Shire of Augusta-Margaret River reverses refusal on Rosa Glen gravel pit to neighbours’ dismay

Two Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors refused to back a mediated outcome for a contentious gravel pit on Boronia Road in Rosa Glen which will now go ahead despite the protests of neighbours.

The Shire council overturned its previous refusal of the gravel pit after mediation with the State Administrative Tribunal, and on Wednesday night, during a confidential session, set aside its previous decision to approve the pit with extra conditions.

Cr Tracey Muir and Cr David Binks did not support the change, passed with a majority of four councillors.

The news was a kick to affected neighbours who pleaded their case during recent council meetings, citing noise and dust as well as traffic concerns, and pointed to the lack of provisions around construction of noise bunds, some as tall as 7m, during the construction process.

After the outcome was published this week, affected residents said they were still trying to get conditions clarified and didn’t want to comment other than to say the outcome was “disappointing”.

The new conditions included addressing previously identified inconsistencies, with the project to be staged across the 1.1ha site and approval lapsing if not started within two years.

Works were permitted from 7am to 5pm on weekdays and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, with no more than 16 truck trips a day, and none in effect during school bus hours.

The approval also targeted water retention on site, and for adherence to an agreed noise study — a study residents last week complained the Shire never asked to be reviewed.

The Shire council originally backed planning officers’ recommended refusal of the pit on January 25 because of noise, traffic and amenity issues.

Planners originally cited inconsistencies with the priority agriculture zone, landscape damage from the proposed noise bunds, and State and local planning policies, including the Shire’s update extractive industries policy.

The noise and visual impact were also considered to be incompatible with the setting.

Affected neighbours opposed the project due to its size and scope, the effect on their lifestyle, health and property values, and especially the construction period to make the gravel operation permissible under local laws because noise constraints didn’t apply.