They relocated from Sydney and have become fond of Paterson’s eateries, including the CBC Bed & Breakfast & Cafe.

They love to sit on the verandah and enjoy a meal, and it’s one of their favourite haunts when visitors come to see them.

But they say the trucks travelling through the town’s main street are spoiling the ambiance.

Mrs Walker said their friends were shocked that so many trucks travelling to and from Martins Creek Quarry were allowed to make their way through the town. 

“They couldn’t believe it, the trucks are so noisy you can’t have a conversation,” she said. 

The Walkers think the trucks dampen the town’s tourist appeal and they are deeply concerned about the vehicles’ impact on safety. 

“People aren’t going to come to look at trucks,” Mr Walker said.

“This is our town, it’s the most beautiful little town, we come in here to shop and eat and all we hear is the constant rumble of trucks.”

“If there’s so many trucks on the road the chance of an accident increases exponentially.”

Daracon, which owns the quarry, has applied for a five-fold production increase which would allow it to extract a maximum of 1.5 million tonnes of material every year. 

It has proposed there would be a maximum of 215 trucks departing the quarry each day.

But residents dispute Daracon’s numbers. They say there would be up to 430 truck movements a day when factoring in the number of empty trucks that travel to the quarry to be filled or stored overnight.

Public feedback on Daracon’s plans closed late last month. 

Residents in Martins Creek, Paterson, Bolwarra, Brandy Hill and other small communities along Daracon’s haulage routes share a range of concerns.

Their main worry is the noise of the trucks and the traffic congestion – particularly on Tocal Road, Paterson Road and Belmore Road and at the intersection of Flat Road and Melbourne Street.

Have your say at maitland@fairfaxmedia.com.au