IN light of health concerns, Bassendean councillors called for a cost report into alternate air quality measurements at the proposed concrete batching plant on Clune Street at last night’smeeting.
The proposed plant was granted development approval by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) in December, with a condition that required the plant to operate in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act regulations.
Council refused the initial application in June.
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At a special meeting of electors, a motion was passed for the Town to measure the air quality at locations within 500m of the site and to establish a “baseline” for air quality before the plant became operational.
The motion also included regular monitoring to check for possible air quality contamination from the plant.
Councillors amended this motion at last night’s meeting, which will see the Town consider measuring the air quality surrounding the plant but not through a baseline.
A cost report on monitoring equipment will be brought back to council before the plant starts operating.
According to an officer’s report, the conditions imposed by the SAT approval were sufficient to control air quality issues without additional air quality monitoring.
Planning services manager Brian Reed said an environmental consultant would be needed to assist with the cost report and funding was probably not available in the budget.
Councillor Paul Bridges said there was not enough time to get a baseline measure at the plant, while Cr Gerry Pule said he visited a concrete batching plant in Cockburn, which had major problems.