Port Stephens residents have just one more week to comment on a sand quarry application by Boral which is being exhibited by the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment, with community feedback accepted up until April 9.

If approved, up to 500,000 tonnes of fine sand per year would be dredged from an area which served as Boral's first quarry pit between 1996 and 2008, where, according to Boral, up to nine million tonnes of fine sand remains.

"The quarry, positioned between Nelson Bay Road and the back of Stockton Beach, is currently permitted to transport up to 500,000 tonnes a year of sand. This approval is due to lapse in 2028," a Boral spokesperson said.

The application calls for 'wet mining dredging methods to a depth of 15 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD)', which has angered the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group.

Spokesperson Lindsay Clout described the new proposal as an environmental time bomb in reference to "digging a 37 hectare hole 15 metres below sea level".

"They are drawing a long bow in claiming they are mining windblown sand to a depth of 15 metres below sea level. The irony of this proposal is Stockton beach front is at the moment devastated by loss of sand and further up Stockton beach sand is being mined like there is no tomorrow," he said.

"I say if Sydney want sand then they should dig a 37 hectare hole 15 metres deep in one of their beaches.

"The NSW Environment Minister cannot let this environmental vandalism proceed. To add insult to us they propose to walk away when the sand is removed and leave us with a 37 hectare hole that will fill up with salt water and further contaminate our water table.

"We fought to protect Fullerton Cove from coal seam gas, we fought to have the PFAS contamination cleaned up in our area and we will fight to stop this proposal."

Boral said that DA approval would provide the company the flexibility to operate the quarry using two consents. "However, Boral has proposed an overall transport limit of 750,000 tonnes per year for the site until 2028, with the aim of minimising the risk of any cumulative effects on the wider community."

Truck movements from the Coxs Lane quarry are expected to increase from the current 152 a day to 284 up to 2028, and 208 movements after that time.

In reference to the 'wet mining dredging methods to a depth of -15 metres' the Boral spokesperson said the process would involve excavating a dredge pond to fill with water from the below the groundwater table.

"The dredge is then floated in the pond to vacuum up the usable sand before it is sent to the processing plant on site."

The spokesperson said that the area of vegetation proposed to be removed represented regrowth covering one per cent of its total landholding and eight per cent of the 3ha area.

"The biodiversity reports conclude the quarry is not a 'core koala habitat' as defined by the relevant legislation. Fauna surveys identified no evidence of koalas utilising our landholding, nor has there been any recorded sightings of koalas at the quarry for more than 18 years."

The spokesperson said that a detailed economic assessment undertaken showed a cost benefit of the project to be worth up to $3 million annually to the region.

"Approval of the proposal will allow a further nine position to the nine currently attached to the site, as well as up to 17 transport workers."

The quarry site is in the Port Stephens LGA but comes under the state jurisdiction of Newcastle. The city's State MP, Tim Crakanthorp, said it was important that the development meets all the environmental and regulatory checks and balances.

"It's also important that anyone with concerns has their say and I encourage them to log on to the Planning Portal to make a submission," he said.

Port Stephens state MP Kate Washington said that she was satisfied with the proposal.

The provide feedback on the proposal go to www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects.