General News
3 November, 2025
Valley resident says quarry has changed his life
CONCERNS over Boral’s Redlynch Quarry have intensified as residents share firsthand accounts of the ongoing impact of the site’s expansion.
Gavin Parsons, who has lived in Redlynch Valley for more than 20 years, described a sudden shift in his living environment.
The original quarry operations, once at a ground-level site surrounded by mountains that helped contain noise and dust, have now moved to the top of the hill behind his property.
“I thought I was buying into paradise,” Mr Parsons said.
“The noise travels down the valley, and when the excavators and trucks started working above us, it was constant and unmistakable.”
As a shift worker, he said the disruption had affected his ability to rest during the day, with loud machinery interfering with sleep and daily routines.
He added that attempts to raise concerns with Cairns Regional Council and the Department of Environment and Science (DESI) have been frustrating, with responsibility for complaints seemingly shifting between authorities.
Mr Parsons has documented noise levels using apps and video recordings, highlighting the impact on residents’ daily lives.
Mr Parsons’ experience aligns with longstanding concerns raised by Redlynch Valley Action Inc., which has criticised a perceived lack of transparency and community consultation around the quarry’s approvals and amendments.
President Kim Prince emphasised that the quarry poses risks, including dust, industrial noise and potential landslides, which affect homes in the valley.
Boral maintains that all approvals and licenses are in place.
Cairns Regional Council confirmed that extractive operations remain within the approved extraction area and that amendments to the quarry over the years did not require public consultation.
