out by Neilsen’s in the lead-up to reactivating the gravel quarry after the holding dams began to overflow from moderate rains last month.

Mr Martin believed Department of Environment and Resource Management had been carrying out tests that had shown levels of siltation.

His group is concerned that if Neilsen’s cannot assure water quality of the creek, this would have major ramifications on the headwaters of the Noosa River system.

The group has started a fighting fund and is seeking a declaration in the Planning and Environment Court to rescind the Sunshine Coast council quarry approval.

DERM is preparing a reply to a Noosa News request as to what monitoring of water quality is in place and what results are available.

A Neilsen’s spokesman said the company wished to make no further comment.