Hunter quarry gets 30-year extension to supply state's $118b infrastructure pipeline

A Hunter quarry will be granted a 30-year extension, as the state government looks for a "reliable and affordable supply of hard rock" to support its $118-billion infrastructure pipeline.

The Seaham Quarry Project was expected to exhaust its hard rock reserves by 2026, but will now double in size and output after the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure recommended its approval.

The quarry, located on Italia Road and owned by Boral, will grow from a 28-hectare pit to 59 hectares, and mine up to 2 million tonnes.

The Department determined the quarry was a "regionally significant" resource, and necessary to help supply the NSW government's $118-billion infrastructure pipeline over the next four years.

"This infrastructure pipeline includes multi-billion dollar road and rail projects in the Sydney metropolitan area, new and upgraded education and health infrastructure throughout the state, and several major infrastructure projects within the Hunter region," the department's approval report stated.

"This includes the Newcastle Power Station, Jesmond to Rankin Park Bypass, M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, and Lower Hunter Freight Corridor.

"[All] will require a reliable and affordable supply of hard rock quarry products over the next few years."

The project faced significant local pushback, with 49 out of 53 public submissions objecting to the plan.

Objections primarily focused on the significant loss of native vegetation, heightened risks to public safety due to substantial increase in heavy vehicle traffic and potential water contamination.

In response, the Department imposed several approval conditions, including reducing the size of the quarry by almost 18 per cent to avoid koala and squirrel glider habitat.

It will also prohibit the quarry from increasing production beyond 1.2 million a year until the Italia Road and Pacific Highway intersection is fully upgraded, to help manage the additional 650 daily heavy vehicle movements.

To address Hunter Water's concerns about the potential for water contamination due to the quarry's location within Grahamstown Dam drinking water catchment, Boral completely redesigned its water management plan.

The expansion will support 35 full-time equivalent employees, along with additional contractors for blasting and transport.

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