Community updates

Latest update: 2 April 2025 - Regulation of Sellicks Hill Quarry

How is dust from Sellicks Hill Quarry regulated?
In South Australia, quarries are required to meet the air quality criteria set out in the Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016 to meet public health standards. This Policy is informed by the standards set out in the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure.

The key air pollutants potentially associated with quarries are respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and particulate matter (PM). These are the components of dust from quarries that have potential to have health impacts.

PM10 are particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres (µm) or less − these particles are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. PM10 particles may also be associated with visible dust if present in large concentrations.

PM2.5 are particles with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less − these particles are so small they can get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream. There is sufficient evidence that exposure to PM2.5 over long periods (years) can cause adverse health effects. PM2.5 particles are principally released from combustion processes, for example wood smoke.

The table below sets out the maximum concentration of these pollutants that a quarry can be permitted to generate as per the Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016. Quarry emissions are required to stay below these concentrations.

Pollutant Maximum concentration in micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3 Averaging time *
Respirable crystalline silica (inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite - measured as PM2.5) 0.36 3 minutes
PM10 50 24 hours
PM25 25 24 hours

* Averaging time is the period over which a pollutant concentration is measured to determine compliance with air quality standards. Air quality standards are often expressed as maximum allowable concentrations of pollutants, and these standards are typically tied to specific averaging times. This is because air pollution levels can fluctuate rapidly, and a single, short-term measurement might not accurately reflect the overall pollution situation.

To monitor compliance and to inform dust control mitigation strategies are effective at Sellicks Hill Quarry, Adbri is required to continuously monitor the concentration of emissions leaving the site through the use of Air Quality Monitors. The current Air Quality Monitors record PM10 dust concentrations, wind direction and speed, in 5 minute intervals, and are monitoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The data is collected and analysed by a third-party, and the reports are submitted quarterly to DEM and the EPA for review.

In the 12 months to March 2025, there have been no recorded exceedances attributable to quarry operations.

Adbri also monitors RCS levels, as required by SafeWork SA. This monitoring is done by fitting workers with personal monitors to assess RCS levels within the quarry where levels are potentially at highest concentrations. As of March 2025, there have been no exceedances recorded within the past 12 months.

Based on evidence from available Australian and international monitoring carried out in communities that have an industrial source, such as a quarry, RCS has not been found to be a health concern in ambient air or in community settings. For RCS to cause silicosis, exposure to RCS generally needs to be long term and at high levels. These levels are usually not seen in community or ambient air settings.

What’s being done about nuisance dust?
Nuisance dust is often referred to as total suspended particulate material (TSP) and is a class of particles which have a diameter of less than 100 µm. It can include a mixture of large and fine particles. Larger particles (TSP) are generally trapped in our noses and throats, so they do not reach the lungs. However, they may cause irritation, nuisance, and the soiling of surfaces.

South Australia does not have health-based tolerable criteria or national standards to regulate TSP levels.

To reduce the impact of nuisance dust, DEM and the EPA require that Adbri operates the quarry under an approved Dust Management Plan that minimises dust emissions through (for example) measures such as water spraying, stockpile management, engineered covers, and altering operation schedules based on weather conditions.

Adbri’s compliance with the requirements set out in the Dust Management Plan is regularly monitored by DEM and the EPA through site audits and remote monitoring using drone technology. The Dust Management Plan is described as a 'living document' which is continually reviewed and updated by DEM and the EPA to ensure dust controls are effective and meet industry standards. The Dust Management Plan is currently under review. Both DEM and the EPA have an expectation that Adbri adopts a 'continuous improvement' approach to its dust management and mitigation strategies. This expectation aligns with those being expressed by the Sellicks Beach Community.

Current state of compliance
Monitoring to date of dust emissions from the quarry operations is not showing exceedance of the maximum particulate concentrations (as PM10) as listed in the Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016.

DEM and the EPA acknowledge that the Sellicks Beach community is being impacted by nuisance dust that is being (in part) contributed to by operations at the Sellicks Hill Quarry. This is being addressed through additional dust control measures to be included in the Dust Management Plan. DEM and the EPA will continue to monitor and review air quality and community impacts and if required, additional dust control measures will be required, and the dust management plan updated to reflect changes.

Previous updates

On 18 February 2025, the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) met with representatives from the Department for Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) to discuss the air quality study which includes independent air quality monitoring (including respirable silica crystal) assessing dust impacts from the quarry over a six-month period. This study will be used to inform future urban development at Sellicks Beach and will be reviewed by DEM to show long term air quality trends from quarry operations.

