THE SHIRE of Dardanup council is not supporting a plan to install three new waste cells at the Cleanaway-owned waste management facility on Banksia Road, Crooked Brook.
At the shire's ordinary council meeting on Wednesday, the council voted against the development of the cells,
The state government's Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel will now assess the project.
If approved by the panel, the new cells would be used for solid waste.
The site has been operating since 1999 and is located four kilometres south east of the Dardanup townsite.
On rural landscape, the closest home is around 500 metres from the site's boundary.
The site is currently approved to operate as a waste disposal facility with nine cells, but also hosts a weighbridge, office, two storm water ponds, four leachate ponds and two tailings storage facilities.
When the application was received by council in August, it was advertised for public consultation.
The council received 53 objections, noting visual and noise impacts, dust and odour, groundwater contamination and poor choice of location.
In addition to the officers' recommendation of refusing the application, the council voted to change Cleanaway's original classification of the site as a "Use Not Listed" to "Industry Noxious and Hazardous".
The site was originally granted development approval under the "Use Not Listed" classification when it only received Class II waste.
But submissions argued that the approvals were historical in that it was classified as "Use Not Listed" when it was only receiving Class II waste, not Class III wastes which the site now receives.
Class II is an unlined landfill accepting inert wastes, while Class III is lined landfill which may include leachate collections in addition to inert waste.
As the site is classified 'general farming', a use classed as 'industry noxious and hazardous' is not permitted.
In April 2021, Cleanaway self-referred the application to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment.
It didn't release its findings in time for the item to go before council.
As the applicant did not agree to a time extension to await the results, the shire was required to make a recommendation to the panel without knowing the outcomes of their assessment of the potential environmental impacts.
If these extra cells are approved, they're going to be high. That's not landfill, that's a whole other thing.
- DEAG secretary Fiona Moriarty
These impacts include inland waters from storm water run off and leachate seepage into groundwater, social surroundings from interference with amenity values, generation of greenhouse gas emissions from flaring and air quality from dust and odor.
An amendment to change the classification was suggested at the shire meeting by members of the Dardanup Environmental Action Group, a group formed in 2019 with the goal of ending landfill at the Dardanup Waste Facility, nicknamed "Mount Rubbishmore".
According to the group, the landfill facility receives 350,000 tonnes of landfill waste every year.
Dardanup Environmental Action Group secretary Fiona Moriarty said it was a "very satisfactory result" that the council voted to take on advice as presented by the group at the meeting.
"This is the start of a very long process, but we're all really relieved that the council is demonstrating a better understanding of the problems associated with the site," Ms Moriarty said.
"The fact is, it's just an absurdly ridiculous bad location for this site. It's already 70m high above the road, how many stories is that? And they want it another 50 per cent higher with these new cells, that's three or four Optus Stadiums."
Ms Moriarty said the group would continue to monitor the situation going forward.
"If these extra cells are approved, they're going to be high. We believe that this site is full, and they're going to have to grow into the sky.
"That's not landfill, that's a whole other thing."
The new council resolution was moved by councillor Peter Robinson and seconded by councillor Patricia Perks.
Cr Perks said the issue had been ongoing for a long time, but that the council was happy to support the refusal.
"It's nice to have an opportunity to support our community, and this is one of those times," Cr Perks said.
The Dardanup council voted unanimously for recommending the refusal.
The council now has until November 15 to provide the report to the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel before next steps are taken.
Pip Waller
After working in film and television production in Perth, I returned to my hometown of Bunbury to further my skill set as a journalist. I am passionate about the empowerment of women and giving a voice to the unheard members of our community. You can contact me at pip.waller@austcommunitymedia.com.au
After working in film and television production in Perth, I returned to my hometown of Bunbury to further my skill set as a journalist. I am passionate about the empowerment of women and giving a voice to the unheard members of our community. You can contact me at pip.waller@austcommunitymedia.com.au
