Boral Dunmore Operations
Boral's Dunmore Operations, located in the Illawarra region of NSW, include a hard rock quarry, a sand dredging operation known as Dunmore Sand & Soil (DSS), and Boral Concrete Dunmore.
Please note these sites are not open to the public. All sales and product enquiries may only be directed to 1300 723 999 (Quarries) or 1300 552 555 (Concrete), or you can send an online request.
38 Tabbitta Road
Dunmore NSW 2529
Australia
About the Boral Dunmore Operations
Boral's Dunmore Operations have existed for more than 90 years, servicing the need for building and construction materials in the Illawarra, South Coast and greater Sydney metropolitan areas.
Sited directly adjacent to the South Coast Railway and Princes Highway, the Operations are ideally positioned to support growth and development in these key regions of NSW.
Originally a hard rock quarry, today's Dunmore facilities also include the Dunmore Sand & Soil (DSS) business, Boral Concrete Dunmore, and a Boral Logistics yard.
Current Works
- Dunmore Lakes Project Mod 2: We are currently undertaking cultural heritage salvage work at the site. Boral places great importance and value on Aboriginal cultural and archaeological heritage and all works are in accordance with government regulations. Boral undertook an extensive consultation process with all Aboriginal Groups who registered their interest in this site, and hence all salvage activities, including the use of water to sieve the retrieved artefacts, was agreed with these Aboriginal groups. This method allows the artefacts to be catalogued and studied, providing valuable scientific data and educational opportunities for Aboriginal Groups, archaeologists, and the community. The Aboriginal groups then determine where the artefacts are ultimately stored or returned to Country, as documented in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report and Heritage Management Plan.
- Survey work is currently on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions
- Endeavour Energy clearing vegetation: Endeavour Energy is currently undertaking routine vegetation clearing near powerlines on the Tabbita and Swamp Road sections of the site and along some of the site boundaries. Click here for further information or contact Endeavour Energy: 133 718 during normal business hours.
Dunmore Sand & Soil: Modification 2 Assessment (Nov 2020)
On 16 November 2020, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) handed down its determination of Modification 2 (MOD 2), conditionally approving the proposal.
Boral welcomes the IPC's decision, allowing establishment of Stage 5A and B as part of our Dunmore Sand and Soil (DSS) operations.
The decision has relied upon thorough and rigorous studies on the proposal as compiled by experienced and qualified experts.
Boral's strong track record in responsible environmental management of our operations at Dunmore will continue via a series of management plans stipulated in the conditions of consent.
We acknowledge concerns raised by the community during the assessment and appreciate this feedback. We will continue to work with the community to ensure we meet or exceed all of our planning conditions, as we have for many years at our existing operations.
Boral will commence work on this development immediately, to ensure that the Illawarra can benefit from the supply of this construction sand and the jobs it will create as soon as possible.
Background
Boral has owned and operated the DSS business since 2005. DSS is one of two Boral sources of sand serving the Illawarra, Sydney and the Hunter.
Sand is a critical component of building and construction materials such as concrete and asphalt. It is in high demand, however access to new sand resources is becoming harder due to environmental and economic factors.
Because of this, we seek to maximise the use of the resources from which we already extract.
The operation of DSS is currently governed by a planning consent issued by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) during 2005. The consent allows for extraction across four separate stages within the land we own (or have owned) along Tabbitta and Swamp Roads.
We’re currently dredging in Stage 3, located immediately south of the Tabbitta Road entrance to our Dunmore Operations.
With the resource being consumed, we started planning for a further stage. After a search for other sources, a suitable location was found on private property south of our operations, positioned between Riverside Drive and the Princes Highway.
We identified two separate sources of sand at the property, one of which could sustain one-to-two years of operation, the other four-to-five.
Following discussions with the landowner, we prepared and submitted a modification application to DPIE seeking approval for the commencement of a Stage 5. This modification was the second time we’ve sought a change to the planning consent, so it is called MOD 2.
