Boral Cement Marulan South Limestone Mine
The Marulan South Limestone Mine is located in the Marulan South area of the Southern Tablelands. It makes a critical contribution to the ongoing growth of the immediate and Sydney metropolitan regions.
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 02 9033 4000 (Cement), or you can send an online request.
5 Hume Street (Limestone)
Marulan South NSW 2579
Australia
Operations - Marulan South Limestone Mine
The Marulan South Limestone Mine mine dates back as far as the 1830s when the first mining activities took place in the location. Positioned atop a significant limestone deposit directly to the south of the Peppertree quarry, today's operations produce up to four million tonnes of limestone and 200,000 tonnes of clay/shale per year.
Mining at Marulan South Limestone mine is conducted using modern open-cut hard rock drill-and-blast techniques. Material is conveyed from the mine to stockpiling and processing areas via haul truck. There is also a rotary kiln adjacent for use in lime production.
The majority of this limestone is sent by rail to the Berrima Cement Works where it is used in the production of cement. The Berrima site produces around 60 per cent of all cement consumed in NSW and the ACT. The limestone is also used to make lime-based products for industrial uses (such as flux in BlueScope Steel's Port Kembla mills), agriculture and water quality management up and down the east coast, including water treatment plants and for drinking water.
As with the neighbouring quarry, Marulan South Limestone is a 24 hour per day, seven days per week operation. A workforce of around 105 is supported by the operations, with these workers the latest of several generations of Marulan region residents employed by the site. The Mine is often referred to as 'Blue Circle' by locals in reference to the site's former owners, Blue Circle Southern Cement (BCSC). Boral purchased BCSC in 1987 but the 'Blue Circle' name remained in place until 2010.
To find out more about how Boral operates the mine, visit our About Quarries page.
Marulan South Limestone State Significant Development (SSD)
The Marulan South Limestone Mine is not just key component of Boral's NSW resource and production network - it is essential to ongoing building and construction right across the state.
The Limestone operation, which has operated since the 1830s, provides the rock from which up to 60 per cent of all cement products consumed in NSW and the ACT are made.
With plentiful reserves available, we're always looking at how the operations can be managed to ensure their contribution to the wider community is maintained. Accordingly, we regularly revise the needs of both operations from a planning approval perspective.
In 2018, Boral commenced work to secure a State Significant Development (SSD) approval through the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), allowing continuation of the site. As a part of this process, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared and submitted.
General Approvals - Marulan South Limestone
The Marulan South Limestone Mine is operated under an SSD 7009 Development Consent approval granted by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in August 2021. The site commenced operations under this development consent in January 2023.
During the course of the almost 150 years, various mining leases and land titles have applied to the operations. In 2004, these were consolidated to form Consolidated Mining Lease (CML) 16. On 14th July 2023, approval was granted by the Department of Regional NSW - Resource Operations, Mining, Exploration and Geoscience the for Mining Lease (ML)1857 which covers the new mining and associated activity areas as covered by SSD7009 for the Continued Operations Project that were not already covered by CML 16. The finalisation of the remnant areas of CML 16 outside of ML 1857 is currently underway.
A new Forward Program and Rehabilitation Management Plan (RMP) have been prepared following receipt of the new mining lease. The RMP has been prepared under the new regulatory framework established by the Mining Amendment (Standard Conditions of Mining Leases –Rehabilitation) Regulation 2021 which came into force on 1 July 2022 and replaces the MOP.
Public Reporting
Marulan South Limestone'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.
Marulan South Limestone operations and many other Boral sites have obligations under the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment (POELA) Act 2011.
These obligations include providing public access to pollution reporting data. You can find out more about the Act and the results for the sites here.
Public Feedback Register
Receiving feedback is an important part of maintaining successful operations. Under the terms of the Marulan South Limestone Approval, a register of complaints and their resolution is required to be made available for public review.
You'll find the latest version of this register here.
Marulan South Environmental Management
Boral Marulan South Limestone Mine Environmental Management Strategy (EMS) has been developed to ensure the mine can comply with its legislative and social obligations.
The EMS outlines a range of monitoring programs and mitigation measures. It is supported by eight management plans covering various operational aspects.
The management plans were submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) for approval following reviews by relevant Government agencies.
- Marulan South Limestone Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Biodiversity Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Blast Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Contaminated Materials Protocol 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Historic Heritage Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Noise Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Rehabilitation Strategy 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Traffic Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Water Management Plan 2023
- Marulan South Limestone Weed Management Implementation Plan 2023
Water Management - Marulan South Operations
Water is a key component of both operations, mainly due to the need for it in processing and dust suppression.
Marulan South Limestone has been connected by pipeline to a water supply at the Tallong Weir for almost 40 years.
The Limestone operations also possess licences to use surface and bore water as is necessary.
Transport and Traffic Management - Marulan South Operations
Most material from the Marulan South Limestone site is transported by rail. Trains connect with the Main Southern Railway and travel to the Maldon Rail Terminal for offloading before trucking to required locations across Sydney.
