Operations and community information

Visitors, contractors, and customers must complete an induction process for compliance and safety purposes, prior to accessing the site.  

Unauthorised access by members of the public inside the boundary of Image Flat or Dulong quarries are not permitted. Incidents of trespassing or vandalism to quarry property, including gates or other assets located at quarry entry and exit points, will be recorded by on-site security cameras and will be reported to the Queensland Police Service for possible prosecution. 

Image Flat quarry 

This larger of the two quarry sites is where blasting, rock extraction, crushing, and weigh bridge operations occur subject to the operating conditions of environmentally relevant activities (ERA) permit EPPR00777413 issued by the Department of Environment and Science. Other council teams are based at this site, which also serves as a storage facility.

Dulong quarry  

This smaller of the 2 quarry sites is where rock extraction occurs through blasting (maximum 2 times per year) in accordance with the conditions of the ERA permit EPPR00777413. Rock product extracted (blasted) from this site is hauled by truck to Image Flat quarry for processing and distribution.

Operating hours  

Council chooses to operate the Image Flat and Dulong quarries from 6am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays. 

Noise limitations are specified by ERA Permit EPPR00777413, however quarry operations currently occur on weekdays (and possibly Saturdays) between 6.30am and 4.30pm. Any alterations to operating hours for truck haul activities will be published on this web page and distributed to properties near the truck haul route in Dulong and Image Flat.

Currently, the quarries do not operate during the annual two week shutdown over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.  

These quarries are designated as key resource areas by the Queensland Government. 

Key Resource Areas (KRAs)

A number of lots at Image Flat Quarry are recognised as a Key Resource Area(PDF, 27.3MB) [Refer KRA 53 as at July 2021]. Dulong Quarry lots are also recognised as a Key Resource Area(PDF, 22.7MB) [Refer to KRA 148]. Image Flat Quarry and Dulong Quarry are included in the State Planning Policy (SPP). This ensures the State’s interests - such as agriculture, tourism and extractive industries - are considered and integrated into regional plans, local government planning schemes and form part of the development assessment process.

Environmental authority permit

Both sites operate in accordance with the conditions of environmentally relevant activities (ERA) permit EPPR00777413 issued by the Department of Environment and Science (DES).

The ERA permit EPPR00777413 can be viewed on the DES Environmental Authority website, or download a PDF(11.7MB) copy.

Questions or requests for further information about the ERA permit can be directed to the Department of Environment and Science.

Product extraction

Rock product is extracted from Image Flat and Dulong quarry sites through blasting activities using explosives to break the rock. This allows it to be processed into useful materials such as aggregates for local roads and infrastructure.

Blasting is undertaken by qualified service providers to extract basalt rock from Dulong quarry and rhyolite from Image Flat quarry for supply to council projects, road maintenance and external commercial contractors.

The ERA permit EPPR00777413 permits 100,000 tonnes to 1,000,000 tonnes annually to be extracted from Image Flat and Dulong quarries.

Life expectancy of rock reserve at Dulong quarry is 30 to 50 years, subject to production.

Contractors and commercial clients can find further information at product orders and quotes. 

Blast planning and management

Ground vibration and air overpressure (noise) occur from blasting at Image Flat and Dulong quarries. Best practice blasting techniques are applied to minimise disturbance surrounding both quarries.

Council contracts a qualified external provider with expertise in blasting. These contractors operate blasts to meet compliance guidelines set by the Department of Environment and Science for conditions of environmental authorities issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Other blast management measures include:

• modification of blast designs and use of specialised explosive products to reduce the effects of vibration and overpressure for neighbouring residents
• blasts occur between the hours of 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, as a courtesy to neighbouring properties
• vibration and overpressure are monitored at multiple locations in and around the quarries and at the perimeter of neighbouring properties
• all blasts are surveyed with a laser instrument to give an accurate 3D model of rock mass
• blasts are designed by qualified specialist blasting engineers
• blast holes are fired in a specific sequence at precise times to achieve the lowest possible vibration and overpressure.

More information about blasting and compliance can be downloaded as a PDF copy of ERA permit EPPR00777413(PDF, 11.7MB).

Truck haulage activity

Quarry operations require truck haulage to occur between Dulong and Image Flat quarries. This truck haul route between Dulong and Image Flat quarry sites has been approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Trucks collect existing blasted rock from Dulong and transport it to Image Flat for crushing, sorting and sales. The timeframe for truck haulage of the blasted rock from Dulong quarry to Image Flat quarry can vary between several days up to 6 weeks or longer.

