Even though the quarry extension is in its early stages, noise has been a major issue, particularly for residents north of the site. Residents estimate that combined, Boral, the Cairns Regional Council (CRC) and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) received dozens of complaints throughout the second half of 2024.
Noise pollution was always going to be a challenge. Hard-rock quarrying involves clearing vegetation, blasting, loading, hauling and crushing. For decades residents have been protected from this industrial noise by a large mountain ridge that stands between their homes and the quarry operation. But extraction has now jumped to the top of the ridge, and residents can see and hear the machinery as it bears down on them only a few hundred metres away.
Living near Arthur Lyons Drive? Affected by industrial noise? For assistance download our flyer. Ask your neighbour How’s the serenity?
CRC points out that the new works on the mountain ridge are within the state-designated resource area. In a stark omission, they fail to mention that they are within the buffer zone of that resource area – the zone designed to protect residents from industrial noise and the other harmful effects of the quarry operation.
This Quarry Magazine article, authored by a Boral Project Development Manager, confirms that noise limits could not be practically achieved at the nearest houses if the ridge was ‘daylighted’. Given that machinery can now be seen at the top of the ridge by residents on either side, Boral have clearly daylighted the ridge.
DETSI to the Rescue?
In late 2024 DETSI directed Boral to conduct a noise investigation into potential adverse amenity and health impacts arising from two parts of the operation. These were:
- the new extraction area on top of the ridge; and
- a temporary crushing site, down on the flat.
The 55-page report, completed in November 2024 and accessed by residents under Right to Information laws, sampled sound at multiple locations. It found that noise exceeded approved levels at one particular location, and that the cause was the temporarily relocated rock crusher.
Crusher dust rises from the temporary location near houses, November 2024
While the Boral report found that the sound exceeded acceptable levels at one particular location, it concluded there was no case to answer because no complaints had been received from residents at that location.
…the Boral report …concluded there was no case to answer because no complaints had been received from residents at that particular location.
In a welcome relief for residents, DETSI disagreed with the report’s conclusion. It came down to technicalities such as the wording of “A noise sensitive place” versus “THE noise sensitive place”. DETSI issued Boral with a formal warning and advised that it will consider further action if the issue is not rectified.
An excerpt from Boral’s formal noise warning
The Real Issue
Residents agree that the temporary location of the crusher had significant adverse amenity and health impacts, particularly noise and dust, however this is a side issue. The real issue is the new extraction area on the top of the ridge.
The Boral report notes that the ridge-top extraction area is more exposed to the residential area than other parts of the quarry. The majority, if not all, of the noise complaints raised by residents are related to the new excavation area. Shift workers are unable to sleep. Work-from-home employees are unable to work. Students are unable to concentrate. And so on.
Residents have been monitoring conditions with their own equipment and regularly sample noise well in excess of acceptable levels. We are planning methods to systematically record and collate the sound readings and correlate them to the daily activities of the quarry.
The next time that Boral is directed to do a noise investigation perhaps residents can have some say in where and when the sampling is conducted? And by whom?