On Saturday, 7 February 2026, more than 2,000 Gold Coast residents gathered at Coplicks Sports Fields, Tallebudgera, to oppose Boral’s latest application for the Reedy Creek Quarry (KRA 96). Gecko Environment Council was represented by our campaigners, including Rose Adams, Lois Levy and Kaylee Campradt, reaffirming Gecko’s role in the successful 2013–2017 campaign and its ongoing commitment to protecting this site
The rally was organised by local community members determined to send a clear message to Boral, City of Gold Coast Council and the State Government: opposition to the quarry remains strong. It is understood that approximately 5,500 objections were lodged with Council, exceeding the number submitted during the previous application
Why the Community Is Concerned?
Gecko’s formal objection submission outlined significant environmental, community and planning concerns.
The 2025 proposal differs only marginally from the rejected 2013 application. While annual production has been reduced from 2 million tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes and the extraction footprint slightly decreased, key impacts remain unchanged, including a 40-year operational life, removal of J Ridge, and up to 400 truck movements per day.
Among the major concerns raised:
- Loss of koala habitat: The proposal would remove 9,668 non-juvenile koala habitat trees. Since the previous application, koalas have been uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered under the EPBC Act, intensifying the significance of any habitat loss.
- Impact on the Hinterland Critical Corridor (Burleigh to Springbrook): The site forms part of this vital ecological link connecting coastal habitats to Springbrook National Park. Gecko argues the quarry would fragment and degrade this corridor, undermining the City Plan’s green space and biodiversity objectives.
- Threats to other species and flora: The site contains threatened flora species and provides habitat for vulnerable fauna, including the Glossy Black Cockatoo, Powerful Owl and Tusked Frog.
- Noise, blasting and vibration: Blasting is proposed weekly, with operational noise up to 10 hours per day, six days per week, for four decades.
- Silica dust and air quality risks: Concerns remain about dust generated from blasting and rock movement, particularly near homes and schools.
- Traffic impacts: Up to 400 heavy truck movements per day along Old Coach Road, a winding road not designed as a haulage route, raise safety, congestion and wildlife strike concerns.
- Waterway risks: Questions have been raised about potential impacts on Oyster Creek and Stony Creek, particularly under increasingly intense rainfall events linked to climate change.
Importantly, Gecko maintains there is no demonstrated economic need for the quarry at this time. The 2017 Planning and Environment Court decision noted that any pressing need for an additional hard rock quarry was unlikely before 2031 and more likely around 2040.
Political Support at the Rally.
Speakers at the rally included Federal MP Leon Rebello (McPherson), who has raised the matter with the Federal Environment Minister in light of the koala’s endangered status. State MPs Laura Gerber (Currumbin), Hermann Vorster (Burleigh) and Ros Bates (Mudgeeraba) also addressed the crowd, with Ms Bates coordinating a request to remove the Key Resource Area (KRA) designation. City of Gold Coast Councillors Gail O’Neill, Josh Martin and Glenn Tozer attended, with Cr Tozer outlining Council’s decision-making process
A Community That Has Been Here Before.
The current application closely resembles the proposal dismissed by the Planning and Environment Court in 2017 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Gecko’s position remains unchanged: the quarry conflicts with the City Plan, undermines the ecological integrity of the Hinterland Critical Corridor, threatens endangered species and places unacceptable burdens on nearby residents.
As Gecko Campaigner Lois Levy concluded in the formal submission, this application “differs very little from that made in 2013 and was dismissed by the Planning and Environment Court in 2017”, and for that reason, among many others, “must be refused by City of Gold Coast Council”
Council will now consider the thousands of objections lodged. The community has spoken clearly in defence of the green hinterland that underpins the Gold Coast’s biodiversity, lifestyle and identity.
To join this or other Gecko campaigns, please email our campaigns team at advocacy@gecko.org.au.
