The Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel put a decision on hold until after the completion of an assessment of alternative sites, along with an updated noise impact assessment and a social and economic impact assessment.

The panel deferred the matter until the applicant CTK Natural Resources provided that information and it was assessed by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

The panel resolved those matters were not adequately considered in the environmental impact statement and a proper assessment was therefore not possible.

About 40 people attended the September 21 Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting at Herons Creek.

The application seeks consent for the establishment of a hard rock quarry with capacity of up to 200,000 tonnes of aggregate a year in Broken Bago State Forest.

The proposal includes clearing of the hardwood timber plantation, construction of processing and storage facilities, construction of a water storage dam, and upgrade of access roads.

The development would be carried out in stages.

Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel chairman Garry West confirmed the panel was seeking more information about noise, social and economic impacts as well as an assessment of alternative sites.

Maureen Churnside from the No New Quarry Herons Creek group, in a response to the Camden Haven Courier, raised concerns about the impact on surrounding home owners’ amenity, health risks from dust, and safety risks of increased truck movements on Bago Road.

“The Herons Creek community is united on the issue of saying no to a new quarry at Herons Creek,” Mrs Churnside said.

She said it was hoped the proposal would be rejected.

The council assessment report presented to the meeting concluded the site was suitable for the proposed development, was not contrary to the public's interest and would not have a significant adverse social, environmental or economic impact.