Albemarle’s $73m accommodation camp approved

Albemarle Corporation’s plan for a 500-person workers' accommodation village in Binningup has cleared a hurdle following a four-hour meeting.

The US-based battery minerals company proposed to build a $73.4 million facility for up to 500 of its construction workers, on a 24.5 hectare site at 96 Binningup Road.

In August, the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) was unable to decide on the proposal and requested more community feedback.

The Shire of Harvey council recommended the JDAP refuse the proposal, due to the site chosen being in a farming area and issues on wastewater management.

However, the JDAP approved the application, by a margin of three votes to two, at its meeting that spanned for four hours today.

The proposed development comprises 128 accommodation villas, a commercial kitchen, communal dining hall, recreation and wellness centre, seven laundries and a 350-bay car park.

It would cater for people working on the expansion of Albemarle’s lithium plant in the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area.

"We will continue to engage closely with stakeholders and the community as we progress our plans," an Albemarle spokesperson said after the meeting.

"Enabling the future expansion of the Kemerton Lithium Hydroxide Processing Plant – a new and important industry for the South West - is a priority for Albemarle, creating more jobs and economic prosperity."

Albemarle proposed for the development to be temporary under a 15-year lease.

MinterEllison lawyer Nada Rafael, on behalf of Albemarle, said the proposed development would bring benefits to the locality, including tourism, employment and economic benefits.

The Binningup community opposed the development, mainly due to the chosen site being on farming land.

Panel member and shire president Paul Gillett said where the development sits would potentially jeopardise priority agriculture land in the area.

“I personally believe it will set a precedent with not only the shire’s planning scheme but a lot of other planning scheme around the state,” he said.

Albemarle is proposing to deal and dispose the wastewater on site, which Mr Gillett said was of major concern for future agricultural use of the site.

JDAP deputy presiding member Kanella Hope said the issues were insufficient to warrant a refusal and proposed to impose “comprehensive” conditions instead.

Ms Hope said the development proposed land area of about 25 hectare made up less than 20 per cent of the lot, which has been zoned as ‘rural’.

She said the development area covers a minor portion of the land, which would still provide a significant balance of the lot available for agriculture use.