To the editor,

As many in the Kiama community know, Boral has been a strong supporter of the local people and economy since we established a presence in the Illawarra region through sites that have been in continuous operation for more than 100 years.

As a major employer of the region we employ directly and indirectly more than 100 people from the region at our Dunmore Quarry, concrete plant, and adjacent Dunmore Sand and Soil operations, supporting families and contributing to a strong local and regional economy. We have supported a number of community groups over the years, including the Shellharbour Field Archers and local Yacht Club, and have supplied machine and labour at no cost to assist the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council prevent unwarranted 4WD access. We have successfully relocated a Scar Tree to Killalea State Park and had a display built for educational purposes and in discussion and negotiations to gift the neighbouring community half of the rehabilitated Dunmore Lakes subdivision. We are committed and pleased to be a part of this community.

There has been recent reporting on the objection of our Dunmore Lakes Stage 5 site. While we recognise the right to object to developments, we would like to provide clarity that Boral has undergone a rigorous process from the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) – including reviewing evidence for the site of Aboriginal heritage significance – and received all necessary approvals to operate our expansion. The IPC granted Boral approval in November 2020, after a detailed assessment that included consideration of Aboriginal heritage and consultation with the public and 20 Aboriginal groups who registered an interest in the project and the site, including the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council (ILALC).

As part of the findings, the IPC concluded that while a massacre of Aboriginal people is likely to have occurred in the broader geographic area it was ‘unlikely to have occurred within the proposed disturbance area’ (i.e. the area now operated under the Stage 5 project). An extensive Cultural Heritage Management Plan has also been approved and is in place for the site. The plan includes unexpected finds protocols which we have not had to use to date.

With the robust process completed, and the approvals granted, the reports that Boral is undertaking destructive activity on significant Aboriginal sites are simply untrue. Specifically, Boral has received the approvals required to continue our sand extraction works from Dunmore, which is critical in State and Federal infrastructure projects, such as the Western Sydney Airport, and our ongoing operations enable us to continue our role as a long-term employer in the region. The sand retrieval works are a key plank in our ability to supply cost-efficient material to support critical infrastructure, construction, affordable housing and building activity in the region, and the greater Sydney metropolitan area.

We will continue to work collaboratively, as always, with all levels of government and stakeholders in the local community. This extends to collaborating with the local community on the future of Bombo Quarry in 2024, and exploring how this site can contribute to local housing supply need within the next 5-10 years.

Kate Jackson

Head of Property, Boral