Wallagoot quarry application put off for extra report after public forum

A decision on the proposed Wallagoot quarry has been delayed, with Bega Valley Shire Council putting off determination of Development Application 2021.360 for 1399 Sapphire Coast Drive.

At its 22 April meeting, council deferred the application for an extractive industry so staff can prepare a supplementary report addressing additional matters raised at that day’s public forum. The proposal was before councillors after community speakers appeared both for and against it.

The minutes also record that a petition tabled by Cr David Porter, submitted by Stop Bournda Quarry Inc, called on councillors to reject the quarry and rock processing proposal. The petition contained more than 800 signatures. Staff said a further report on the petition would come back to council under the Code of Meeting Practice.

For residents near Wallagoot and Bournda, the deferral means the application was not approved or refused on Wednesday and there will be further assessment before councillors make a final decision. The site is on Sapphire Coast Drive at Wallagoot.

The minutes show Acting Chief Executive Officer Emily Harrison declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant conflict of interest on the item because she lives within the development notification area. She stepped down for that item, with Director Infrastructure Andrew Latta assuming the acting chief executive role during consideration.

Council has not set a new decision date in the published resolution. The next step is a supplementary staff report responding to relevant additional matters raised at the 22 April public forum, before the application returns for determination.