PROPERTY developer Satterley has welcomed a report by the Environmental Protection Authority into the buffer size for urban development in Mandogalup.
But the Kwinana Industries Council (KIC) slammed the report, calling it “flawed and completely inadequate”.
The EPA investigated potential sources of dust impacting air quality in north and north-eastern Mandogalup.
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READ NOWThe existing Kwinana Buffer in Mandogalup was based on a fixed distance from the edge of Alcoa of Australia’s bauxite residue disposal area (RDA), immediately to the west of the area.
Releasing the EPA’s advice, chairman Tom Hatton said the potential for health and amenity impacts from dust varied across the area and was primarily dictated by winds.
The report found there was negligible health risk and low likelihood of unreasonable amenity impacts in the eastern area. But there were potential sources of dust affecting the northern Mandogalup area, within and outside the area.
Satterley Group chief executive officer Nigel Satterley said the report reaffirmed the company’s position that there were no adverse impacts from Alcoa’s operations.”
“Satterley, along with other affected land owners and residents, have been waiting many years for a fair, independent investigation and we commend the EPA for their professionalism,” Mr Satterley said.
“We will now spend time reviewing the report findings in detail and planning the balance of our landholdings. We look forward to working with the WA Government with implementation of the outcomes of their investigations.”
KIC director Chris Oughton said the report had “extremely limited terms of reference”.
“The EPA report completely ignores other important amenity concerns such as noise, odour, light, vibration, visual amenity or risk,” he said.
He said a significant portion of the area falls inside the Western Trade Coast boundary which is a key industrial driver for the WA economy and only 50 per cent developed.
“If supported by the Government, we believe residential development in the WTC area is likely to lead to future land use conflicts,” he said.
“An industrial area increasingly constrained by the ongoing introduction of sensitive land uses will adversely affect the economy of the State.”
The Weekend Courier contacted Planning Minister Rita Saffioti for an update on the issue but did not receive a response before going to print.
But she told the ABC further monitoring was needed north of the Alcoa site and there was still work to do before final decisions were made.
“I’ve had some preliminary discussions with my agency and have asked for very detailed advice,” she said.
“I want to work with other ministers and the Premier on a good outcome that supports industry but doesn’t sterilise land that doesn’t need to be.”
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