Town Rally For Ramps

Newcastle Herald

Monday July 11, 2005

FULLERTON Cove residents are fighting Boral Resources' continued use of Coxs Lane and Fullerton Cove Road over the next 20 years to haul sand from the Stockton quarry.

About 70 people attended a protest meeting on Saturday and agreed to lodge an application with Port Stephens Council to stop heavy vehicle access to the roads.

Karen Anderson said residents had written to the council individually, but it was time to take a stand as a community.

"We are fighting very hard to get two exit and entry ramps off Nelson Bay Road on to the eastern end of Coxs Lane because at the moment these trucks are going through our small township," Mrs Anderson said.

"We are trying to bring it to people's attention how dangerous it is."

Boral Resources' corporate affairs manager Kylie FitzGerald confirmed yesterday that a development application for the continued mining of sand from the Stockton quarry was being put to Port Stephens Council.

Community consultation would be part of that process, she said.

Mrs Anderson said community representatives planned to attend tomorrow's Port Stephens Council meeting.

They would meet with Boral's regional manager on Thursday.

"We are not sure what's going to be brought to the table, but we won't accept anything less than the two ramps," Mrs Anderson said.

She said Coxs Lane was only wide enough for single vehicles, and that cars had to pull on to footpaths to allow trucks to pass.