The proposed Wattle Vale Hard Rock Quarry will produce up to 300,000 tonnes pf hard rock material per year.

It will be used for the upgrade and maintenance of local roads and for the construction of nearby wind projects.

Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel Chair, Garry West, said the quarry would be an excellent boost to the local economy.

“Renewable energy is a growing industry in the Glen Innes Severn region, with three wind farms and one solar farm having been recently approved,” Mr West said.

“The quarry will be conveniently located to provide material needed to construct the approved wind farms in the area and will ultimately extend the life of the existing Glen Innes Quarry.

“The quarry will also provide $500,000 to the local economy through its construction and will continue to provide up to eight full-time jobs once operational.”

The quarry is expected to open later this year and will be in operation for at least 30 years.

Quarry operations would be carried out in stages and in response to demand.

Glen Innes Severn Council mayor Steve Toms said the approval was great news for the community.

“It enables a much larger scale of operation in any one year than what is currently available at the Glen Innes Quarry,” Cr Toms said.

“It enables Council to continue to operate a long term quarry at a greater scale to meet local needs for local roads, highways as well as the needs of the Sapphire Windfarm.”

Cr Toms said this year alone the Glen Innes Quarry and the Wattle Vale Hard Rock Quarry will inject around $400,000 back into local roads.

“It greatly increases Council’s net revenue,” he said.

The Wattle Vale Hard Rock Quarry is located near Waterloo Range off the Gwydir Highway, near the Glen Innes windfarm.

More information on the regional panels can be found online at www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au.