Residents face sand mine plan

Wellard residents could face having a sand mine in their backyard if plans to operate the mine are lodged and approved by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

The department’s mineral titles executive director Ivor Roberts said the site, located at Banksia Road Rifle Range, was subject to the lessee lodging a mining proposal.

The proposal would need to be approved by the department’s executive director of environment.

In documents obtained by the Telegraph, former Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore granted the lease on November 12, last year.

In a letter to Neil Hartley, who was the City of Kwinana’s chief executive at the time, Mr Moore said up to three million cubic metres of high-quality and fill-quality sand could be extracted from the lease, which would help prevent a looming increase in house construction prices south of Perth.

Lydon Road residents Steve and Linda Sturgeon said they were outraged a sand mine could potentially be operating 40m from their property.

The couple said they moved to Wellard almost two years ago for a quiet, stress-free retirement.

Mr Sturgeon, who suffers from asbestos-related pleural lung disease, said he had made it his goal to have the lease on the Banksia Road land reversed.

“I need clear air, I don’t need dust, my wife’s had two bouts, over 30 years, of cancer, and neither of us needs either the stress or the unhealthy environment,” he said.

The 65-year-old said he was under the impression the sand mine would not go ahead when he bought his land.

The issue of the sand mine resurfaced when Kwinana City Council rejected a second sand mine proposal lodged with the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale.

Mr Roberts said no approval to start mining at Banksia Road Rifle Range site had been granted.

Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire Council is expected to make a decision on the second sand mine proposal in the next two months.