Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) presented a petition bearing 1171 signatures:

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the major concerns from communities and professionals of the Monbulk, Croydon, Bayswater and Evelyn electorates around Boral’s Montrose Quarry. These concerns include potential cumulative long-term impacts of site operations, dust, airborne particulate matter, blasting, noise, vibration, landslip, habitat and vegetation loss, groundwater, waterway, cultural heritage, traffic and associated amenity impacts. Montrose Quarry does not meet the EPA’s 500-metre recommended separation distance for quarry operations, nor the planning scheme’s 1-kilometre buffer for asphalt plants.

Boral’s proposed Montrose Quarry Extension seeks to extend operations 30-plus years beyond current life expectancy, and increase extraction area by approximately 12 hectares, significantly encroaching upon homes, schools, businesses, childcare, aged-care, and other surrounding land-uses.

Boral’s proposal includes an additional extraction area almost 60 per cent larger than its previous expansion application, which Yarra Ranges Council unanimously rejected in 2007. The State Government declined Boral’s request for intervention in 2008. Councillors recognised incompatibility of expanding operations with surrounding sensitive land-use.

The Minister for Planning determined an Environment Effects Statement (EES) is required due to significant environmental and community impact potential. Human health impacts have not been identified within the Minister’s statement of decision or reasons for decision.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government and the Minister for Planning to reject Boral’s proposed Montrose Quarry Extension, implement long-term, accountable protections guarding against any future extension of the facility and guarantee that any forthcoming Environment Effects Statement scoping requirements will include an independent Human Health Impact assessment that examines the cumulative health impacts associated with dust, fine particulate matter, silica exposure, pollutants, noise, blasting, vibration, traffic, emissions, amenity loss, mental health, any other quarry-related impacts on nearby sensitive receptors.

Aiv PUGLIELLI: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next meeting.

Motion agreed to.