Public Forum Called
CANNING Council will conduct a public forum before voting on a proposed change of use for a mineral analysis laboratory in Canning Vale, following concerns there would be handling of hazardous materials such as uranium at the site.
The Baile Road facility, MinAnalytical Laboratory Services Australia, which provides an independent analysis of geochemical and precious metals for the mining industry , lodged an application for proposed office additions and a change of use in December 2010.
A report tabled at last Tuesday’s council meeting explained the change of use to general industry was permitted under the town planning scheme because it “relates to the processing and treatment of minerals as a laboratory function”.
Cr Bev Olsen put up the motion for the forum, after public enquiries and distribution of a flyer aired concerns about the laboratory processing and storing uranium at the facility.
The council supported the proposed forum, despite the report stating the company denied accepting or handling uranium ores or processed radioactive uranium, as the Government prohibited the movement of radioactive material around WA.
The report recommended that Council give conditional approval to the application.
Cr Olsen said a comment on the application assessment “set alarm bells ringing,” where it stated “the proposed use analyses very low concentration levels of uranium … that does not constitute an environmental risk”.
She also said the last condition out of the 11 set in the report “sends shivers down my spine”, where it stated, “odour, fumes and visible smoke emitted from the premises must not unreasonably interfere with the health, welfare, convenience, comfort or amenity of any person who is not on the premises”.
“Whether there is uranium or not, it sounds contradictory and I want to know exactly what is going on before I consider this (item), so it doesn’t have to be revisited or rectified,” Cr Olsen said.
“As responsible people, we need to at least know more information.”
A date for the forum is yet to be announced.
