Massive conveyor to help fill Hornsby Quarry
Work to fill Hornsby Quarry is a step closer with around 40 pieces of conveyor equipment making the journey from Brisbane to Hornsby to assist with the task.
Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher said once assembled, the $9 million conveyor system will transport spoil into the quarry as the first stage of transforming the site and giving public parkland back to the community.
“The congestion-busting NorthConnex is a major element of the Australian Government’s multi-billion-dollar investment in Sydney roads,” Mr Fletcher said.
New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the conveyor will be delivered to the site in pieces in up to 40 loads.
“To minimise the impact on road users, the nine oversize loads will be delivered between 11pm and 4am from Monday 3 April, weather permitting,” Mr Constance said.
“This will be a massive project that will cut congestion, and get up to 5,000 trucks a day off Pennant Hills Road.
“Excavation of the NorthConnex tunnels will produce around 2.25 million cubic metres of spoil with around one million cubic metres to be used to help fill Hornsby Quarry.”
Federal Member for Berowra Julian Leeser said a conveyor system was selected to fill the quarry because it is efficient, safe, minimises impact on the surrounding environment and reduces the need for truck movements.
“Spoil will be unloaded onto the conveyor, where it will be transported to the edge of the pit, falling to the bottom of the void before a second series of conveyors evenly spreads the spoil to fill the quarry floor,” Mr Leeser said.
New South Wales Member for Hornsby Matt Kean said the delivery of the conveyor belt is one of the final milestones before the Hornsby Quarry site starts receiving spoil.
“The first spoil delivery is on track for late April, weather permitting, with up to 35 trucks an hour entering the site when it is at full capacity,” Mr Kean said.
“Local residents are thanked for their patience while work continues at the quarry site.
“The NorthConnex project will be worth the wait, with the twin nine-kilometre-long tunnels providing an underground motorway connection linking the Hills M2 Motorway and M1 Pacific Motorway.”
For more information on the project visit www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-north/hornsby-quarry or www.northconnex.com.au.