MOD 2 proposed that Stage 5 be implemented in two parts. Stage 5A, the smaller pit, fronts Riverside Drive opposite the Kiama Council Recycling Centre. Stage 5B is positioned at the rear of the property and to the north of the Minnamurra River corridor, largely out of sight from the surrounds.
In both instances, the operations will work as at the existing site in Tabbitta Road. The overburden (material between the surface and the sand) will be stripped first, then excavators would dig into the resource until it begins to fill with water.
After the water level becomes high enough, a dredge will be floated and begin gathering sand. All sand collected will be sent back to Tabbitta Road via a pump pipe system, avoiding the need for additional transport on local roads.
Once extraction of Stage 5A has finished, clean fill will be placed in the pond and the paddocks restored. This part of the work will require the construction of an access adjoining Riverside Drive, with the fill to be brought in by truck.
The operations will be conducted in line with all of the other terms of the current DSS planning consent – there’ll be no change to operating hours, no change to production limits, and no change to the environmental obligations to which we presently have to adhere.
MOD 2 was exhibited for public comment during April and May 2019. We submitted our Response to Submissions document on 25 June 2019 - you can view this and the application documents on the DPIE website.
In September 2020, the DPIE referred the application to the IPC for a final determination. A public meeting was arranged by the IPC on 28 October 2020 as part of the determination process - you can view our presentation as given to the meeting below.
On 16 November 2020, the IPC announced it had given MOD 2 conditional approval.
You can also read more about MOD 2 in the below newsletter, as well as view a presentation shown to a group of neighbouring property owners during a briefing held 10 April 2019.
General Approvals: Dunmore Quarry
The Dunmore Quarry is operated to an approval granted by the then NSW Department of Planning and Environment in November 2004.
The consent (DA 470-11-2003) sets out the operating, environmental and reporting conditions the quarry must comply with throughout its operational life.
Subsequent to 2004, Boral has received approval for 12 modifications to the consent. You can read through the consolidated consent documentation here.
General Approvals: Dunmore Sand and Soil
The most recent planning consent granted by the then NSW Department of Planning and Environment to Dunmore Sand & Soil was during 2005.
As with the quarry, the Dunmore Sand & Soil approval (DA 195-8-2004) establishes the terms to which the site must be managed throughout its operational life.
The Dunmore Sand & Soil approval has been modified three times since its initial granting. You can read through the consolidated consent documentation (to MOD 1) here and (to MOD 2) here.
General Approvals: Dunmore Concrete
Dunmore Concrete's planning consent (DA 0530/2018) was updated and reissued by Shellharbour City Council during July 2019 following an application by Boral to increase production from the site.
You can read Council's Notice of Determination of Development Application which offers an overview of the conditions of consent for the plant.
Public Reporting
Both the Dunmore Quarry's and Dunmore Sand & Soil's planning consents include requirements to compile a range of reports and perform various audits. These offer an assurance that the provisions of each are being complied with.
Independent Environmental/Consent Auditing
Independent audits are carried out at both the Dunmore Quarry and Dunmore Sand & Soil as an assurance the conditions contained within the respective consolidated consents are being met. You can view the results of the most recent audits below:
- Dunmore Quarry: Independent Environmental Audit Results (Aug 2020)
- Dunmore Quarry: Response to Recommendations of Independent Environmental Audit (Aug 2020)
Annual Reviews
The sites are required to compile an Annual Review at the end of each financial year, capturing information about operations and performance against a range of criteria.
The Reviews can be found below. Prior to the 2014-15 reporting year, the annual return documents were known as Annual Environmental Management Reports (AEMRs).
