Residents living in and around Brooklyn are still victims of pollution despite 10 years of complaining, according to Hobsons Bay council.
The council said in a submission to a ministerial advisory committee set up to ensure the EPA can protect public health, that the Brooklyn industrial estate attracted most complaints.
“There are about 60 businesses operating in the Brooklyn triangle, which include quarrying, shipping container and demolition yards, recycling depots, transport logistics, abattoirs, tallow producers and hide processors,” the council submission stated.
It went on to say the EPA should be better resourced to keep fighting pollution.
“Council is concerned that, despite the best efforts from all concerned, dust, odour and noise issues continue to adversely impact on residents in Brooklyn, Altona North, Laverton, South Kingsville and Newport,” the submission stated.
“Council seeks stronger involvement of the EPA in community engagement, data collection, enforcement activities and the implementation of strategies to reduce odour, dust and noise impacting the health and wellbeing of residents.”
But the council had one cause to celebrate last week when the largest source of dust in the industrial estate was eradicated with the sealing of Jones and Bunting roads.
The roads, combined, produced at least 31 per cent of road dust emissions in the precinct, according to a 2011 EPA study.
Brimbank council footed $750,000 of the cost of the sealing project, with the state government contributing $1.85 million.
with Ian Thomas Ackerman