On 10 February 2025 DEM observed excessive dust being produced by operations at Sellicks Hill Quarry as part of DEM and the Environment Protection Authority's (EPA) remote surveillance campaign. In response, the EPA issued Adbri a notice for a potential breach of Section 25 of the Environment Protection Act 1993 requiring Adbri to demonstrate compliance and undertake an analysis of failures for further investigation.

On 11 December 2024, the third meeting of the Sellicks Hill Community Consultative Group (CCG) was held. The meeting was attended by the appointed committee members: Adbri, DEM, and EPA. This was a closed meeting where communication strategies were discussed as well as ongoing monitoring of the quarry by DEM and EPA.

Further information on the CCG can be found:

On 2 October 2024, the second meeting of the Sellicks Hill Community Consultative Group (CCG) was held which was attended by the appointed committee members and approximately 20 members of the community. There were presentations from Adbri, SA Health and a member of the CCG, along with attendance by officers from the EPA and DEM who were available for questions and updates.

Minutes of the meeting and copies of some of the presentations will be made available- once approved by the Committee.

Further information on the CCG can be found:

On 3 July 2024, Adbri recommenced the Community Consultative Group (CCG) meetings to ensure the company is proactive and transparent in its engagement with the community. Adbri met regularly with the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM), Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and the appointed independent chairperson to draft appropriate terms of reference that included a broad representation of the community. The first meeting was held on 3 July 2024 following an expression of interest process with community residents, local council, and local businesses.

Meetings are currently intended to be held quarterly. DEM and EPA have agreed to attend the CCG meetings on invitation of the Chairperson where there are matters the Group have requested to be discussed or information provided.

Further information on the CCG can be found:

The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) and the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) are aware of a number of complaints from the Sellicks Beach community in regard to dust generated at the Sellicks Hill Quarry, operated by Adbri.

DEM and the EPA have jointly investigated the concerns raised, and have taken the following actions:

  • Increased regular site compliance monitoring, including scheduled and unannounced site inspections, and regular visual observations from within nearby localities, to establish impacts on them. Drone photography is also used to check visual dust levels and confirm that the quarry operator is undertaking dust controls required of it.
  • In January 2024 the EPA conducted comprehensive air quality monitoring data analysis.
  • The EPA has its own independent dust monitoring stations positioned in nearby localities to assess the effectiveness of the quarry’s dust monitoring technology, and to measure concentrations of dust leaving the quarry site.
  • DEM and EPA are assessing Adbri’s revised dust management plan that seeks to reduce volumes of dust produced and leaving the quarry site.
  • In 2023, EPA conducted a comprehensive air quality data review  and identified nuisance dust impact from the quarry. Following further investigation, DEM required the operator to:
    • implement a plan to accelerate rehabilitation of the western screening mound to reduce the risk of dust lift from the area. Adbri has prioritised the completion of the western screening mound and a revegetation program is scheduled to begin in 2024
    • identify an alternative location to store fine material stockpiles to reduce exposure to wind and risk of dust lift. Adbri has identified a protected area within the existing site; stockpiles have since been moved to this location
    • investigate options for additional water storage onsite to assist with dust suppression. Two new water tanks have been installed and are connected to the SA Water pipeline
    • investigate options for a second wheel wash station to reduce drag-out of material on to South Road. Adbri has constructed the second station, and it is now operational.
    • engage a suitably qualified independent party to undertake a review of the existing air quality monitoring network and the Adbri’s Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP). Adbri has completed the review and submitted it to DEM.

  • Adbri has committed to procure and install new Beta Attenuation Mass Monitor (BAM) units (dust monitors) as soon as possible. The company will work with the EPA and DEM to ensure the optimal placement of the new units. As a condition of Adbri’s lease, dust monitoring data will be published on the company’s website.
  • Adbri will install a camera with capacity to save data to ensure actual site conditions can be assessed at any time. This will also enable the company to address community complaints.
  • Adbri will be revising its website to provide greater transparency on its trigger action response plan (TARP) and dust management measures. The company will also reinstate its blasting notifications to ensure the community is advised of planned, postponed and fired blasts.
  • Adbri will also recommence Community Consultative Committee (CCC) meetings to ensure the company is proactive and transparent in its engagement with abroad representation of the community, and to work through community concerns. Adbri will work with DEM to appoint an independent chair and draft appropriate terms of reference.

