The WA Planning Commission has voted to lift planning restrictions on a 1810sqm slice of land in Clarkson despite the Department of Health opposing the proposal over its proximity to the Tamala Park landfill.
Last week, the commission resolved to rezone the site on the eastern side of Connolly Drive — at the corner of Abercrombie Street and Conimbla Road — even though a 110sqm pocket falls within the tip’s active 500m buffer zone.
The Department of Health opposed the rezoning request over concerns about landfill gas, groundwater migration, and mosquitoes.
Despite these reservations, planning officers from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage told the commission in a report that any contamination risks associated with the land were “manageable and acceptable”.
“The landfill facility is scheduled to cease operating in 2029, and it is likely that the buffer will no longer apply when the new lots are finally developed with housing,” planning officers said.
“The CRC confirms that the active landfill edge and buffer will move even further south as the facility winds down operations over the next two years, which would ensure that the 110sqm area is no longer encumbered.”
Catalina Regional Council, which represents seven local governments across Perth, jointly owns the land, which forms part of the Catalina estate managed by Satterley Property Group.
The almost-completed estate is a 180ha master-planned community that has about 2600 residential lots created since development began in 2011.
The nearby Tamala Park landfill, which has operated since 1991, was recently reported to contain contaminated liquid known as leachate in quantities equivalent to 167 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Foul-smelling landfill gas has plagued surrounding suburbs such as Clarkson, Kinross and Mindarie for years as a result of emissions from the site.
DPLH senior planning officer William Schaefer told the WAPC last week that only one lot in the eight-lot concept design sat inside the buffer, and future development conditions could resolve any remaining risks.
“It would be possible, even if this buffer doesn’t move, to manage potential contamination issues through either some sort of building permit or a subdivision stage, some sort of contamination notice,” Mr Schaefer said.
“Should there be an extreme desire to manage something on site in future, it’s very possible that notices could be applied to titles … and development within the buffer area could be strictly controlled so that there are no habitable rooms in any dwellings on this site in future.”
However, he did acknowledge significant gaps in site-specific testing.
“There’s no data on exactly how leakage and other contaminants might affect this site,” he said.
“While the landfill site is likely to be generating some sort of contaminants in its vicinity, we don’t know exactly how that might be playing out with regard to this particular piece of land.”
The City of Wanneroo supported the rezoning subject to further information being provided on ground contamination, odour, noise, gas and dust impacts, and future buyers being advised of the site’s history and potential contamination risks.
The recommendation to approve the lifting of urban deferment was passed unanimously without dissent by the commission.
Two panel members left the room for the item’s discussion and vote after declaring an impartiality interest — Jane Bennett, managing director of CLE Town Planning + Design, which works with developer Satterley, and City of Stirling director of planning and development Amanda Sheers, as the city is a part-owner of the site.
This month, some waste from five of the landfill’s seven local government owners began being diverted to the new waste-to-energy facility in Kwinana.
The landfill is expected to close in 2029, although odours could persist for years afterwards.
The Mindarie Regional Council, which operates the site, is also currently in an appeal process over State environmental regulator decisions to reject works approvals and issue a notice requiring further action on leachate, landfill gas, and other environmental risks.