A REDLAND councillor says a court ruling over the Mount Cotton Barro quarry is a kick in the guts after a long fight.
Cr Julie Talty said the council had refused an extension of the quarry, arguing that it would affect the amenity of the community.
Barro took the council to court but on Thursday, the Planning and Environment Court set aside the council's decision.
Barro Queensland general manager Ian Ridoutt said the company was pleased with the outcome. He said that he questioned why councillors had not trusted the work done by council officers and external consultants.
"The process and decision making and waste of time and money caused by the councillors is just not right," Mr Ridoutt said. "The council engaged expert external consultants to review the matter, they recommended approval, the council's own technical officers reviewed the matter, they recommended approval, the state regulatory agencies reviewed the matter and issued related approval conditions and the matter went before Planning and Environment Court who unsurprisingly found in favour of Barro."
Mr Ridoutt said the application should have been resolved a couple of months after it was lodged in December 2017.
Cr Talty said that the council had never approved the project and spent six years defending the community against Barro's proposal.
"Council has refused this quarry in defence of the amenity of the local community," she said. "Our refusal of the application was overturned by the state government of the day. Now this state government has failed the community again by choosing not to join the appeal..."
Cr Talty said the result was a let down. "The community have fought this proposal since day one and council has been right there beside them so to say today's decision is a kick in the guts is an understatement," she said.
"The community has told me they are concerned about the future and the closeness of this quarry to the urban community of Mount Cotton village, particularly with respect to dust, traffic and noise impacts and I share these concerns..."
