Melton councillors have rejected plans for a 100-square-metre, eight-metre-deep pit at a Plumpton rock-crushing plant, acknowledging concerns about detrimental effects on a nearby tourism precinct.
North Altona Rock Blasting company applied for a permit to Melton council, proposing to create the pit and relocate crushing equipment to its Plumpton Road recycling centre.
There were 10 objections to the permit, citing dust and noise concerns, alleged non- compliance with existing permit conditions, a lack of water, increased traffic, reduced property values and inadequate public notification.
At last week’s council meeting, officers recommended a permit be issued, subject to 32 conditions which included submitting a dust suppression and assessment plan, a stormwater management plan, field assessment for the presence of the striped legless lizard, and sealing an internal access road.
But Watts ward councillor Lara Carli moved an alternative motion refusing a permit because the proposal would “intensify” and “entrench” existing uses in an inappropriate area, and would detrimentally affect the nearby Leakes Road tourism precinct.
Cr Carli said the proposed pit would also “exacerbate” dust and noise and be a nuisance to nearby residents.
Councillors Myles Bentley, Nola Dunn, Renata Cugliari, Bob Turner and Kathy Majdlik voted in favour of the alternative motion.
Cr Sophie Ramsey was absent.
In their report, council officers stated North Altona Rock Blasting’s proposal was able to be accommodated on the subject land, that there were no plans to expand the company’s current operations and no native vegetation would be removed as a result of the new pit.
The report also stated that officers visited the site twice and were confident the company was complying with its current permit conditions.
Star Weekly contacted North Altona Rock Blasting last week, but a spokeswoman said the company would not comment further.
At a meeting earlier this year, about 20 people met with council officers and councillors to air their concerns about the company’s proposal.
Residents complained about the dust and noise they say emanate from the site.
“I’ve got a six-month pregnant daughter breathing in the dust every day,” one person said.
“Cement dust sits on everything … it’s destroyed the facade of my building. This [new proposal] is only going to make it worse.”
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