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2022-2023
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2021-22
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2019-20
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2019-20: Appendix C - Noise Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2019-20: Appendix E - Bushland and Riparian Restoration
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2019-20: Appendix F - Groundwater Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2018-19
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2018-19: Appendix F - Groundwater Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2018-19: Appendix G - Bushland and Riparian Restoration
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2017-18
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2017-18: Appendix A - Surface Water
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2017-18: Appendix B - Bushland and Riparian Restoration
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2017-18: Appendix E - Noise Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2017-18: Appendix F - Groundwater Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2016-17
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2015-16
- Annual Review (Dunmore Quarry) 2014-15
- AEMR (Dunmore Quarry) 2013-14
- AEMR (Dunmore Quarry) 2012-13
- AEMR (Dunmore Quarry) 2011-12
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2022-2023
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2021-22
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2021-22 - Groundwater Report
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2019-20
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2019-20: Appendix C - Noise Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2019-20: Appendix D - Groundwater Monitoring Part 1
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2019-20: Appendix D - Groundwater Monitoring Part 2
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2018-19
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2018-19: Appendix C - Noise Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2018-19: Appendix E - Groundwater Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2017-18
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2017-18: Appendix E - Noise Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2017-18: Appendix F - Groundwater Monitoring
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2016-17
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2015-16
- Annual Review (Dunmore Sand & Soil) 2011-15 (combined)
Annual Noise Compliance Assessment Reports
The Dunmore Quarry and Dunmore Sand & Soil are required to undertake an independent assessment of their performance against relevant noise criteria. The resulting reports can be viewed below.
- Dunmore Quarry (2022)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil (2022)
- Dunmore Quarry (Jul 2020)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil (Jul 2020)
NSW Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011
Both quarries have reporting obligations under the NSW Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011.
This Act applies to sites which operate under an Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) and requires the provision of public access to pollution reporting data. You can access this data here.
Public Feedback Register
Receiving feedback is an important part of maintaining successful operations. Under the terms of each of the quarry sites' approvals, a register of complaints and their resolution is required to be made available for public review. You'll find the latest versions below.
Operations: Dunmore Quarry
To find out more about how Boral operates its quarries, visit our About Quarries page.
You can also read this brief overview of the Dunmore hard rock operation prepared in October 2018 for local residents.
Environmental Management: Dunmore
The Dunmore Quarry and Dunmore Sand and Soil have each developed a comprehensive Environmental Management Strategy (EMS), which guides how the multiple environmental requirements of the site are addressed on a day-to-day basis.
The two EMS documents are listed below:
• Dunmore Quarry: Environmental Management Strategy
• Dunmore Sand and Soil: Environmental Management Strategy
Dunmore Lakes Sand Project Environmental Management Plans
The approvals which guide our sites often include a requirement to develop and make public a number of environmental management plans (EMPs).
The purpose of these plans is to set benchmarks and assist the sites to manage operations with respect to a number of related environmental factors.
Dunmore Sand & Soil have developed a set of EMPs over many years to guide site environmental management.
The suite of management plans assist the operations to meet the terms of its Environment Protection Licence (EPL) and planning approvals. You can read each of these plans below.
- Dunmore Sand & soil Traffic Management Plan (July 2023)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (May 2022)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Long Term Management Strategy (Jun 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil and Water Management Plan
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Traffic Management Plan (July 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Heritage Management Plan (July 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Rehabilitation Management Plan (July 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Flora and Fauna Management Plan (July 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Noise Management Plan (June 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Air Quality Management Plan (June 2021)
- Dunmore Sand & Soil Waste Management Plan (June 2021)
Dunmore Quarry Environmental Management Plans
The approvals which guide our sites often include a requirement to develop and make public a number of environmental management plans (EMPs).
The purpose of these plans is to set benchmarks and assist the sites to manage operations with respect to a number of related environmental factors.
The Dunmore Quarry have developed a set of EMPs over many years to guide site environmental management.
The suite of management plans assist the operations to meet the terms of its Environment Protection Licence (EPL) and planning approvals. You can read each of these plans below.
