Hanson Construction Materials proposes to extend the life of the quarry to 30 years and expand the area of extraction to the west of the existing pit.

There would also be a concrete batching plant, asphalt production plant and concrete recycling facility.

The Environmental Impact Statement says the project would result in the employment of an extra 10 staff and result in positive local economic benefits.

But community members have expressed a range of concerns about the impact of the proposed expansion.

The application is with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as a state significant development.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, which acknowledges the potential strong economic development benefits likely to flow from a reasonable quarry expansion, will lodge a submission of concerns with the department in response to community concerns.

The council will write to inform MPs Leslie Williams and Melinda Pavey, as well as Planning Minister Rob Stokes, about its submission and advise of community concerns with multiple aspects of the proposed project.

The council will request their support in persuading the Department of Planning to put the project on hold pending further detailed analysis and public scrutiny.

Jim Wade, the secretary and director of the company behind Riverpark Sancrox estate, said the eastern border of the estate was only 600 metres from the edge of the proposed pit.

Concerns range from dust to noise, vibration and environmental impact.

"We don't believe they have properly consulted with the community," Mr Wade said.

He questioned why such a large quarry operation was needed in an area where there was potentially a lot of residential development nearby.

Riverpark Sancrox, with stage two infrastructure under construction, features 142 rural residential lots.

In another project nearby, some 51 lot owners are working towards a planning application as a step to develop Le Clos Sancrox for a mix of uses including residential and seniors living.

LCS Estates chairman Maurice Driscoll said given region's population growth, there would be a quarry in the metropolitan area in years to come.

"I think what we are looking at here is extracting material that the community needs but I think the question is at what social, economic and ecological cost will this extraction have," he said.

Jeff Gillespie, who raised concerns about the proposal during the November council meeting, said the plan involved extending the quarry by three times its size including an asphalt plant and a concrete plant.

He said we should not sit back and allow a huge open cut mine which would will turn us into the Broken Hill of the Mid-North Coast.

Hanson Construction Materials said a range of mitigation measures addressed environmental matters including air, noise and vibration, traffic, water, biodiversity, heritage, visual, socio-economic and waste.

"The proposal is of state significance as it would provide much-needed construction materials for the region and other parts of NSW," Hanson Construction Materials said.

The project's state significance means the Independent Planning Commission or a delegate for the Planning Minister is the consent authority.

December 11 is the deadline to make submissions about the proposed project on exhibition through the department's website.

Hanson Construction Materials said the quarry expansion would create new jobs at the quarry and in the broader community and increase business expenditures.

"It will also ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery of product to customers," Hanson said.

Hanson Construction Materials stands behind the consultation process, pointing to consultation during the early stages the EIS preparation and the formation of the Sancrox Quarry Extension Project Community Consultative Committee.

The proposed expansion would be completed in five separate stages over the project's 30-year lifetime, the EIS said.

The extracted material would be used for roads, construction and infrastructure and local projects to enhance the Port Macquarie transport network, Hanson said.

Cr Geoff Hawkins said this was a big project and there were both sides to the debate.

"There are some potential significant economic benefits but it may well come at a cost," he said.

Cr Hawkins said the community was confused, upset and concerned.

He said part of the council's role was to listen to the community and advocate for the community, and the council resolution was about seeking a time out to make the facts clear and understood, and being able to respond to the facts.

Cr Justin Levido said the council was being consistent through its decision with strategic planning.

The council also noted the community concerns with the processing of the application with respect to the lack of interaction and consultation with the project consultative committee, lack of transparent consultation with the broader community and the adequacy and integrity of the Environmental Impact Statement forming part of the application.

The council noted the potential strong economic development benefits likely to flow to the community and economy as a consequence of a reasonable expansion of the quarry.

A further report is due back to the December 11 council meeting.

The Sancrox Quarry is referenced in the council's Urban Growth Management Strategy, which is a guide for implementing economic and housing growth, as well as a structure plan which guides land development in the greater Sancrox area.

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