Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve. Photo: Woodrow Wilson
By Catherine Watson
IN MID-2024, four local conservation groups wrote to Holcim Australia CEO George Agriogiannis with an unusual request: would the company voluntarily walk away from a legal right to quarry 67 hectares of native woodland at Adams Creek?
We were not optimistic.
Two years later, Mr Agriogiannis wrote back with an answer we never expected to receive.
IN MID-2024, four local conservation groups wrote to Holcim Australia CEO George Agriogiannis with an unusual request: would the company voluntarily walk away from a legal right to quarry 67 hectares of native woodland at Adams Creek?
We were not optimistic.
Two years later, Mr Agriogiannis wrote back with an answer we never expected to receive.
*****
It was Dave and Jackie Newman who drew our attention to a beautiful patch of woodland in the Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve. They’re birdoes and photographers based in Lang Lang and this reserve is their local.
Dave reckoned this patch was going to be quarried. When we checked it out we found it was Crown land on which Holcim Australia had a work authority and extraction lease dating from the 1970s.
Dave reckoned this patch was going to be quarried. When we checked it out we found it was Crown land on which Holcim Australia had a work authority and extraction lease dating from the 1970s.
The western section of Holcim's work authority is outlined in red.
Sixty-seven hectares of woodland – 165 acres – in the middle of a nature reserve at risk of being quarried. In the midst of a biodiversity crisis, it seemed almost unimaginable.
Quarrying on this block would compromise the connectivity of the reserve which is home to numerous threatened species, including southern brown bandicoots, powerful owls, gang-gang cockatoos, lace monitors, blue-winged parrots and southern toadlets.
Quarrying on this block would compromise the connectivity of the reserve which is home to numerous threatened species, including southern brown bandicoots, powerful owls, gang-gang cockatoos, lace monitors, blue-winged parrots and southern toadlets.
Lace monitor, Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve. Photo: Dave Newman
We considered the options. A legal challenge – but on what grounds? Holcim had the legal right to quarry it. This was one of those legacy issues that continue to put the woodlands at risk of fragmentation.
A protest when the diggers moved in? The site was so remote that attracting media attention would be difficult.
A protest when the diggers moved in? The site was so remote that attracting media attention would be difficult.
*****
A week after we wrote to Holcim, Holcim’s Victorian manager, Paul Hillyer, invited us to meet him at Holcim’s Lang Lang quarry.
Neil Rankine and I went over with Jordan Crook, from the Victorian National Parks Association. We were greeted by Paul, his offsider Nathan Thomas and several other senior Holcim staff. It felt a little surreal as we’d been harassing the local sand companies for the past five years and here we were sitting round a table talking amicably.
Paul explained the volume of sand in the triangle. I did a quick calculation in my head. The value of the sand was eye-watering. Clearly they were building up to telling us why they had to quarry there.
Then he said “We’ve listened to your concerns. We can’t say yes or no today but we will consider your proposal seriously.”
My jaw dropped. It was the first indication that this conversation might lead somewhere.
Neil Rankine and I went over with Jordan Crook, from the Victorian National Parks Association. We were greeted by Paul, his offsider Nathan Thomas and several other senior Holcim staff. It felt a little surreal as we’d been harassing the local sand companies for the past five years and here we were sitting round a table talking amicably.
Paul explained the volume of sand in the triangle. I did a quick calculation in my head. The value of the sand was eye-watering. Clearly they were building up to telling us why they had to quarry there.
Then he said “We’ve listened to your concerns. We can’t say yes or no today but we will consider your proposal seriously.”
My jaw dropped. It was the first indication that this conversation might lead somewhere.
*****
A year went by. We kept in touch every few months. Late last year Paul invited us to meet again. When we walked in there were cakes and muffins and a mood of quiet celebration.
Paul told us Holcim had assessed its reserves and was prepared to let the triangle go. No conditions. No ifs and buts. No quid pro quo.
I was close to tears. My first thought was how relieved Dave and Jackie would be.
We couldn’t announce it yet. Holcim was waiting on a couple of approvals. Some time in the new year, Paul said.
Like everything to do with planning it took longer than expected. The moment arrived late last month when Mr Agriogiannis wrote to the Western Port Woodlands alliance formally committing to exclude the triangular block from quarrying operations.
“We recognise the significant ecological value of the Adams Creek Nature Reserve and the broader Western Port Woodlands corridor. We have taken your concerns very seriously and have spent the last two years thoroughly assessing the resource reserves across WA2 and our adjacent site, WA423.
“Through this assessment, Holcim has identified a viable solution that balances the resource needs of the community with the preservation of local biodiversity.
“We are formally confirming that Holcim will prevent disturbance on the 67-hectare area within the western section of WA2 (highlighted in yellow in Figure 1).”
It’s not often that “Dear George” will hit the mark. It did this time. A large block of woodland will remain standing because people on opposing sides talked to one another.
Thanks to Holcim for acknowledging community concerns and showing biodiversity protection and resource development don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
The protected area is Crown land and we are hopeful that it can now be incorporated in the surrounding Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve.
Paul told us Holcim had assessed its reserves and was prepared to let the triangle go. No conditions. No ifs and buts. No quid pro quo.
I was close to tears. My first thought was how relieved Dave and Jackie would be.
We couldn’t announce it yet. Holcim was waiting on a couple of approvals. Some time in the new year, Paul said.
Like everything to do with planning it took longer than expected. The moment arrived late last month when Mr Agriogiannis wrote to the Western Port Woodlands alliance formally committing to exclude the triangular block from quarrying operations.
“We recognise the significant ecological value of the Adams Creek Nature Reserve and the broader Western Port Woodlands corridor. We have taken your concerns very seriously and have spent the last two years thoroughly assessing the resource reserves across WA2 and our adjacent site, WA423.
“Through this assessment, Holcim has identified a viable solution that balances the resource needs of the community with the preservation of local biodiversity.
“We are formally confirming that Holcim will prevent disturbance on the 67-hectare area within the western section of WA2 (highlighted in yellow in Figure 1).”
It’s not often that “Dear George” will hit the mark. It did this time. A large block of woodland will remain standing because people on opposing sides talked to one another.
Thanks to Holcim for acknowledging community concerns and showing biodiversity protection and resource development don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
The protected area is Crown land and we are hopeful that it can now be incorporated in the surrounding Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve.
*****
Dave Newman is over the moon.
“Right from the very start, to me, this was the most important block we had to save because of its size and location. Another 150 acres of precious bush saved! Definitely one of our biggest achievements to date.
“I'll sleep better knowing those animals have a future at Adams Creek.”
Catherine Watson is a member of Save Western Port Woodlands.
“Right from the very start, to me, this was the most important block we had to save because of its size and location. Another 150 acres of precious bush saved! Definitely one of our biggest achievements to date.
“I'll sleep better knowing those animals have a future at Adams Creek.”
Catherine Watson is a member of Save Western Port Woodlands.