Kiama Greens candidate Nina Digiglio has raised concerns about the Minnamurra sand mining proposal in Dunmore.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Boral has lodged plans to dig two new sand mining pits just west of the Minnamurra River and adjacent to a number of ecologically sensitive areas.
Nina Digiglio said the new sand mines would create unreasonable impacts on the environment and the potential to cause health risks.
"I'm a parkinson's disease nurse and every day see patients in extreme dis - ease, the cause of which has strong links to chemical poisoning," Ms Digiglio said.
The state candidate is in support of the Kiama Council's concerns about dangerous chemicals leeching into the nearby Minnamurra River.
"With the 5A proposal just 150m away from an old tip site there is the potential to effect the hydrology of the ground water seeing chemicals such as dioxin, pesticides, herbicides and other banned highly toxic chemicals finding their way into the Minnamurra River," Ms Digiglio said.
"All this for an estimated eight months, or less, of sand for concrete."
Ms Digiglio said the second site, 5B, would have a significant effect on native vegetation and animals.
"Boral claims that the animals, many of which are endangered, can simply move to another place," she said.
"How does Boral intend to explain this to the wildlife?"
A total of 1,357,000 tonnes of sand is proposed to be extracted from the new sites.
The sand available at the current Boral extraction area on Tabbita road is expected to be exhausted in eight to 12 months.
As a result, Boral has submitted the modification request to meet the high demand from Sydney.
Nina Digiglio is strongly opposed to the proposal.
"What about the tourism jobs that will be lost when a beautiful area loses its appeal? Loss of not only its plant life but also the bird and other animal life," Ms Digiglio said.
"Let's just leave these areas intact for all to enjoy and prosper from instead of digging them up and spoiling the great tourism future we all deserve. This latest assault on Kiama's natural heritage must not proceed."