The Key Resource Area is located at Dundowran, about 9 kilometres west of Pialba.
The Dundowran KRA 90 comprises of basalt in one of a series hills that trends northeast between Takura and Dundowran.
Dundowran Quarry is the main source of road base and aggregates for the Hervey Bay, Childers and Maryborough region. The region is experiencing notable growth which is expected to continue into the near future. Boral's resource is sufficient for between 25 and 30 years production at the current rate.
Separation Area: On the north western and northern sides of the resource, a separation distance of 500 metres has been adopted due to partial shielding by a ridge along the northern side of the resource. Where houses or urban subdivisions already exist, these have been excluded from the separation area. To the east of the resource, topographic shielding is absent and a separation distance of 1000 metres is required. On the south eastern side of the resource, the width of the separation area is limited by the existing Rural Residential zoned area. In the southwest, the separation area extends to cover the Dundowran West resource.
Transport Route: The main transport route into Hervey Bay is via Lower Mountain Road and Dundowran Road to the Pialba-Burrum Heads Road. Some product is also transported south via Purser Road and Hornes Road to the State-controlled Torbanlea-Pialba Road.
The Dundowran Quarry Liaison Group was established in May 2005 and regular meetings are held at the Rural Fire Brigade facilities on 1 Lower Mountain Road.
Key initiatives and major achievements of the Dundowran Quarry Liaison Group include:
- Noise Reduction - reverse squawkers have been installed on mobile equipment to replace reverse beepers (sales loaders & dump trucks)
- Dust Suppression - dust suppression on haul routes and the quarry is achieved via increased frequency of water truck in windy conditions; and the installation of a fogging system.
- Blasting Signs - blasting signs are in use to inform the community of upcoming blasting on site; the signs are being placed on the approach to the quarry entrance; and a blasting notification list is held at the quarry. This list holds contact details of neighbours and liaison group members indicating their preferred way of notification (eg. via phone, sms, or email) of upcoming blasting on site.
- Asphalt Notifications - Boral Asphalt notifies neighbours and interested parties of 'out of hours' work (i.e. night works, or weekend works) via email and sms.
- Quarry Extension Proposals - long-term planning for the quarry operation was discussed early in the Quarry Liaison Group (QLG) process, which culminated in the need for a development application. QLG members were kept up to date and had input into the Development Application (DA) process. Concerns raised were addressed within the DA submission and as a result we received over 60 letters of support and no objections to the quarry DA.
See latest minutes of our Dundowran Quarry Liaison Group meetings below:
- 14 September 2023
- 13 October 2022
- 24 March 2022
Rehabilitation of quarry buffer land with the assistance of Environmental contractors. Rehabilitation projects focus on establishing bunding walls and tree planting.
The environmental development approval (administered by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency) permits extraction, crushing and screening environmentally relevant activities (ERAs) to greater than 100 thousand tonnes per year.
Town planning approvals of various ages exist over the site.