DONNYBROOK landholders fear the proposed Japanese-controlled chip mill could devalue land values by up to 40 per cent..
It has been enough to stir Brookhampton Estate into action. It threatens to take the matter and all those who support the proposal by WA Plantation Resources to court.
Led by ex-Timbercorp WA representative Keith Barnes the winery has already spent around $20,000 in its bid to remove the mill from the town. He believes the mill could devalue the vineyard by up to $2.9 million.
“Basically the council is completely out of its depth on this whole issue and I really don’t think the majority appreciate that we are quite serious about pursuing any of them or WAPRES if there are breaches of the law involved, or actionable grounds for loss and damage,” Mr Barnes wrote in a letter to WA Business News.
“We think it is absolutely reprehensible that a major offshore corporation can come clomping in and try and plonk down a major industrial and related transport operation in the middle of an intensive use locality,” he says.
Donnybrook Real Estate’s Frank Haygarth rejects land values have fallen due to the mooted mill.
“To the best of my knowledge there has been no movement up or downward,” he said.
“It’s just scare mongering.”
VNW independent Real Estate agent and Donnybrook-Balingup councillor Bob Browning said he was “sitting on the fence” until the EPA had completed its review.
