THE Mount Cotton Community Hall was at capacity on Sunday when residents and lobby groups met candidates in the state election to discuss a proposal to build a new quarry at Mount Cotton.
Although there were no Barro Group representatives at the meeting, Redland City Council Mayor Melva Hobson spoke about the council's position and how it lobbied the state government to change the zoning of the quarry site back to conservation.
Cr Hobson said she was unable to outline details of the current development application as Barro Group was still proving details for its application.
Mount Cotton Quarry general manager Ian Ridoutt, who was not invited to the meeting, issued a statement reiterating the group's stance.
The statement said under the plans, quarrying would only occur on 28 per cent of a site adjacent to Barro Group's existing quarry.
It said Barro Group, which owns the quarry, would invest heavily to rehabilitate and preserve 72 per cent, or more than 170ha, of freehold land on the site for conservation purposes over the life of the project.
It also said Redland City Council received the development application to extend the quarry in February 2011 and the plans had been on the public record since then and open for discussion.
Also at the meeting, local resident and meeting organiser Anthony Moloney outlined the history and potential impacts of the quarry expansion, which he said included the quarry face less than 110m from existing homes.
The ALP's Peter Seage, a candidate for the state Seat of Redlands, attended the meeting, along with Greens candidate for the seat David Keogh.
Both said they wanted the development scrapped and said they supported the state government calling in the development application.
They also said they would push to get the land rezoned to the previous conservation zoning and Mr Seage also said he would cross the floor over the issue.
Mr Keogh, who lives in the proposed quarry buffer zone, said he agreed with residents who had lived with the threat of the quarry being expanded for eight years.
Mr Keogh said because of the proximity to established homes, the proposal should not go ahead.
Sunday's residents meeting came after Barro Group held a community information day at the Redland Bay Community Hall in September last year.
Mr Ridoutt said Barro Group looked forward to council's assessment of the development application.