Road access to the Marulan South Operations is via Marulan South Road from the Hume Highway. This road has a number of users including rural and residential property owners, school buses, and trucks accessing other industries, in addition to heavy vehicles owned and operated by Boral and contracted haulage businesses.
Boral has entered into an agreement with Goulburn Mulwaree Council to fund an upgrade to Marulan South Road and build a new route for the road around the proposed overburden emplacement at the southern end.
Boral recognises the safety obligations accompanying the large scale use of heavy vehicles on public roads. Training is conducted for contractors and drivers accessing the sites, and ongoing communication had with road users to ensure they are aware of Boral-related traffic movements and contacts for any related issues.
We encourage all members of the community to provide feedback if they observe behaviour not aligning with our safety goals. Specifics such as time, location, vehicle registration and colour help us to further investigate and take appropriate action. To report any inappropriate conduct, you can send us an email.
Noise and Blasting
Blasting is part of the production of limestone at the mine. Vibration and noise emitted from blasting is managed to ensure minimal effects on either the operation or neighbouring properties.
To do this, the size of the blast is planned and weather conditions noted. Monitoring is also conducted for overpressure (noise) and peak particle velocity (vibration). The results for each blast are published within the sites monthly POELA environmental monitoring reports
The operation has offered notification of blasting events to affected landholders or occupiers within two kilimetres of the pit and continues to offer notification to neighbours who are interested. To be placed on the mine's blast notification register, contact the site on 4820 3007.
Monitoring is undertaken by an independent consultant at nominated locations on a quarterly basis. The results are collated as part of the site's monthly POELA environmental monitoring reports.
Communications
Marulan South Community Consultative Committee (CCC)
As part of the Project Approval for the Marulan South Limestone Mine, Boral was required to establish a community consultative committee (CCC) which is combined with Peppertree Quarry..
The CCC is an advisory group which consists of a representative of Goulburn Mulwaree Council and at least three local residents. Boral also supplies two representatives to the CCC.
Independently chaired by Gordon Kirkby, the role of the CCC is to offer Boral input from the community perspective on matters of environmental performance and community relations. Issues of concern and feedback can be raised with the site by the CCC representatives.
The combined CCC first met under the new DA during February 2023 and will continue to meet at least twice a year. You can review the meeting minutes and presentations since the commencement of the CCC below.
- Marulan South Operations: CCC Presentation- February 2023
- Marulan South Operations: CCC Presentation- May 2023
- Marulan South Operations: CCC Presentation- September 2023
- Marulan South Operations: CCC Presentation- December 2023
Community Updates
Updates are issued regularly by the Marulan South Operations to keep the broader community informed. You can usually read the latest about the two sites in the Marulan Region Chamber of Commerce Discover Marulan and Tallong community newsletters.
Community Contribution
Boral's Marulan South Operations have a shared history with the people of the Marulan region which extends back well over a century. During this time, generations of local families have been employed at Marulan South Limestone and, since 2014, further opportunities have been available for locals at the Peppertree Quarry.
Beyond jobs, however, Boral's operations have made a sustained contribution to the economic and social life of the area. Whether through buildings and materials, or participation in local events and projects, Boral has long been proud to be a corporate citizen of the Marulan region.
Today our community contribution takes many and varied forms. Boral's participation in community life through the Marulan South Operations is guided by a Community Plan.
The Plan, developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders across the Marulan region, outlines Boral's key areas of focus for engaging with locals, as well as a number of activities supported by the sites. The current Plan was updated for implementation during 2018-20, and follows on from the successful original Plans put in place for 2012-14 and 2015-17.
The Marulan South Operations Community Plan was acknowledged at the 2017 NSW/ACT Cement Concrete Aggregates Australia (CCAA) Innovation Awards with a win in that year's Community Leadership category. The Marulan South sites also won the category at the 2019 Awards for their Youth Leadership and Development initiative.
Community initiatives supported by Boral Marulan South Operations
Boral has been actively involved with the Marulan area's two most significant community events since 2011.
The first is the annual Tallong Apple Day Festival, held each May. Originally starting out as a stallholder, Boral has proudly been the major sponsor of the Festival every year since 2012. For more information, visit the Festival website.
The other is the Marulan Kite Festival. The Kite Festival, held each September-October, is a community organised event which includes an arts and music component and a street fair. Boral also originally attended as a stallholder, however in 2012 took on the role of major sponsor. To find out more about this Festival, visit the website here.
The Marulan South Operations are also a focus of Boral's partnership with Outward Bound Australia (OBA). The sites co-support a Youth Leadership Program with the Boral Berrima Cement Works which is aimed at Year 9 students attending Moss Vale, Goulburn and Mulwaree High Schools.
The Program consists of an educational camp followed by the development and delivery of projects by participants which are designed to benefit their local community.
Recognising that the lands within the Marulan South Operations are also home to native fauna, the sites have also developed a partnership with the Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary at Gundaroo to help safely relocate any wombats disturbed by extractive activities.