Buckeridge's airport brickworks wins approval

Len Buckeridge's battle to develop a brickworks on a site at Perth Airport has taken a big step forward following draft approval from the federal government today.

Minister for Transport and Regional Services Warren Truss announced the draft major development plan which has more than 60 conditions attached to it, subjecting the project to strict environmental safeguards and other development conditions, based on advice from the Department of Environment and Heritage and the Department of Transport and Regional Services.

The project has been criticised by the state government previously because it bypasses normal state approval processes.

Mr Truss said the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia have advised the proposal will not adversely affect the safe operation of the airport.

"The environmental standards placed on the planned development meet or exceed the standards prescribed by the Western Australian State Government for brickworks," he said. The brickworks will be required to cease operations if ever the required standards are exceeded.

Among the conditions imposed are standards governing maximum emissions from the operation of the brickworks. The conditions require monitoring of the ambient air quality for 12 months and modelling of the cumulative effects of emissions before the brickworks can be commissioned.

Other conditions include pre-construction preparation of flora and fauna surveys and plans for Construction Environmental Management and Operational Environmental Management.

The brickworks operator, BGC (Australia) Pty Ltd and the airport lessee, Westralia Airports Corporation, must also negotiate contributions to the cost of road maintenance arising from access by heavy vehicles to the site. If agreement cannot be reached with local authorities on a reasonable contribution, there is a requirement for the matter to go to arbitration.

Mr Truss said the Australian Government will seek to work with the State Government to ensure there is a consistent approach to environmental management for the development, particularly as there are five other brickworks situated in the Swan Valley.

"There is a shortage of building material in Western Australia as the state continues to benefit from a strong national economy.

Below is the full announcement:

Strict environmental conditions on Perth brickworks approval

A draft Major Development Plan for the development of a brickworks on a site at Perth Airport has been approved with more than 60 conditions, the Australian Government Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss, said today.

The brickworks development has been approved subject to strict environmental safeguards and other development conditions, based on advice from the Department of Environment and Heritage and the Department of Transport and Regional Services. (See attachment for the conditions of approval)

Mr Truss said the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia have advised the proposal will not adversely affect the safe operation of the airport.

"The environmental standards placed on the planned development meet or exceed the standards prescribed by the Western Australian State Government for brickworks," he said. The brickworks will be required to cease operations if ever the required standards are exceeded.

Among the conditions imposed are standards governing maximum emissions from the operation of the brickworks. The conditions require monitoring of the ambient air quality for 12 months and modelling of the cumulative effects of emissions before the brickworks can be commissioned.

Other conditions include pre-construction preparation of flora and fauna surveys and plans for Construction Environmental Management and Operational Environmental Management.

The brickworks operator, BGC (Australia) Pty Ltd and the airport lessee, Westralia Airports Corporation, must also negotiate contributions to the cost of road maintenance arising from access by heavy vehicles to the site. If agreement cannot be reached with local authorities on a reasonable contribution, there is a requirement for the matter to go to arbitration.

Mr Truss said the Australian Government will seek to work with the State Government to ensure there is a consistent approach to environmental management for the development, particularly as there are five other brickworks situated in the Swan Valley.

"There is a shortage of building material in Western Australia as the state continues to benefit from a strong national economy.

"The Federal Member for Hasluck, Stuart Henry, has been relentless in putting forward the local community's opposition to the development. I reassure him and the local community that the brickworks will be the most closely monitored operation of its type in Australia," Mr Truss said.