INDUSTRY and councils must do more to reduce the impact of dust on the Brooklyn community, according to residents and the Environment Protection Authority.
An EPA-commissioned report on dust sources reveals Brooklyn’s top four troublespots are Bunting and Somerville roads west of McDonald Road; Somerville Road east of McDonald Road; and Francis Street.
Monitoring showed unsealed roads and verges and mud tracked from industrial estates caused more than half the area’s dust problems.
The report marks the first time the source of the dust emissions has been detailed so precisely.
On the Nose community group president Bruce Light said the results showed action was needed to make industry responsible for its activities.
“There is a lot of goodwill from the councils, but there are still companies who hide behind ‘prior use’ to get around taking action.”
The number of days on which air quality failed to meet EPA standards halved, from 40 to 20, between 2009-10 and 2010-11.
But EPA metro manager Richard Marks said hundreds of tonnes of airborne dust were still created in the Brooklyn industrial precinct each year. “While days with consistent northerly winds and days of dry weather have led to more instances of poor air quality, the overall dust levels are getting lower,” he said. The report notes degraded bitumen, significant potholes and poor drainage. It recommends sealing roads and verges, repairs to degraded roads and regular road cleaning.
“The study reinforces that this is everyone’s problem,” Mr Marks said. “Industry and councils have a role to play in ensuring that solutions are put in place to stop the impacts on residents once and for all.”
But Mr Light said the focus on the condition of roads deflected attention from industry operators. He said operators were operating in ‘dust bowls’ rather than investing in hard-stand areas or planting grass. “They hose it all down, but then it simply gets spread on the roads as mud. You can try sweeping it, but you would need a vacuum to suck it all up.”
Mr Marks said the EPA required sites to implement controls. “VicRoads and local government can also enforce this.”
The EPA issued recent pollution abatement notices (PAN) to companies Victorian Container Management, Rafnet and Simsmetal.
“Tasman Logistics is expected to comply with its PAN by October, which required sealing of its container park in Cemetery Road, Yarraville.”
Brimbank’s infrastructure and environment manager, Paul Younis, said the council had been working with the EPA, industrial landowners and residents to improve the Brooklyn area over three years.
“During this time there has been significant improvement in the area and all the agencies and businesses involved recognise this will be a continual process of improvement.”
A special-charge scheme to seal Bunting and Jones roads will be presented to council this month.
