ASPHALT

 In August 2019, Asphaltech lodged an application with the Shire of Capel and the Department of Water & Environment Regulation (DWER) to install an asphalt processing plant at the Hanson quarry at Gelorup.  There was also an intention by Hanson to install a crushing plant as well.

There was considerable community opposition to this proposal as indicated by the hundreds of letters submitted to both the Department of Water and Environmental Resources (DWER)  and the Shire of Capel during their public comment periods, which closed respectively on 03.09.2019 and 19.09.2019.

 
 

This is a summary of some of the reasons for the community opposition to this proposal:

  • This application will have a significant adverse impact on the quality of life for the Gelorup community, and has significant environmental and community impacts beyond any possible economic benefit.

  • Environmental Protection Authority- Guidance statement number 3, the recommended separation distance for asphalt works to sensitive land is 1000 metres. Residential homes and a school fall in this zone.

  • Include a large increase in volume of large trucks both on the South West Highway and along Hastie Road.

  • Proposed hours of operation have been set between Monday and Saturday, at 530 - 1800 hours. However, they have also allowed for the prospect of work occurring on Sunday. The application is applying for maximum time of 24/7, 52 weeks of the year, for 20 years.

  • Despite the plant previously operating in an industrial/ light-industrial area, they have chosen to submit their application in an area currently zoned as Rural. Clause 5.7.4 of the Rural zoning discusses the likelihood that a development will impact on the character of the locality, and the amenity.

  • Still, winter days have been highlighted as having a particular risk of odour contamination to nearby properties.

  • Residents in this area rely on the roof top collection of rainwater or the use of ground water for their drinking water and for household use. Emissions from this industry, and the additional pollution from the associated additional traffic it will bring, are not conducive to maintaining the clean environment for this vital practise.

  • The area that the plant is proposed to be built on forms part of Bunbury Groundwater Area proclaimed under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Contaminated stormwater from this plant will compromise this natural resource;

  • The report has noise emissions data based on tests done in 2013 and is only giving predicted noise levels. The proposed plant is 24 year old and would therefore be considered to be an old plant. Machinery does not get quieter as it gets older.

  • Incidences of non-compliance within the industry leaves our ground water and air quality at risk. Results published by the NSW EPA showed that 14 of 17 factories investigated did not practise correct Operational activities which resulted in contamination of water and air, and they concluded that Issues identified in the sample of 17 licensed asphalt manufacturing premises out of a total of 35 state-wide are likely to be generally typical of the whole sector.

  • There are many reported cases of the ill effects of living near an asphalt plant. Locating a plant such as this in close proximity to a residential area and a school (with boarding students) is irrational.

  • Asphalt is a flammable substance and this industry will increase the fire risk in the area. A fire at the plant in summer, located on the east of the residential area and school, primed with summer easterly winds, would have the makings of a catastrophic fire in summer.

  • The ‘distance of separation’ used between an asphalt plant and sensitive land uses when assessing impact is a radial distance of 1000metres. A nearmap image is attached with the 1000m radial distance applied. This does not address the impact of emissions past the 1000 metre radial distance where other factors can apply including wind, weather, topography and accumulative noise of co-located industry on the same site. There is also noise of quarry truck traffic travelling to and from the quarry to be considered along Hastie Road.

At a Special Meeting of Capel Shire Electors held on Friday 18th October 6 pm at the Hugh Kilpatrick Hall, BOYANUP, the following motion was unanimously carried by the hundreds of electors gathered.

4. That the Capel Shire Council reject the development application for an Asphalt Plant to be built alongside the semi-rural residential area of Gelorup or near any other residential or semi-rural area in the Shire.

At the Shire of Capel Ordinary Council Meeting of 18th December 2019, before a packed public gallery, the councillors voted unanimously (9-0) against the asphalt plant proposal put forward by Asphaltech.

Asphaltech has subsequently made an application for a right of review with the State Administration Tribunal in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2005 pt 14.

As of the 24.02.2020, the outcome of this review application is still pending.

Image sourced from Google.