Statements to Council

On this page are statements to council that local residents have made to the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire in relation to the pollution issues emanating from the Permacast facility in Cardup

© Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale 2023

Mr John McEwan, Cardup WA 6122 on 21 August 2023

My statement is regarding the proposed retrospective and prospective approvals for Lot 60, 394 Robertson Road Cardup.

I oppose this Retrospective Approval and request that the Council please take Option 1 and recommend that the Metro Outer Joint Development Panel REFUSE DAP application reference DAP/23/02462.

I have lived in Cardup for the past 23 years and have watched the Permacast facility grow since 2006. Despite living across the road from the Facility it was only over the last few months that I was made aware that the area had been re-zoned from rural to Industry General. Even if I had known, I would never have understood that “Industry General” could include such a large Heavy Industry. We were naïve enough to think that we were protected by the regulatory bodies from an operation such as this invading our home and community.

This operation has got into a practice of building and operating plant illegally, it has been doing so for at least the past 8 years. It is now seeking retrospective approval for an almost fully constructed heavy industry plant, which it is already illegally operating, while ignoring regulatory and environmental requirements. The more I learn about this operation the more horrified I am that they have got away with so much for so long.

They have built a plant without the required buffer zone and still demand (and I quote from their application) operating hours based on ‘customer demand’ typically from 6 am to 6 pm. Basically they want to be able to operate on any day and at whatever time they want.

In addition to the usual horrible, unbearable noises from this Facility starting in the early hours of the morning, on the 27th of July, a diesel motor was turned on at 5:30 pm and left running all night. A neighbour eventually called the Police at around 3 am and the pump was switched off at 4 am.

They installed a new security system which emits a high-pitched alarm followed by an electronic voice warning intruders. This operated continuously from 12 pm on the 30th of June until around 3 am the following morning.

We have photographic evidence of dust emissions from this Facility during Autumn and Winter, and leave it to your imagination of what it is like during the Summer months, when it is windy.

Please reference photograph 1 submitted. This photograph taken on the 28th of April by a neighbour, from her front gate, along Soldiers Road. She took it because she heard a mechanical noise all morning followed by noticing dust coming from the Facility onto her property. The dust is visible in the trees. I believe this dust has travelled approximately 600 m from the laydown area.

Please reference the second photograph sent. It was taken on the 24th of July showing sandblasting of large concrete blocks being conducted on the laydown area close to Norman Road, resulting in large amounts of concrete dust being emitted.

I have presented these photographs to demonstrate that this Facility does not have a dust management plan and has no consideration for the community or even their own workers.

Based on its Retrospective Approval application, this operation clearly has no intention of seriously putting anything in place to control any of its emissions, as it claims it complies with all requirements. It’s demand for operating hours that allows it to operate on any day at any time demonstrates its utter disregard for local residents.

Please vote for Option 1.

I am grateful for the investigation conducted by the Shire Officers and DWER and thank them for undertaking this.

Mr Bill Denholm, Byford WA 6122 on 21 August 2023

I would like to acknowledge and thank the two main regulators, that being DWER and SJ Shire in joining together to protect the environment and the health of the SJ Ratepayers. People seem to forget; we have a large school within 600 metres of the site.

Mr Norm Anderson, Cardup WA 6122 on 21 August 2023

Quoting from the Department of Water, Environment and Resources state - "They are not allowed to operate or cause to be operated any infrastructure, machinery, vehicle or crane within the premises for the purpose of cement product manufacture between the hours of 6pm to 7am" Everything they do is for cement manufacturing. Since the restriction notice was issued, small engine noise all night has stopped.

August 11: Permacast working East side of shed at 6am.

August 14: Permacast started plant and machinery 5am, Ainsley recorded it on her phone.

August 15: Permacast started plant and machinery 5am.

August 16: Permacast started plant and machinery 5am, semi truck arrived on site 5:40 am, drove out empty 6am. Concrete truck arrived 6:50 am.

August 17th: Permacast started plant and machinery by 5am, trucks in and out before 7am.

August 18th: Permacast started plant and machinery 5am, several semi trucks arrived just after 6am and drove out empty. Mobility beepers started 6:25am.

Application from Permacast to Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale originally started at 145,000 tonnes of concrete per year for a 2 year period. Then applying for a further 3 year period of up to 280,000 tonnes per year.

Permacast stated this site has the capacity to produce 2,000 tonnes per day which equals 600,000 tonnes per year, which I worked out but they don’t say. They would be working 24/7.

