On March 20, 2014, the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) started a prosecution against the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC).
It was for odour emissions, which allegedly emanated from the SMRC’s Regional Resource Recovery Centre in Canning Vale on the evening of March 22, 2012.
Leeming community member Rod Petterson, who has been campaigning against the centre since 2006, said he would like to see it gone.
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READ NOW‘What is frustrating is that they have gone to a trial and are pleading not guilty but have spent $10 million over the past decade improving their odour infiltration system although they deny a problem exists,’ he said.
‘Now they are using ratepayers’ money, the same ratepayers they have been affecting for the past 10 years, to defend themselves.’
A Department of Environment Regulation (DER) spokesperson said the SMRC could receive a maximum penalty of $125,000.
‘It will be alleged that a fermenting garbage odour emanated from the premises at 350 Bannister Road Canning Vale and adversely impacted on nearby residents,’ the spokesperson said. ‘As the matter is currently before the court it is not appropriate to comment further.’
SMRC chairman Cameron Schuster said the SMRC was dedicated to providing environmentally sustainable waste management solutions to the community and took its responsibilities seriously.
‘The SMRC continues to co-operate with the Department of Environment Regulation and the State Solicitors Office in relation to an alleged incident to which the SMRC has entered a plea of not guilty,’ Mr Schuster said.
The matter will be determined at a four-day hearing from February 23-27 next year.