THE City of Bunbury council has granted temporary planning approval to a sandblasting business accused of causing a health risk to nearby Carey Park residents.
Council was asked to clarify its intention to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) about granting retrospective planning approval to Geographe Sandblasting.
The resolution will now go before SAT for consideration.
If adopted it will place strict conditions on the business’s operations in the area.
Several amendments were also made which will require all sandblasting and spray painting to be done inside the business’s shed behind closed doors.
Speaking at the meeting councillor James Hayward said the situation was difficult, but council need to get it under control.
“We’re not the [Department of Environment and Regulation]. I have no experience, and I don’t believe that City staff have any real experience, to be able to make determinations about the potential for the potential for pollutants and the management regime that needs to be around this industry,” Mr Hayward said.
On Kinkella Park Action Group’s Facebook page, set up in response to Geographe Sandblaster’s operations, council was thanked for their decision.
"The council decided to “regain control” of out of control and spiralling events," it said.
“On behalf of the elderly gentleman with a lung problem, who used to use the park regularly and has not done so for the past year, on behalf of the child removed from his bed room through necessity of getting some quiet... on behalf of every stressed, angry and bewildered person involved in this situation."
In a media statement last week DER said the business had been subject to scrutiny by the department through inspection as a result of complaints from community members.
"Noise and dust complaints have been investigated and, at the time, the operator cooperated with DER," the statement said.
"However, DER has now appointed a senior investigator to review the recent information being provided by community members with a view to determining whether any breaches have or are currently occurring."