Health at centre of dust debate

The Environmental Protection Authority will examine the effects of dust on health and amenity in Mandogalup, as debate continues to rage over the State Government’s proposed industrial buffer zone.

Chairman Dr Tom Hatton said the EPA would consider the potential impacts of both current and future land-use before giving advice on an appropriate buffer size.

The announcement comes after residents and landowners from Mandogalup held a rally at Parliament House on Tuesday as protesters gathered to vent their anger at the State Government.

Joined by property mogul Nigel Satterley, about 40 protesters gathered on the steps of Parliament House as State Development Minister Bill Marmion, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan, Kwinana MLA Roger Cook and Cockburn MLA Fran Logan addressed the crowd.

Mr Marmion conceded to the protesters the Government’s consultation process over the proposed zone had been “deficient”.

He also confirmed the proposal would be referred to the EPA for further advice.

The proposed 1.5km buffer zone around Alcoa’s residue disposal areas would see about 60 landowners in Mandogalup face the prospect of falling property prices, with residential development within the proposed zone banned.

Under legislation first introduced by the State Government in October 2015, the zone would run from around the Western Trade Coast industrial area, stretching from East Rockingham to Coogee.

Mandogalup resident Bob White, whose family has lived in the area since 1931, said the introduction of the proposed buffer zone would devalue property and leave them unable to invest, sell or subdivide their property.

“Over the years, we have co-operated with Alcoa as neighbours,” he said.

“I’ve personally had an Alcoa dust monitor in front of my house.

“My father and his brother had a very large market garden dairy farm and we actually had one permanently situated on the property and Alcoa actually put in their own meter.

“They were taking readings from it daily and they have no science at all for a buffer.”

Kwinana Industries Council director Chris Oughton said they were disappointed the matter had been referred back to the EPA but they would accept where the EPA decided the line should be established.

“There is not a complete lack of scientific evidence; I sat through the State Administrative Tribunal hearing over a year ago and this included thee solid days of hearing the scientific evidence,” he said.

“The judges found that the line should be where it is proposed because the scientific evidence they heard and accepted convinced them.

“I am confident the EPA will re-confirm the buffer line as set out in the proposed legislation.”

Mr Oughton said if the EPA did not re-confirm, it would probably call for a couple more years of monitoring before they could justify a change over the current science.