Lot 821 HN 501 Alexander Drive, Mirrabooka - Change of Use to Landfill and Solid Waste Depot

The City provides the following update in regards to the above-mentioned site and recent consideration of a development application by the Western Australian Planning Commission.

Development Application

At its meeting held 10 July 2024, the Western Australia Planning Commission’s (WAPC) Statutory Planning Committee (SPC) approved a development application for a Landfill and Solid Waste Depot on the subject site. The approval of the Landfill and Solid Waste Depot by the Western Australian Planning Commission was contrary to Council and City Officer’s recommendation for the refusal of the application based on the land use being inconsistent with the ultimate purpose of the subject site as a Parks and Recreation reserve, fundamental matters relating to the operation of the use not being addressed and overwhelming community objection to the development. The approval was subject to five conditions, of particular note are conditions two and three provided below:

2. No putrescible waste, asbestos or other hazardbous materials are to be disposed on site

3. The approval is granted for a period of ten (10) years only, expiring on 10 July 2034, after which the buildings ad uses comprising this development shall be removed and discontinued and the site remediated (should the application not be extended), at the landowner's expense.

A full copy of the minutes from the meeting, can be accessed here.

Licence Amendment

Separate to the Development Application process, a licence amendment application on the subject site to introduce asbestos burial into the existing licence issued to the site for landfill (inert class 1 material only) was submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) for consideration. The City has provided a submission to DWER for consideration in the assessment of the licence amendment which strongly objects to the proposed burial of asbestos on site. The City understands that DWER is currently considering the application with an expectation that an outcome would be reached in October 2024. The City will provide a further update regarding the outcome of the DWER Licence once a decision has been made.

Council Resolution

At its meeting on Tuesday, 13 August 2024 Council made the following resolution (Council Resolution Number 0824/025) (minutes can be accessed here):

That the Mayor WRITES to the Minister for Planning; Lands and Homelessness, the Minister for Energy; Environment and Climate Action, the Minister for Health and Mental Health, and the relevant local Members, to request:

1. the RECONSIDERATION of any lease or license over Lot 821, House Number 501, Alexander Drive, Mirrabooka for the use of a landfill and solid waste depot; and
2. that a COMMITMENT be made to remediate the site, consistent with its reservation as parks and recreation as a matter of urgency.

This resolution follows a previous resolution made by Council at its meeting on 28 May 2024 (minutes can be accessed here), following which the Mayor wrote to the Minister of Planning; Lands; Housing; Homelessness, prior to the consideration of the Landfill and Solid Waste Depot at the SPC meeting, reaffirming the City’s concerns regarding the land use and requesting the item be withdrawn from the agenda prior to consideration at the SPC meeting. The City continues to support the local community and does not wish to see any hazardous material disposed of or processed at this facility, with the City advocating for the site to be remediated consistent with its purpose as a Parks and Recreation Reserve.