Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Stuart Horton

East Perth concrete batching plants to be forced out

Julian WrightEastern Reporter

A FORCED relocation of a concrete batching plant from its East Perth location could increase building costs and put more trucks on local roads, according to a Hanson spokeswoman.

Acting Planning Minister Ben Wyatt last week announced he would approve modifications to the City of Vincent’s Local Planning Scheme No. 2, which would see the land two concrete batching plants are on rezoned to Mixed Use R160.

Hanson’s Edward Street plant and Holcim’s Claisebrook Road plant will have until June 30, 2024 to relocate once the rezoning changes are made.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Vincent Mayor Emma Cole welcomed the change, which has also been lobbied for by Perth residents who believe the inner city is no longer a place for such land uses.

Ms Cole said the area had a future as a transit oriented, inner city hub for residents and businesses.

“Although we wanted a much shorter timeframe than 6.5 years on the operation of the concrete batching plants, we recognise a clear end is in sight,” Ms Cole said.

The Hanson spokeswoman said the plant’s current location was central to major developments in the city.

“Over the next couple of years, new apartment buildings, hotels and developments around Elizabeth Quay and Kings Square will require an increase in construction material supply,” she said.

“The plant’s current central location enables efficient service for this growth in demand, however, relocating the plant will significantly increase the number of truck movements on local roads, as construction materials will have to be brought in from further afield.”

The spokeswoman said Hanson was “assessing the decision and impact” of the decision to rezone.

Vincent council in July begrudgingly extended the lease by 12 months for each plant.

At the same meeting, Doctor Chris Carter, whose practice is on Claisebrook Road, said the ambience of the area had changed and the plants no longer fit it.

Resident Vanessa Bullcok said the plants would “kill” the vibrancy of the community if they remained.

A Holcim spokeswoman said the company was reviewing the announcement awaiting further clarification of the modified scheme.

MORE: Northern suburbs resident reunited with paramedics who helped save her life

MORE: Here comes the rain again: Perth set for weekend deluge

MORE: Child sexual abuse Royal Commission to sit for final time