Frequently asked questions

The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) is the lead regulatory agency and regulates the site in accordance with the Mining Act 1971. DEM works closely with the EPA, which provides specialised review and regulatory requirements to DEM for a consolidated regulatory strategy under the Environment Protection Act 1993.

The quarry is approved to undertake operations set out in the approved combined mine operations plan and program for environment protection and rehabilitation (the Program) MOP/PEPR2015/005. The Program describes the operations that will be undertaken, sets out the environmental outcomes and measurement criteria that must be achieved, and the control strategies that will be implemented to ensure achievement of environmental outcomes.

The quarry must comply with the air quality outcomes in MOP/PEPR 2015/005 and the Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016. The quarry manages its dust impacts through its dust management plan which includes:

  • the use of water trucks, spray systems and sprinklers
  • using commercially available soil binding compounds
  • covers on certain machines such as crushers and certain stockpiled material such as fine sands.

Implementation of a trigger action response plan (TARP) restricts certain operations under particular weather conditions. Dust is monitored 24/7 through active dust monitors that alert the quarry to risks of excessive dust levels; this information is regularly reviewed by DEM and the EPA. Details of these can be found in the dust management plan.

Dust can often be seen rising above the quarry, during blasting events, or in the morning when the crushing machines first start up and the rising sun behind the quarry illuminates the dust particles.

Protecting the health and wellbeing of all South Australians, especially those in communities located close to mining and quarrying operations, is a primary function of both DEM and the EPA and is governed by robust and detailed legislation.

As regulators, our role is to ensure that operators in our state adhere to all relevant legislation. Understanding and responding promptly to community concerns is vital to our ability to regulate effectively.

To protect communities from potential risks from airborne dust, overarching policies Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016) apply to all operations in the state. Operators must also adhere to site specific requirements, outlined in the MOP/PEPR 2015/005. A failure to comply with either of these will result in regulatory action by DEM or the EPA.

Adbri’s control strategies implemented to ensure its compliance with legislation governing safe dust levels require that the company undertake its own monitoring of weather conditions and air quality.

The local rock resource is of very low silica content and poses minimal risk of silicosis to the community.

Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of dust may pose health risks to some individuals, however the air quality monitoring data indicates that dust from the quarry is below the national guideline concentrations recognised as impacting human health.

The EPA conducted an air quality study in 2017 that investigated sources of dust at Sellicks Beach. Further information can be found in the EPA’s Sellicks Beach air quality report.

Complaints in the first instance should be sent directly to the quarry for immediate action. You can contact Adbri by:

If you feel that your complaint has not been resolved satisfactorily, you can direct your complaint to DEM:

About the Sellicks Hill Quarry

The Sellicks Hill Quarry is located in Sellicks Hill, approximately 3 km southeast of Aldinga Beach, covering an area of approximately 261 hectares.

The quarry produces limestone, shale, marble and dolomite for construction material. It provides a range of products to the construction and agricultural markets in South Australia.

Sellicks Hill Quarry has been identified as a strategically important mineral resource area. More information about South Australia’s strategic mineral resource areas.

The quarry is operated by Adbri Concrete and Quarries SA Pty Ltd:

Hours of operation

The site operates continuously Monday to Sunday 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Typical hours of operation:

  • Monday to Friday: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • Saturday: 6:00 am to 12:00 pm

Sunday and Public Holidays – varies based on market demand/s.

Where necessary operations extend outside of the abovementioned hours based on market demand. Generally, maintenance activities continue outside of the typical hours of operation.

Sellicks Hill Quarry currently consists of extractive minerals leases (EMLs) 5440 and 6552, and private mines (PMs) 163 and 237.

EML 6552 was granted on 30/10/2023, for the purpose of expanding the pit.

Prior to commencing quarrying in this area, the proposed operations must be incorporated and approved by DEM in a revised MOP/PEPR.

A miscellaneous purposes licence (MPL) MPLA 2023/000341 was submitted on 28/11/2023 for the extension of the western screening mound to reduce impacts. The submission is currently under assessment with DEM.

A MOP/PEPR for the Sellicks Hill Quarry was approved in May 2018. As this document includes information pertaining to private mines, in accordance with Section 73Q of the Mining Act 1971, a mine operations plan (MOP) is not available for public inspection.

More information, including community updates, air monitoring reports and dust management plans, is available on the Environment Protection Authority website: https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/business_and_industry/industry-updates/southernquarries

Contact information

For enquiries relating to the mining operation contact:

Mining Regulation
Department for Energy and Mining
Email: DEM.MiningRegRehab@sa.gov.au