WEST Perth residents are considering legal options and claim their concerns about asbestos, chemicals and noise were not fully considered when the WA Planning Commission (WAPC) approved a contentious Carr Street fire station last month.
“We just don’t understand if laws dealing with these things are put into place why the State Government should not be subject to them,” Carr Street Action Group (CSAG) spokeswoman Marie Giorgi said.
The 30-member CSAG has been critical of the Government’s proposal for a Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) station in the residential street at the west side of the Perth CBD to quicken times taken by fire engines to reach emergencies during increasing road congestion.
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READ NOWOn July 12, the WAPC approved the station with only a provision an April acoustics report be used to control noise at the station created by firefighter training, truck engines and tannoy announcements at the former factory site directly next to medium-density housing.
At a meeting with DFES Commissioner Wayne Gregson in June, about 15 residents said they also wanted loose asbestos at the site dealt with, a full audit to deal with claimed breaches of noise guidelines and all information on any chemicals to be stored at the station.
“Were not just whinging residents as these are specific issue dealt with in law, and we want to know why they are not being considered,” Ms Giorgi said.
She said CSG was looking at “legal avenues” to see if the Government had followed due diligence.
DFES assistant commissioner Darren Klemm said design and engineering solutions, and a noise management plan at the station, included acoustic baffles, landscaping and visual incident alarms.
“Training activities will be timed to ensure minimal disruption wherever possible,” Asst Comm Klemm said.
He said a small quantity of sealed asbestos-containing material was found and removed at the site, and the station’s chemicals, similar to household detergents would be stored safely, and a special training foam would used for training, after building the station starts in November.