The Conservation Council ACT Region is calling on the Federal Government to reject the proposed Monaro Rock Quarry, warning it would cause “serious and irreversible” environmental damage across the region.

The project would clear 22.78 hectares of critically endangered Box Gum Woodland — protected under the EPBC Act — along with a further 55.39 hectares of Monaro-Queanbeyan Rolling Hills Grassy Forest. The Conservation Council says the loss of habitat, combined with noise, dust and major changes to surface water flows, would harm threatened species over the quarry’s decades-long lifespan.

Executive Director Dr Simon Copland said the proposal posed risks “far beyond acceptable levels”.

“While we understand the region requires rock resources, this proposal is simply the wrong scale, in the wrong place, with the wrong safeguards,” he said.

“The proponent has not provided credible mitigation or monitoring plans, and the ecological consequences would be both severe and permanent. On that basis, it should not be approved.”

If the project is not rejected outright, the Conservation Council wants it declared a controlled action requiring a full Environmental Impact Statement.

Federal Government response

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water confirmed the project was referred under the EPBC Act on 25 November. Public comments were open until 9 December, and all submissions will be considered as part of the assessment process.

A decision on whether the proposal requires further assessment and approval is due on 23 December, with the outcome to be published on the department’s public portal.

The quarry proposal covers a single open-cut drill-and-blast mine in Royalla, with onsite processing, stockpiling, access roads and associated upgrades to the Monaro Highway. It is also being assessed as a State Significant Development under NSW planning laws and is in the response-to-submissions stage.