STANDARDS SET UP BY GOVERNMENT - DISGREGARDED

After an exhaustive community consultation process in 2009 the Qld state government introduced industry separation distances. There was widespread community relief because this measure finally provided the certainty that both residents and industry had longed for. But after only 5 years these standards are now flagged to be deleted altogether. The proposed alternative is a system that the bureaucrats claim will be "merit" based.  

YRA raised questions about why it was deemed necessary to wipe separation distance standards altogether and how a "merit" based system could be an improvement. The answers received from state government bureacrats and political representatives have been most unsatisfactory.

Widespread community cynicism is rising about the  government's new direction. Why? Despite there being strict separation distances these distance standards have not been adhered to. If strict distances in government policy have been disregarded what hope has the community got that a "merit" based system will improve the situation.

A Recent Example

Despite an unambiguous refusal by Council for a  development application for a biomass incinerator plant, the appliciation was nevertheless given approval by default through appeal via the Planning and Environment Court. The Council deemed they could not fight the matter in court. The approval was granted (and extended) despite full knowledge that there were 3 residences across the road and a residential estate along Stanmore Road only 600m away and downwind. The development application received a tick of approval despite contravention of the prescribed industry separation distance and despite the fact that a number of residences would be at eye level to toxic fumes coming out of the proposed 30m tall chimney. It is ridiculous that our government argued the facility had more than enough "merit" to be given approval.

If separation distances were glossed over by government imagine if the only rule that applied in the future was one that was purely "merit" based.

The government classifies the biomass plant as a hazardous/high impact industry and under current Qld industry separation distances it should be at least 1.5km from residences. In other states such as Western Australia, the EPA separation distance is 3-5km from residences.

Additionally, the biomass plant application, as a hazardous/high impact industry, had 6 ERAs approved simultaneously on this one site - all seemingly based on the "merit" test. The plant is a new facility 10 times the size/operation of the existing plant.

It is abolutely astounding that the state government is now touting a new "improved" system (they call it an outcome based system) that is even more flawed.

The government has already shown it welcomes inappropriate and poorly regulated industry to establish far too close to residential properties and argues that such plants pass the "merit" test on numerous fronts. One must pity any resident residing in Queensland - whether they live close to existing industry or anywhere else because the government's test for "merit" for development applications seems to always err in favour of developers.

A

FLAWED

SYSTEM

Yatala.info or Yatala Residents Alliance (YRA) is appalled by the lack of protection the Yatala and Ormeau community has had to endure over past years by governments at the state and local level. It is unacceptable that industry developments have been allowed to locate and expand with little regard to the proximity of residences nearby.