Boral at Reedy Creek
Boral Resources (Qld) Pty Limited (Boral) own freehold land at Reedy Creek at Lot 105 Old Coach Road, Tallebudgera Valley Qld 4228 (“Site”). The Site is located on the western side of the Pacific Motorway, approximately five kilometres south-west of Burleigh Heads.
The Site contains the last and largest known deposit of hard rock resource on the southern Gold Coast.
Lot 105, Old Coach Road
Tallebudgera Valley QLD 4228
Australia
Importance of Resource
The Site contains the last and largest known deposit of hard rock resource (high strength meta-greywacke quarry rock) on the southern Gold Coast. This resource is providing a final opportunity to secure a cost-effective and long-term supply of extractive material for the southern Gold Coast region. This resource is critical to the delivery of planned infrastructure and urban growth in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, with strong population growth expected to continue over the next two decades.
Extractive resources underpin all urban and infrastructure development as they are the primary source of materials used for the building of roads, bridges, railways, factories, hospitals, schools and homes.
Boral estimates the size of the exploitable hard rock deposit at about 79 Mt, which has the potential to supply the Gold Coast region with high-grade construction materials for more than 40 years.
History of the Site
Boral purchases the Reedy Creek Site (freehold) in January 2006, following the South
The Queensland Government declared the project a Project of State Significance in 2010. The Queensland Coordinator-General Barry Broe went on to approve the EIS in late December 2013, prompting Boral to lodge a formal development application with the GCCC. Further approvals were subsequently received from both the Federal Environment Minister in January 2014 and Queensland Department of Environment & Heritage Protection in July 2014.
In July 2014, contrary to their own officers’ recommendations, the GCCC unanimously voted against the application. Boral subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision.
While the Planning and Environment Court’s Judge Richard Jones agreed with some elements of the GCCC’s submission, he acknowledged in handing down his decision that “there were merits on both sides” and that “I found this case to be quite a difficult one to decide”.
The decision finally reached by the Judge: "there was not sufficient grounds for exploitation at this stage, but it will be observed by reading the judgement that this is a key resource, a state asset, and in my view until circumstances change ought to be protected.”
As a result, the decision may give Boral some heart that the quest to open a quarry at Reedy Creek is not entirely over. The project is too important for Boral and the Gold Coast region. Boral is an active participant in the Gold Coast construction market offering asphalt, concrete and road contracting services additional to aggregates supply. Over 300 people rely on Boral for full-time employment. We inject $55 million each year into the local economy and intend to hold this position for decades to come. The ruling of Judge Jones noted the resource should be ‘protected for future exploitation’ … so for me, it is more a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’, Simon Jeffery Boral's EGM said. We will regroup and take advice on further legal avenues.
Significant Milestones
8 December 2009: An Initial Advice Statement was lodged with the Coordinator-General’s Office in accordance with the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.
27 August 2010: The Coordinator-General’s Office determined that the project was a ‘Significant project’ (now a ‘Coordinated Project’). The decision was published in the Queensland Government Gazette on 19 November 2010.
19 February – 1 April 2011: Public advertising by the Coordinator-General of the draft Terms of Reference for the proposed Gold Coast Quarry.
26 July 2011: The Coordinator-General released the final terms of reference (TOR) for the proposed Gold Coast Quarry.
23 April 2013: The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), prepared in response to the TOR, was lodged with the Coordinator-General.
27 April 2013 - 11 June 2013: The EIS was subject to public notification.
6 August 2013: The Coordinator-General requested that Boral provide additional information in response to specific queries.
22 October 2013: Boral submitted the additional information requested by the Coordinator-General.
20 December 2013: The Coordinator-General issued the evaluation report for the EIS and recommended that the Gold Coast Quarry be approved, with conditions.
23 January 2014: The Federal Department of Environment issued its approval in relation to Matters of National Environmental Significance.
