City of Kwinana Minutes – SMRC RRRC WCF Odour Issue – 8 July 2009
23. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS:
Ordinary Council Meeting held 24 June 2009:
23.1 Ms Mandy Clarke, Leeming – Southern Metropolitan Regional Council
Questions 1.
Is Council aware that the SMRC’s claims from their recent press release that “Cobb County recognised SMRC’s expertise in waste management and invited the Regional Council to tender on operating their facility” is incorrect?
Response
Council is not aware that the claims are incorrect and suggests that Ms Clarke might like to refer her question directly to the SMRC for a response.
Questions 2
Did Council know that the SMRC were one of 46 Request for Proposals sent out by Cobb County and that the Request for Proposal was not specifically to operate the plant but to submit a proposal to do something solid waste related to it?
Response
Council is not aware of the request “to submit a proposal to do something solid waste related to it” and suggests that Ms Clarke might like to refer her question directly to the SMRC for a response.
Questions 3.
Considering the millions of dollars that rate payers have forked out on the failing RRRC and the RRRC WCF –including more huge rate hikes in the future – what actions and investigations is Council going to take to double check claims the SMRC make? If residents can make a few calls or emails and dig up the truth then surely Council could do so quite easily, taking into account the enormity and seriousness of this issue.
Response
Council is not a Project Participant of the RRRC and the Town of Kwinana has not invested in the RRRC project. Therefore, is not financially at risk as a member of the SMRC. Council does not have any claims presented to it that are indicating that there is any impropriety, and has Councillor and officer representation at SMRC meetings, who assist to maintain good communications, governance and accountability.
Questions 4.
Does Council acknowledge the following find of Report 16 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs Municipal Waste Management in Western Australia?
Finding 8: The Committee finds that the community’s concerns regarding odour issues at the Regional Resource Recovery Centre in Canning Vale were legitimate.
Fining 12: The Committee finds that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council had a poor communication strategy with respect to its Regional Resource Recovery Centre and the ongoing concerns of the local community.
Response
Council acknowledges all of the 23 findings and 15 recommendations of the Report 16 of the Standing Committee On Environment And Public Affairs May 2009, including Finding 8 and 12 and will endeavour to have these matters addressed by the SMRC.
Questions 5.
With the ongoing rise of residents complaints of the RRRC WCF odour, for which the RRRC WCF was built so close to long after the residents were there, does it concern Council that the publicity of the failings of the RRRC will surge to the size of say the Erin Brockovich/Alcoa case?
Response
The location of the plant in the City of Canning is a matter for the planning requirements of the City of Canning, the environmental criteria applied by the Department of Environment and Conservation and the SMRC. Council does not see the link between the case mentioned. However, Council will express its concern as to the level of impact that any adverse publicity may have on the SMRC and member Councils.
Questions 6.
With residents health complaints, when being exposed to the RRRC WCF odour continuing to grow and Council’s money supporting this same facility, what action is Council taking to help the long suffering residents who are being exposed to these emissions?
Response
Council is awaiting the Toxicology report being prepared by officers of the Department of Health WA. This report will be provided to the DEC to determine the link between human health and any likely or potential exposure impacts from the RRRC WCF odour.
However the previous Toxicology report of the independent Toxicologist engaged by the SMRC was released on 29 April 2009 as follows;
“Last year, the Regional Council commissioned international toxicology expert Dr Rodger Drew PhD, from Toxikos Toxicology Consultants, to undertake an independent health risk assessment of the waste composting facility.
The study showed that emissions from the facility’s bio-filters were highly unlikely to cause any adverse health effects despite odours being noticeable in the community from time to time.
“The concentrations of emissions as they leave the bio filters are much less than the concentrations required to cause acute health effects, or sensory irritation of the eyes or upper respiratory tract,” the study found.
However, people who notice an odour may find it annoying which can affect their general sense of well being.
“It is well recognised that some people can react to the perception of unwanted odour or bad odour, with headache and a irritant sensation of the eyes, nose and in some persons skin,” the report concluded, “the feelings and effects experienced by the person are real; however they are not caused by direct action of the smelly chemical.”
Council is not in a position to comment on the health of residents as rate payers from Kwinana are not impacted upon by the RRRC and it’s the responsibility of the SMRC, the four project participants and their residents.
