The councillors’ unanimous decision follows them receiving 71 objections to a quarry on a Hardys Road hill — more than a kilometre from the nearest home — and three submissions of support.

About a dozen of the 50 concerned residents at yesterday’s special meeting at Tallangatta voiced their views.

They raised issues such as traffic dangers, noise, road conditions and the devaluation of property prices in the three minutes they were given to speak.

Hurst Earthmoving’s application called for a rock and gravel quarry on the land.

The residents were pleased the council refused the application, but most believed the issue was not over.

“It’s a nice start but obviously VCAT is still an option for Hurst,” Hardys Road resident Simon Hicks said.

“Hopefully a VCAT decision will take forever and a day.”

Application manager from Blueprint Planning James Laycock attended the meeting with Hurst directors Dallas and Phillip Hurst.

“We are considering our options and we are taking advice,” Mr Laycock said.

Another resident Sandra Klippel said she was devastated when she and her family had discovered the proposal was 1½ kilometres from land where her family planned to build their dream home.

“For us, this is just round one,” she said.

“We know this will not stop here.

“We are prepared to fight and the show of people here today, as well as the sheer number of objections, shows this town has taken it on board.”

Cr Aaron Scales said he opposed a quarry because he could not see any community benefit in it, the high number of objections and the fact a quarry was not consistent with the concepts of a rural living zone.

Cr Mary Fraser said a quarry was not people friendly.

“Our only way of being viable is if we can get people to live here,” she said.

“I understand the requirement to build a quarry — it’s a reasonable request — but it’s just in the wrong place.”