They are still smarting from Bathurst Regional Council’s decision last month to approve a development application for the quarry from Hothams Sand, Soil and Gravel Supplies.

It will result in a maximum of 30,000 cubic metres of hard rock materials being extracted from a six-hectare area of a 145-hectare site off Napoleon Reef Road. 

However, as far as the president of the Napoleon Reef, Walang and Glanmire Residents’ Association Brian Bailey is concerned, they aren’t about to give up on their opposition to the development.

“It seems issues of dust, noise, road safety, water and environmental destruction in a high value conservation area were not considered important by most councillors,” he said.

“Council would be fooling themselves if they thought this issue was just going to go away. Residents have already engaged legal assistance and are preparing to take their fight to the state and national stage.”

Mr Bailey stated that residents continue to be shocked and angered by council’s decision, and will not be discounted so easily.

“Napoleon Reef residents are paying the price of Bathurst Regional Council’s recent defeat at the hands of a developer [wanting to establish kennels at Dun- keld],” he said.

“We are very disappointed council has lost its courage to defend residents. We pay our rates on time and in full and we expect the council to enact their responsibility and duty of care to us.

“The culture on council now seems to be save, save, save at any expense, in this case putting in jeopardy the residents’ health and safety.”

According to the most recent report to council regarding the Hothams 

development, the actual quarry area will be 230 metres by 80 metres, to a maximum depth of 10 metres.

As part of its efforts to gain consent from council, Hoth- ams agreed to give up blasting at the site. Instead, all materials will be extracted using bulldozers and excavators.