General News
1 April, 2026
Sand quarry knocked back
A CONTROVERSIAL sand quarry development application at Killaloe has been rejected by Douglas Shire Council.
At its last meeting councillors debated the merits of a council report – which recommended approval – but after lengthy discussion, another detailed motion was put forward by Cr Michael Rees after he had sought legal advice.
The first motion was opposed.
The Material Change of Use application for the sand mine by NQ Asphalt Pty Ltd was to allow extraction of approximately 30,000 tonnes of sand per year from former sugar cane property.
Located on Lot 1, Captain Cook Highway, Killaloe, it runs parallel with Cooya Beach and Captain Cook Highway between Bonnie Doon Road and Killaloe Dump Road.
The proposal drew hundreds of objections via a petition lodged with the council and from nearby residents.
Objections included the visual eyesore, traffic impacts, drainage and flooding problems and environmental impacts on the adjoining wetland area of significant importance to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.
In opposing the first motion, Cr Abigail Noli said there were “simply too many unanswered questions and unresolved concerns within the report before us”.
She said Bonnie Doon Rd was not designed to accommodate the frequent movement of large, heavily loaded trucks. The road was bordered by drainage infrastructure on both sides so widening the road was virtually impossible. Combined heavy vehicles entering and exiting the road would “inevitably cause significant deterioration”, the cost of repairing falling on rate payers.
There were also serious safety concerns regarding trucks turning off the main highway, which was a 100km/h zone, and over noise, which would likely be amplified by mountains bordering the rural site.
“This is not an isolated industrial precinct. It is a community with multiple homes in close proximity, and depending on wind direction, fine sand particles from extraction activities could travel significant distances potentially reaching the residential subdivision of Cooyong Beach, not to mention nearby households,” she said.
“Furthermore, the documentation indicates that the sand extracted from the soil will be transported to Cairns. This suggests there will be no meaningful financial benefit to the Douglas Shire, nor any clear commitment to generating local employment opportunities.”
Cr Noli said the main objection was the environmental impact.
“The adjoining mangroves support sensitive wildlife in a fragile ecosystem,” she said.
“Damage to the mangrove ecosystem would have long, lasting consequences, both environmentally and economically.”
Other councillors also believed the report was putting “the cart before the horse”, because of the lack of finalised detail in the document.
In the alternative motion, Cr Rees proposed that council refuse the development application material change of use based on seven grounds which gave detailed legal references.
The motion was carried.
The company can appeal the decision.
