It appears the airport runway is to be serviced by imported rock. Rock that will not be free of contaminants and creepy crawleys.
We need to nip this in the bud peoples.
There is nothing wrong with our rock. After all,it has managed to keep the current runway functional for 15 or so years.
We don't need any more bio-security hazards or environmental issues due to minuscule stowaways nestled in this imported rock.
The petition is also available at Paw Paw's Pump Shed & Foodland.
Show your support for the environment, the community and the economy by signing it.
Lets look after this beautiful place we are fortunate enough to live in!
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The ADDENDUM – DELETION OF PRICING OPTION 1 (ON-ISLAND CRUSHED AGGREGATE) sent by Regional Procurement – A division of Strategic Services Australia; which was sent to the firms intending to tender for the Airport Upgrade stated: “Due to an assessment of the quantity, quality and likely environmental approvals required at Cascade, Option 1 (on-island crushed aggregate) is removed from the tender. Tenderers are to tender only on Option 2 (imported crushed aggregate).”
This excludes Norfolk Island businesses and workers from providing rock product or crushing services for this project. This is a massive loss for Norfolk Island businesses, local people who would be employed to work on the upgrade, trades people and NIRC in rock royalties and fuel levy charges not to mention the down-stream effect in the community.
What happened to buy local?

Tenderers have told us in relation to quarantine for imported rock; that they were advised by Border Security/AQIS that as long as the rock products are stored on concrete and when moved for shipping stored on concrete; there would be no extra quarantine requirements. At a time when the island community is trying to get more stringent quarantine conditions on importation of goods; this is worrying to say the least.