Baswater council is planning tree planting to reduce noice and visual pollution

Councillors agreed at last week’s meeting to plant trees along Joan Rycroft Reserve, which separates the Bayswater Transfer Station and Materials Recovery Facility run by Transpacific Cleanaway from residential properties.

It is hoped the trees will create a visual and noise barrier.

Councillors also decided to install noise monitoring equipment at a local house to test volumes coming from the facility, and to consider traffic management options for Shalford and Redlands streets.

These investigations will run alongside continued monitoring of the operations by the City and Department of Environment Regulation.

The decision followed resident Kevin Buckley organising a public meeting with the City, Maylands MLA Lisa Baker and other residents to highlight locals’ concerns.

Most related to noise, odours and rodents.

Further to these decisions, the City asked Transpacific to keep doors of the material recycling facility closed, ensure noise and odour emissions complied with requirements and undertake a pest control program.

A report to council said the business had also investigated the issues and advised that operations complied with City requirements.

Transpacific Cleanaway have operated at the site since 1986, once under the name Bramwells.

At last week’s meeting, a City officer said the company had never breached its conditions.

Council also indicated it wanted a condition on any subsequent lease of the site to include a facility upgrade. The present lease expires on December 31, 2015.