An application to remove transport restrictions on Great Southern Lime’s Nullaki mine faces rejection by the Albany City council after stiff opposition during public consultation.
City officers have recommended rejecting the change to conditions which would allow the Eden Road site, which is about 5km east of Denmark, to operate at increased capacity all year.
The recommendation comes after the city ran public consultation from November 25 to December 9, 2024 that garnered 105 responses, the majority opposing the change.
The responses summarised in the agenda for the May 14 development and infrastructure services committee expressed concerns for the environment, development suitability, road safety and infrastructure, planning compliance, community impact and fire risk.
Respondents noted concerns about the impact of weakening the project’s original strict conditions on endangered species and the wetland ecosystem, the conservation focus of the Nullaki area, and community amenity for a profit-driven agenda.
They also noted that increased traffic on local roads could increase the risk of hazards and delay an emergency response.
Councillors will discuss the issue at the committee meeting on May 14, before it heads to the ordinary council meeting for a final decision on May 27.
Landowner Graeme Robertson was given permission at a State Administrative Tribunal to mine for lime in January 2019 but with restrictions covering operating hours and the movement of trucks.
Mr Robertson is seeking to amend condition four, which restricts the transportation of lime offsite to January 2 and April 30, to allow it to do so year-round.
He also wants to remove condition 17, which states transport offsite must not exceed 50,000 tonnes per year with a maximum of 84 laden vehicles per seven days and no more than 20 on any one day.
The conditions were put in place because the land is part of an environmental conservation zone, and the Bibbulmun Track runs through the reserve to the east of the site.
There were also concerns around the breeding patterns of Australasian bitterns which nest in the area.
An environmental impact assessment judged there would be no impact on the bitterns within the Eungedup wetlands and a separate noise monitoring report suggested there would not be significant disruption to the wildlife or users of the Bibbulmun Track.
However, city officers recommended the change should be refused because of its environmental and social impacts, plus its effect on the character of the area, questioning the environmental and noise reports.
Further development of the site would also affect water resources, generate more traffic and would not comply with the objectives of the environmental conservation zone.
https://thewest.com.au/news/albany-advertiser/councillors-advised-to-block-change-of-conditions-which-would-allow-year-round-operations-at-nullaki-lime-mine-c-18624745
