Boral agrees to upgrade Marulan South Road as operation expands

Boral applied to the state government some two years ago to increase production to four million tonnes annually at its Marulan South mine. It's an approximate 770,000 tonne increase.

The mine is located at the end of Marulan South Road, which connects to the Hume Highway. Part of the application involves construction of overburden emplacement over Marulan South Road, known as 'the sweeper bend,' a recent report to councillors states. The section is to be closed and sold and Boral is required to realign it to maintain public access to nearby properties.

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It came after the council lodged a submission pointing out Marulan South Road was "inadequate" in terms of safety and construction. In addition, it asked that development contributions be imposed on Boral for its ongoing maintenance.

"Council's executive have been negotiating with Boral to ensure that this road is upgraded," the report stated.

"We have been using the same parameters for this upgrade as imposed on Gunlake Quarries, Multiquip and Veolia (for Woodlawn Mine."

The upgrade is estimated to cost $4.5 million and the new work, covering the realignment - $1 million.

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A heads of agreement between the council and Boral calls for a seven-metre wide carriageway, with 1.5m shoulders on each side, an 80km/h design standard, minimum 10 years' pavement life, line marking and retro-reflective pavement markers, among other aspects.

In its submission, the council also called for a road survey and a geotechnical report on the surface condition.

Boral transports most of its product by rail but runs about 68 trucks daily along Marulan South Road.

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Documentation before the State's planning department stated that the company already paid a road maintenance fee to the council and would continue to do so.

"However, the contributions paid by Boral only relate to their brown clay and white clay products, " the council submission stated.

"These products amount to approximately 150,000 tonnes per annum, which is only about one third of their total material transported along Marulan South Road.

"Council will be seeking that the current rate be applied to all additional tonnages to be transported over Marulan South Road as well as those existing tonnages not subject to contributions."

Boral said it generally accepted the terms.

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Under the agreement, the company is to fund and complete the upgrade within two years of receiving the mine lease. It will also fund and complete the realignment after the closure of the Marulan South Road section within four years of receiving the mining lease.

Environment and Planning director Scott Martin said Boral planned to expand over time.

The state's planning department is currently assessing the application.

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