Custodians call for talks

By Sonia Isaacs

LOCAL traditional elders are seeking assurances that Mt Coonowrin will be safeguarded if a proposal to double blasting and rock extraction at Hanson Glasshouse Quarry is approved.

Elders say they are also seeking more dialogue between Hanson and traditional custodians to secure a balance between economic progress and respect for the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The quarry sits at the base of the heritage-listed Mt Coonowrin and Aboriginal community members hold grave concerns that the planned doubling of rock extraction to 1.2 million tonnes per annum could affect the mountain.

Writing to Hanson Heidelberg Cement Group, operators of the Hanson Glasshouse Quarry, Jinibara custodian BJ Murphy (DjiniDjini) implored operators to acknowledge and address the grave impact of the constant noise and reverberations from the quarry’s blasting activities on the inherent fragility of Mt Coonowrin.

“This wanton disregard for the mountain’s integrity has farreaching consequences, not only for the land itself but also for our cultural identity and spiritual connection to our ancestors,” he wrote.

“The impacts are irreversible and deeply distressing, as they undermine the integrity of our cultural heritage on multiple levels.” The quarry’s development application states that a detailed (cultural) heritage assessment had previously been conducted, as well as an overarching Reconciliation Action Plan implemented in 2021.

In its development application, an engineering report concluded that if Hanson continued to operate within its current compliance requirements then “critical vibration levels at Mount Coonowrin will ensure the impacts of ongoing quarrying are negligible and without impact”.

“In addition to these models, visual inspections comparing the mountain surface over a period of years also confirmed no changes that could be distinguished, other than those that occur from natural effects,” the report found.

Consultation with a Sunshine Coast Indigenous Heritage Consultant about the quarry and the proposed development had also taken place.

Speaking with GC&M News, local elder Uncle Alan Parsons said he felt a key question worth considering was what engagement to date had taken place with local custodians.

He also suggested that times, and cultural and environmental sensibilities had evolved dramatically since the quarry was initially approved and established in the 1980’s and this lens of meaningful review in regards to cultural heritage, environmental impact, and amenity of the heritage listed mountains should be incorporated accordingly by both community members and governments.

“I think the question needs to be asked if the original application to start the quarry involved any meaningful cultural heritage impact; I suggest no. Who has been invited to sit in circle to consult on the matters of cultural heritage here, and have the traditional custodians and all interested parties been invited to contribute to any potential impact?” Uncle Alan said. A Hanson spokesperson said there had been numerous engagements over the years with Jinibara custodians.

The spokesperson said Hanson had been working with a local traditional elder and a cultural consultant for the Glasshouse Quarry, and the results of multiple expert reports conducted over several years had concluded no impact to the Glass House Mountains from the operations.

“A copy of the heritage assessment for the 1995 Environmental Impact Statement for the existing quarry approval was not included in the current development application because it is not proposed to expand outside the existing approved extraction area footprint,” a spokesperson said.

“The changes to the existing quarry include a reduction of the extent of the extraction area compared to the existing approved extraction area, and a separation of greater than 75m to the boundary of the Glasshouse Mountains National Park and Beerburrum Forest Reserve 1 is maintained.

“Therefore, referral of the development application to the State Government for Heritage Places, is not triggered.”