- Dunmore Quarry Noise Management Plan (Dec 2017)
- Dunmore Quarry Rehabilitation Management Plan (Nov 2016)
- Dunmore Quarry Transport Management Plan (Apr 2016)
- Dunmore Quarry Air Quality Management Plan (May 2019)
- Dunmore Quarry Water Management Plan (Nov 2016)
- Dunmore Quarry Flora & Fauna Management Plan (Part 1) (Jun 2019)
- Dunmore Quarry Flora & Fauna Management Plan (Part 2) (Jun 2019)
- Dunmore Quarry Bushfire Management Plan (Aug 2016)
- Dunmore Quarry Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan (Sep 2017)
- Dunmore Quarry Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (Aug 2019)
Rehabilitation: Dunmore Sand & Soil
Dunmore Sand & Soil has a strong track record of implementing successful rehabilitation in former extraction areas and other parts of the operations' landholding.
Nest boxes are built specifically for animals to nest, shelter and roost in. They imitate natural hollows and provide native wildlife with a safe and comfortable place to raise their young and rest in.
In April 2023, Boral installed 143 nest boxes all custom built for different local species in a native Bangalay forest encroaching the Minnamurra River just near Dunmore. These nest boxes are as follows:
• 10 Possum/Galah boxes
• 20 Front Entry Sugar Glider boxes
• 20 Small Parrot boxes
• 8 Kookaburra boxes
• 10 Owlet-Nightjar boxes
• 8 Barn Owl boxes
• 10 Medium Rear Entry Glider (YBG) boxes
• 10 Dollar Bird / Rosella boxes
• 4 Large Owl / Cockatoo boxes
• 11 Rear Entry Sugar Glider boxes
• 5 Greater Glider boxes
• 5 X Large Custom boxes
• 5 XX Large Custom Boxes
• 15 Double Chambered Micro Bat boxes
These will provide long-term habitats for a wide range of native species in this area, promoting biodiversity and enriching this ecosystem.
At June 2020, the rehabilitation of the former Stage 2 extraction area (north of Tabbitta Road) was approximately one third complete. Specific rehabilitation projects have included:
- Stage 2 North West (2017) - A total of 6237 plants including mixed trees, grasses and shrubs from the local Swamp Oak flora community planted.
- Stage 2 North East (2019) - A total of 7500 plants, again from the Swamp Oak flora community, planted.
- The 'Bird Island' (2017) - A total of 6237 plants from the Swamp Oak flora community planted on a piece of land intended to provide sanctuary for a variety of bird species once surrounded with water.
- Western Tributary Re-alignment - A total of 2800 plants from both the Freshwater Coastal Wetland and Swamp Oak flora communities were planted as part of the approved realignment of a tributary of Rocklow Creek within Boral owned lands.
These initiatives follow the planting of tens of thousands of plants during the rehabilitation of Stage 1 (Dunmore Lakes Estate / Swamp Road).
- Stage 2 North West: Initial Plantings (2017)
- Stage 2 North West: Progress (Aug 2019)
- Stage 2 North West: Progress (Jun 2020)
- 'Bird Island': Initial Plantings (2017)
- 'Bird Island': Progress (Jul 2019)
- 'Bird Island': Progress (Jun 2020)
Community Consultative Committee (CCC)
Both Dunmore Operations have a requirement to initiate and maintain a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) for their site.
The independently-chaired CCCs provide a vital communication link between Boral and the local community. Their membership consists of neighbouring residents, representatives from Shellharbour City Council and the local Boral teams.
Matters discussed at each meeting include operational and environmental performance, issues of importance for the community, and site improvement efforts.
You can view the minutes from meetings held during the past three years below.
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 16 February 2023
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 16 February 2022
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 29 September 2021
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 2 September 2020
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 19 February 2020
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 7 August 2019
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 20 February 2019
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 1 August 2018
- Boral Dunmore Quarry CCC Meeting 21 February 2018
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 16 February 2023
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 16 February 2022
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 29 September 2021
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 10 February 2021
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 2 September 2020
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 19 February 2020
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 7 August 2019
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 20 February 2019
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 1 August 2018
- Dunmore Sand & Soil CCC Meeting 21 February 2018