An independent air quality assessment was completed for the Reedy Creek Key Resource Area Project (RCKRA Project) to understand how quarry operations could influence air quality in nearby communities. The assessment focused on dust emissions, examining how they might disperse under different operating and weather conditions.  This assessment was undertaken in line with strict environmental standards, ensuring the findings are robust, transparent, and consistent with regulatory expectations for protecting community health and local air quality. 

How Was It Assessed? 

The air quality assessment used a combination of recognised scientific methods and regulatory frameworks. Key components included: 

• Computer modelling to predict dust levels and deposition rates under a range of operating scenarios. 

• The assessment was undertaken in accordance with:  

• Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 2019 

• National air quality goals 

• Best-practice guidance for crystalline silica management 

• Nuisance dust criteria from AS3580.10.1 and National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure. 

Activities That Can Generate Dust 

The air assessment examined all quarry activities that could generate dust, ensuring the full range of potential emissions was captured. This included: 

• Material handling by machinery (bulldozers, loaders, scrapers) 

• Drilling and blasting within the pit 

• Transporting raw material from the extraction area to the processing plant 

• Crushing and screening operations 

• Truck movements on haul roads 

• Wind erosion from stockpiles and exposed areas 

The RCKRA Project site has been designed to maximise separation distances between the quarry footprint and nearby homes. This buffer significantly reduces the potential for dust to reach sensitive areas, helping protect local air quality and community amenity. 

What Did It Find? 

• With the dust management practices outlined in the RCKRA Site-Based Management Plan, the quarry will meet all air quality standards at surrounding residential areas. 

• Crystalline silica modelling shows respirable silica levels will remain well below health risk thresholds, meaning minimal risk to the community. 

• Dust deposition rates will comply with adopted criteria, ensuring no significant nuisance impacts. 

Information Request Response findings 

The information requests received from Council and SARA have been considered and the revised RCKRA Air Quality / Dust Assessment provided in the submitted Information Request response package confirms that with the implementation of a dust management plan and associated mitigation measures as outlined in the revised RCKRA Site Based Management Plan, the quarry will remain compliant with the relevant regulatory standards at all surrounding sensitive receptors. 

Additional modelling of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) showed that the RCKRA Project presents no silica-related risk to the community.  This finding aligns with the air quality monitoring investigations undertaken by Department of Environment, Science and Innovation in Oxenford in 2019. Those investigations, conducted near the Nucrush Oxenford Quarry, found that RCS emissions from the Nucrush Quarry was not a significant contributor to silica levels in the surrounding community. 

What This Means for the Community 

This assessment confirms that, with planned controls and management measures in place, the Reedy Creek project will operate within strict environmental guidelines throughout its life.  Air quality at nearby homes will remain safe, and health risks from dust—including respirable crystalline silica—will be negligible. 

Further details about Boral’s proposal 

The DA is viewable on Council's PD Online ref. COM/2025/101 here:  

https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Planning-building/PD-Online