Dianella Residents Vow to Fight Landfill PlansDianella Residents Vow to Fight Landfill Plans Residents in Dianella have vowed to continue opposing plans to bury asbestos near their school, homes, and a care home, despite the WA Planning Commission’s approval of a nearby landfill site. The WAPC approved an application by Brajkovich Landfill & Recycling to change the use of a landfill in Mirrabooka to include waste sorting and storage. The site is just meters from St Andrew’s Grammar School, sparking concerns about exposure to asbestos and heavy metals. However, the commission included an amendment prohibiting the dumping of asbestos or hazardous waste at the site. A separate application seeking approval to bury up to 200,000 tonnes of asbestos annually is still pending with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). St Andrew’s Principal Craig Monaghan hailed the WAPC’s amendment as a “great victory” but emphasized that the fight was not over. Concerned residents and local governments, including Bayswater Mayor Filomena Piffaretti, also expressed concerns about the health impacts of the proposed landfill. Applicant David Maiorana of Rowe Group argued that the solid waste depot was consistent with the site’s previous use as a landfill and stressed that the application only covered inert waste. WAPC Vice-Chair Emma Cole, however, opposed allowing an asbestos dump in the area. With over 750 students and 142 staff at St Andrew’s, and approximately 100 residents residing in the Hellenic Community of WA nursing home nearby, concerns remain about the potential health risks. The community vowed to continue opposing the plans and seeking assurances from DWER that asbestos will not be buried at the site.
Dianella residents have vowed to continue their opposition to plans to bury asbestos near a school, homes and a care home after the WA Planning Commission approved the use of a Mirrabooka site for landfill.
The WAPC on Wednesday gave the green light to an application by Brajkovich Landfill & Recycling to change the use of a landfill at 501 Alexander Drive to include waste sorting and storage there – just metres from classrooms at St Andrew’s Grammar School.
But after hearing from concerned residents and local governments, the commission added an amendment stating that no asbestos or hazardous waste can be dumped at the site.
A separate application has been submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation seeking approval to bury up to 200,000 tonnes of asbestos there annually.
Craig Monaghan, principal of St Andrew’s, who led the community’s opposition over concerns that exposure to asbestos and heavy metals could lead to serious health problems for residents and students, felt encouraged by the WAPC’s amendment.
Mr Monaghan claimed the situation was a “great victory” for the community.
“This is a fantastic step in our fight for the health and wellbeing of our school community by ensuring that asbestos and hazardous waste do not belong in the sorting facility,” he said.
“However, we still have to deal with another application from the same applicant at DWER, who wants to bury more than 100 tons of asbestos and hazardous waste per year. That is the next battle.”
“We celebrate this small victory, but the fight is not over yet.”
Bayswater Mayor Filomena Piffaretti and Stirling City Council staff had also called on the WAPC to reject the application, stating that they had serious concerns about the proposal and its potential health impacts.
“We must learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them,” said councillor Piffaretti.
On behalf of the applicant, David Maiorana of Rowe Group told the WAPC that a solid waste depot was consistent with the site’s historic use as a landfill.
He stressed that the application to the commission only related to the burial of inert, clean waste and not to asbestos.
Emma Cole, WAPC vice-chair and former Vincent mayor, who introduced the amendment, said she did not believe allowing an asbestos dump on a downtown site was in the best interests of the community.
St Andrew’s Grammar, with over 750 pupils from nursery to year 12 and 142 staff, is located approximately 600 metres from the former brickworks.
There are also approximately 100 residents living in the Hellenic Community of WA nursing home, next to the school.
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