Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER councillors will rally at parliament house Thursday against a proposed concrete batching plant.

The councillors decided on the protest after the EPA refused last week to assess the proposal, despite the city’s environmental concerns about the project.

The council has been fighting the proposed plant for five years, concerned with dust pollution and proximity to houses and the Joan Rycroft Reserve.

“It’s very disappointing, especially as their own published policies recommend a buffer zone of 300 to 500 metres from houses or sensitive land uses,” Cr Chris Cornish told the Voice this week.

The council first rejected WA Limestone’s application in 2011 and it’s been bouncing back and forth between the council and the powerful but unelected state tribunal ever since.

The council is appealing the EPA’s decision not to assess the proposal and urges residents to write to WA environment minister Albert Jacobs to make their views known.

“We need to have this ministerial assessment as the this type of toxic noxious plant should not be using our residential and sports areas and Bayswater Brook as a ‘buffer’ for their concrete plant,” Cr Sally Palmer said.

Mayor Barry McKenna says it’s “terrible” the EPA refused to assess the proposal.

by MARTA PASCUAL JUANOLA