They are now applying for 73,000 tonnes per year. Stating plant can produce 200 tonnes per day, which is in conflict with 2,000 tonnes per day. These look like manufactured figures, depending on circumstances of what they need to get approval across the line.

This shows with no licences, permits for infrastructure, they don’t abide by any rules, regulations or restrictions.

Karbro Drive is a narrow, windy road with small roundabouts to slow traffic. Road deteriorating from heavy concrete trucks continually using daily.

We are part of a good community and liked it here until Permacast started operating.

We feel as if we are being pushed out of our own home.

We have been warned by a Real Estate Agent that our properties could be substantially reduced in value if Permacast goes ahead. With this information and noise, dust, water and waste emissions causes stress, health problems, mental health, relationship problems, even suicides. This should not go ahead.

Ms Christine Smowton, Cardup WA 6122 on 18 September 2023

This is a ‘Statement’ again, regarding Permacast’s illegal facility at Robertson Road, Cardup.

Statistics have already been stated and proved by numerous people and their reports (with no outcome) so I would now like to follow a more personal vein and also that of the Cardup resident’s health and wellbeing. While the, so called, clean-up is now meant to be undertaken by Permacast, how have all the previous years of their illegal manufacturing affected the water we drink and the air we breathe? As we have said before we came to Cardup for a rural lifestyle, with clean air and a peaceful environment. How do we know if the air/water has affected our health all these years since Permacast set up this illegal facility? Personally speaking, both myself and my husband have allergies and I have pulmonary problems and this certainly has become more severe in the last few years. I always tell my specialist that when the easterly winds blow, I am so much worse. Is this due to this Permacast facilities dust/pollution? Who knows? I honestly think that the first thing that should have been done by the Shire/Dept of Water, months before this facility was extended and illegality was realised, is the testing of the water that the Cardup residents use, especially the drinking water even after it has been filtered. We also need testing of the air purity extending out to the 1 kilometre zone, especially during the summer months when the east/south easterly winds are gusting. We realised at the end of last summer, March 2022, that our drinking water, even though it is filtered became much more concentrated with the ‘turquoise’ colour than in any previous years. Was this due to the water being taken by Permacast or was it pollution from their facility leach into the ground water. Again, who knows. It was at this time that we decided to have bottled drinking water delivered to us. The previous owners of our property, had a pony on the land which is designated ‘Bush Forever’. Why were the Shire so adamant about them not being able to have a pony on this property whilst they did not notice the huge, noisy, illegal set up/extensions to the Permacast facility during and after 2006? I think the Shire Councillors need to go to Specsavers.

I would also now like to read out President Rich’s profile that is featured on the Serpentine/Jarrahdale website, I quote, “Councillor Rich brings a solid understanding of new businesses and environmental issues to the Shire and is passionate about promoting Shire as a tourism destination whilst encouraging economically sustainable, environmentally sound developments that protect the character, lifestyle and rural history of the area.” I do not think that any ‘tourists’ would be very impressed in seeing the disgusting, filthy, polluted eyesore on Robertson Road, Cardup and also viewing the concrete jungle ‘laydown’ area (which was once trees) which is adjacent to the South West Highway, Cardup.

Another issue we have that is on page three of the Examiner. It says that the Shire have a surplus this year from increased rates. They propose to build concrete bus shelters. A rural area becoming even more like a ‘concrete jungle’. We wonder who will manufacture these concrete bus stops!? Also an option to spend the money on leveraging the existing tree planting in the Shire to offset carbon emissions. The Permacast facility destroyed a large amount of ‘planted’ trees that existed in their laydown area. That has really helped carbon emissions! Also, the other two ‘eyesores’ that have been built along the South West Highway also need ‘greening’. Good health everybody!!!!!.

Mr John McEwan, Cardup WA 6122 on 18 September 2023

My statement is related to Item 10.1.1 - Proposed Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment – Cardup Urban Precinct.

Given the events over the past few weeks related to this piece of land and one particular industry currently located on it, I read this agenda item with skepticism and found it ironic. The events I am referring to are of course the last Shire meeting, when all 9 Councillors agreed to refuse approval for the retrospective approval of the illegal Permacast operation, and just a couple of weeks later when neither of the Councillors representing us at the after that meeting on the 8th of September. But the actual depth of betrayal only hit us after the events of the meeting were described in detail in the Examiner newspaper.

