Developer Ammos Resource Management is proposing to mine 10 million tonnes of sand over 15 years from 36 hectares of land close to Bobs Farm Public School.

Some of the fears for Marsh Road and surrounding residents include plans to extract sand up to 15 metres below the water table, the extra 180 truck movements a day, the threat to flora and fauna and the retention of a 24.5 hectare void/dam.

At a public meeting held at Bobs Farm Community Hall on October 9, Bob Lander from Tattersall Lander speaking for the developer Ammos said that the proposal would be subject to strict planning assessments.

Mr Lander said that an environmental impact statement addressing residents’ concerns such as groundwater, air quality, dust, traffic, environmental, economic and ecology was being prepared.

“This will involve public exhibition and community consultation,” he said. “We have also offered the residents an opportunity to form a consultative committee to meet with us to discuss ongoing issues.

“This is a large scale proposal and therefore would require strict constraints, as well as provide significant employment and the opportunity for training.”

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At the conclusion of the meeting, a show of hands was called for with all those in the room voting against a sand mine in Bobs Farm. Asked if this was a concern, Mr Lander responded: “It was not unexpected.”

Adding their voice in opposition to the proposal are Port Stephens councillor John Nell, State MP Kate Washington and the Liberal endorsed election candidate Jaimie Abbott.

Cr Nell said it was time the state government allowed for offshore sand mining in deep waters and left alone natural bushland.

“This proposal should be rejected on environmental grounds, due to noise and dust effects on the nearby Bobs Farm school, impact on the freshwater bores, an unacceptable stagnant brackish water hole and more sand trucks on our roads,” he said.

“Port Stephens has done enough to assist Sydney with its sand supply and the proposed Bobs Farm sand mine is pure environmental and social vandalism that should not be supported.”

Ms Washington, who attended the October 9 meeting, said there was an initial sense of disbelief from residents then outright betrayal. 

“How could anyone think it is okay to dig up then dredge ancient sand dunes to 15 metres below the water table, then leave a 24-hectare void,” she said.

“Bobs Farm Public School will not survive this. Families will not want to send their children to a school where sand trucks rumble past every three minutes.”

Ms Abbott jumped on board saying she was “100 per cent against this sand mine”. 

“We don’t need this in Bobs Farm and if elected, I will do everything I can to ensure it isn’t approved,” she said.

Action group spokesperson Shea Brunt said the residents were unlikely to take up the offer of a consultative committee because many of the residents who went through the previous sand mining campaign feel betrayed.

“If approved this will be a real blow to Port Stephens,” she said. “The impact on this small community will be felt loud and wide. We are concerned about the silica dust exposure particularly to our school children and the current businesses that rely on the ground water to grow their crops.”

The residents have started a petition aiming to get 10,000 signatures protesting against the mine proposal as well as a go fund me page.