9 May 2014: Development Application for the Gold Coast Quarry lodged by Boral with Gold Coast City Council.
11 July 2014: Development Application refused by Gold Coast City Council.
11 August 2014: Boral lodged an appeal in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court against the Gold Coast City Council’s decision to refuse the Development Application. The appeal has been set down for a hearing in October 2016.
15 May 2017: The Queensland Planning and Environment Court dismissed Boral’s appeal against the refusal by the Gold Coast City Council of the Gold Coast Quarry Development Application.
14 June 2017: Boral sought Leave to Appeal the decision by the Queensland Planning and Environment Court to dismiss the company’s appeal against the Gold Coast City Council’s decision to refuse the Gold Coast Quarry Development Application.
20 April 2018: The Supreme Court (Court of Appeal) decided to uphold the Queensland Planning and Environment Court’s ruling, preventing Boral from moving ahead with the development of its proposed Gold Coast Quarry in the immediate future.
Boral will consider carefully the ruling and its future options. Boral is still encouraged by the Queensland Planning and Environment Court Judgement that concluded that the proposed quarry site should be protected for future exploitation, when appropriate. It appears that there is no question that this resource should be utilised, it is just a matter of when.
It is important that Government and Boral protect landholdings allocated as state significant key resources.
Site Safety & Amenity
Vandalism and Trespass
For a number of years, Boral has undertaken various works on its property bordering Old Coach Road, Barden Ridge Road and Tallebudgera Creek Road at Reedy Creek, in an attempt to restrict access to the property. Boral takes community safety and environmental damage seriously and is concerned about the ongoing safety hazards and environmental damage that illegal 4WD and motocross access are creating.
Neighbour Consultation
Following a survey conducted in November 2017 with some of our neighbours, we identified common issues and concerns including noise, dust, and abuse from illegal four-wheel drivers & trail bikes on our property, as well as causing environmental damage; increased bushfire risk due to rubbish dumping and burning of stolen cars by trespassers.
After having implemented a range of measures to reduce trespassing, we conducted a second survey in November 2018. The feedback from neighbours was positive and reflected a reduction in the number of Four Wheel Drives trespassing. However, the Motocross trespassers are still at large. We will continue to work with local Police in the effort to reducing illegal trespassing of Boral land.
Measures
To date, Boral has implemented a range of responses including:
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Reinstalled warning signage
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Surveillance cameras
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Ad hoc Security presence by a Security Company
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Gates and bollards at main site entries
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Concrete barriers at multiple entries
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Large bunds around the entrance, including metal barriers (Armco) along Old Coach Road
The warning signs spell out that ‘entering onto Boral’s property is illegal and trespassing will result in criminal and civil action being taken. Surveillance cameras throughout the property will obtain details of trespassers and penalties and damages will apply to those who illegally enter’.
The improved security will also assist Boral to manage illegal rubbish dumping on and around the site.
Maintenance of the Site
Boral in conjunction with Tallebudgera Valley Rural Fire Brigade conducts fuel reduction burns on Site in line with Boral’s bushfire management plan. The purpose of the fuel reduction burn is primarily to minimise the site’s fuel load and reduce the impact of an uncontrolled wildfire. As part of our preparations for the fuel reduction burn, Brigade vehicles will be mapping & surveying the proposed burn area, as well as be undertaking on-site preparations. The Brigade may also need to request your permission to access your property, but if this is required we will contact you well in advance. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact the Brigade via tvrfb@iinet.net.au. Please subject your email “Boral Fuel Reduction Burn”.
How you can help
Boral and Police are encouraging the local community to report trespassers and to provide details such as vehicle registration numbers, date and time or alternatively report trespassers direct to the Police Link on 131 444. Together we can make a difference, discouraging trespassing and increasing a safe environment around all our properties.
If you have any queries about our Reedy Creek Greenfield site please contact us on:
email: feedback_NR@boral.com.au
mail: Boral Land and Property Group, PO Box 1278, Stafford Qld 4053