The history of the zoning and activities on this piece of land is extremely ironic. In 2012 a company called RPS Koltasz-Smith, representing the owners of this piece of land, put forward a plan for the Cardup Industrial Precinct, which culminated in most of the land being re-zoned as General Industry. Those of you who are familiar with the recent MOJDAP meeting will find the name Koltasz familiar. In 2019, Harley Dykstra created the Local Structure Plan for the Cardup Business Park, stating stringent environmental implementation in relation to the issues of subdivision, industrial buffer zones, noise management, on site effluent, wastewater and stormwater management, wetland management, fire management, bush forever interface, site planning and landscape design. In early 2023 Harley Dykstra put forward the Retrospective Approval application for the Permacast Facility with reduced buffer zones and reduced environmental requirements. Now, we have the same proponent, Harley Dykstra submitting a proposal for most of the land to be re-zoned once again, to create the Cardup Urban Precinct.

I am sure you understand our skepticism, since Harley Dykstra is the Planner and representative for the illegal heavy industry that is operating on this very same piece of land. We are sure there is some cunning plan behind this proposal.

I am sure you are all familiar with the recent ABC news item that reported of our previous State Premier pressuring the Head of the EPA regarding industry emissions, he requested Dr Hatton to withdraw tough new emission guidelines. This type of lowering of standards has been used for this particular company. Heavy Industry is now called General Industry, the lay down area where heavy equipment operates and illegal operations resulting in emissions is performed, was referred to by Mr Dykstra as ‘Industry Light’. This area has been approved by the Shire, and the Company feels it is their absolute right to do whatever they like on this area. MOJDAP ignored the fact that this operation has been illegally active over several years, ignored the fact that there is no buffer zone between this industry and the residents and ignored it’s serious and frightening emissions. Mr Dykstra requested 3 weeks to correct the emissions and serious issues that were identified by various government and private agencies. He advised that the company had not been given sufficient time to correct the issues. MOJDAP ignored the fact that the company has been operating for several years and Mr Dykstra has put forward several operating plans for various companies on this site, all claiming how well all issues can be managed. Perhaps if they had actually applied for approval prior to building the plant, they would have been advised that they did not have a sufficient buffer zone and would not be able to control their emissions, but this would have been inconvenient and a more expensive option than simply building illegally. The Presiding Member of the MOJDAP Panel chose to ignore all of the above and decided to defer retrospective approval and gave the company 30 days rather than the requested 3 weeks - ironic.

Premise. It will be acceptable for it to operate on land classified as ‘Urban’. It will no longer be required to meet the requirements of a General Industry, let alone the Heavy Industry and Prescribed Premise that it actually is.

As noted by the Speaker, we don’t know much about politics, however we are learning about how our state and local governments are prepared to lower standards and betray us, the people.

The last Premier pressured Dr Hatten into lowering the bar. Let’s hope this behaviour is not taken up by other politicians and government agencies, to pressure DWER to reduce emission regulations. So far the DWER have done a fantastic job and it would be very disappointing to see them cobbled for political purposes.

Mr Norm Anderson, Cardup WA 6122 on 18 September 2023

My statement is regarding Permacast.

There has been a gravel bank built from the sheds down the front towards the West from the sheds, then across the stressing beds. They have started putting shipping containers on top of the bank to suppress the noise. I doubt this will work because the noise from working and hammering is still quite loud from my house, keeping in mind that they are only approximately 150 metres from my property.

These front stressing beds, closed in by a bank and shipping containers, creates a small working area. This restricted area causes an unsafe working environment for employees.

Mobility beepers on machinery are constantly going and I have heard these 2 kilometres away at a client’s house in Cavanaugh Street.

There are 2 stressing beds at the very front on the West boundary one of which handles 3,000 tonnes and is 109 metres in length. There are 2 more this size on the property. Vibrating these huge concrete and steel molds causes vibration through the ground which causes my house to vibrate. This is a huge concern. There is no relief with this and noise which can go for 2 hours at a time.

It has been a lot quieter since the MOJDAP meeting, though I think they have still done concrete molds using the small stressing bed.

I have photographic evidence of concrete trucks up and down Soldiers and Robinson Road, and some use Karbro Drive.

Looking at the amount of reinforcing steel being brought in, they appear to be increasing production in the future.

A 5 acre property a couple of houses down from me on Soldiers Road had 2 mobile cranes parked at the back of their property. They were made to move them because of visual emission. Permacast cranes are so big you can see them through the trees and over the top of trees. This is visual emission to residents, general public and tourists. It is a mine site look that is not very inviting to the area.

I am still very concerned about evaluation to our properties due to this concrete manufacturing mine site.