Council engages private contractors to transport covered loads of rock from Dulong quarry to Image Flat quarry. These trucks do not carry Sunshine Coast Council branding. Other commercial and private trucks are present on local roads, and for this reason it may be difficult for the community to identify the difference between quarry associated vehicles and unrelated trucks.

Trucks used in the haulage campaign travel between Dulong quarry and Image Flat quarry along Sherwell Road, turning right at Nambour-Mapleton Road, turning left at Image Flat Road and turning right into Image Flat quarry.

Truck loads are required to be securely restrained and covered when hauling rock sized 150mm or smaller between quarry sites. If product is sized 150mm or larger, it is not a requirement for loads to be covered when hauling this sized rock between quarry sites.

Council asks the community for cooperation with the following safety advice: 

• Slow down - observe the stated speed limits within and around council sites for the safety of motorists, pedestrians, road workers and traffic controllers
• Be patient - recognise that truck haulage activity is necessary even though it may cause frustration for motorists
• Allow for possible delays - factor in extra travel time to allow for potential delays due to truck haulage activity.

Vehicle types servicing the quarries

Vehicles operating at Image Flat and Dulong quarry sites include class 4, class 7 and class 8 trucks (truck only or truck and dog trailer). These vehicles include contractor trucks assigned to truck haul campaigns as well as commercial customers visiting Image Flat quarry for product collection. 

You can visit the AUSTROADS Vehicle Classification System to see images of these vehicles. Also available to  download (PDF, 126KB).

B double vehicles do not service council’s quarries for truck haul campaigns and B doubles are not used at the quarries for commercial purposes (product collection). For reference, B double trucks are class 10 vehicles featuring six or more axles with length parameters of 17.5m to 36.5m. These types of trucks may be present on local roads for other unrelated transportation purposes.

Dust management

Council workers at Image Flat and Dulong quarries carry out dust suppression activities to meet the conditions of ERA Permit EPPR00777413 (PDF copy) regulated by the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science.

At Image Flat quarry, dust management occurs through measures including water spray systems on crushing equipment, covered conveyors and water truck spraying within the quarry perimeter (minimum 4 times daily).

The quarry sites may produce dust clouds when particular activities are undertaken, resulting in higher disbursement of dust influenced by weather and ground surface conditions. For example, at the conclusion of operational shifts, loaders relocate from the quarry pit area to the ‘go line’. This activity can sometimes result in a higher amount of dust being generated.

Based on feedback from residents who live near Image Flat quarry, a new process was introduced in June 2023 to dampen down an area of the quarry with water at the end of the shift before machinery is relocated.

Water quality testing

Council undertakes water testing activities in accordance with the site specific conditions of ERA Permit EPPR00777413 (PDF copy) issued by the Department of Environment and Science .

Water testing results at Image Flat and Dulong quarries are compliant with conditions of the ERA permit.

Questions or requests for further information about water testing at Image Flat and Dulong quarries can be directed to the Department of Environment and Science.

Community notifications

Council currently announces upcoming blast information by hard copy letterbox notifications delivered to nearby properties (minimum 5 business days). This is in accordance with legislation outlined by the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 and Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) permit EPPR00777413 issued by the Department of Environment and Science (DES).

Council also advises residents about upcoming blast activity via email to landowners where the email address has been provided to council, or where residents have asked to receive community updates about quarry operations.

Council follows other communication procedures to announce quarry related activities to customers who have signed up for SCC quarry community updates. On occasion, quarry team members may visit homeowners in person to discuss upcoming blasts or changes to normal operating conditions.

For road users, roadside signage is activated on local roads to announce that quarry trucks are operating in the vicinity. Drop down roadside signage (indicating “quarry trucks in operation”) will be in place for the duration of the truck haul timeframe.

Legislation does not require council to inform or update residents about truck haulage activities carried out as part of business-as-usual operations.

Council will continue to work with the community to consider suggestions from quarry neighbours about ways to improve or refine communication processes about blasts and resulting operational activities.

If you would like to receive future updates about Image Flat and Dulong quarry operations, please register by emailing [email protected]. The sender’s email address will be added to the community updates distribution list.

Important disclaimer: the email inbox above (QuarryComms@SunshineCoast) only operates for the purpose of receiving community update registrations. 

Emails about other matters will not be actioned, if sent to this email box. For other types of matters such as residential questions, community concerns or official complaints, please submit a request online, or email [email protected].

Enquiries or further contact

The quarry services webpages are the primary source of information for Image Flat and Dulong quarry operations, products, services, and community updates. If you have questions which cannot be answered by the website, please contact council by submitting a request online, or email [email protected].