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A 500-person workers camp south of Perth has been given the green light, despite opposition from the region's council and community.
Key points:
- There are more than 20 conditions relating to the approval of a Binningup workers camp
- Albemarle says the camp is needed to house workers for its planned expansion
- The local shire and community have expressed opposition to the project
After more than four hours of discussion, the Joint Development Assessment Panel approved the $73 million project by Albemarle to be built in the small town of Binningup.
The approval came with about 20 conditions, including limiting its use to 15 years.
The temporary accommodation will be used to house workers during the construction and commissioning of processing trains 3 to 5 at Albemarle's Kemerton Lithium Plant.
It will have 128 accommodation villas including three executive units, as well as a communal dining hall and recreational facilities.
Conditional approval
One of the conditions was an operational management plan had to be submitted and approved by the Shire of Harvey prior to occupants moving in.
The condition was imposed to help address and manage issues raised by the community relating to the development.
Another condition addressed the concern about the onsite sewerage system and risk for groundwater contamination.
The condition outlined that Albermale must connect the camp to a reticulated sewerage system before it was occupied.
In a statement, an Albemarle spokesperson said they welcomed the decision by the Joint Development Assessment Panel to approve the proposal.
"We will continue to engage closely with stakeholders and the community as we progress our plans," the spokesperson said.
Wrong location
Earlier in October, the Shire of Harvey used a special council meeting to vote against the proposal.
In a submission to the assessment panel, one of Albermale's lawyers Ken Pettit said concerns put forward by the Shire of Harvey about setting an undesirable precedent were unfounded.
"Given the detail with which the panel has investigated the matter, and given the degree of precision around conditions, this notion doesn't get a foot in the door," he said.
"It's clear by the submissions on behalf of the Binningup Town Association that their view is that this development is undesirable.
"To a large extent, and I hope you don't mind me framing it this way, this has an element of the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) approach to developments."
Harvey Shire president Paul Gillett said the council was concerned about the location of the development.
"They initially wanted 1,000 beds and in the right location I have no qualms with that and I would love it on my back door," he said.
"I just think the precedent this sets, probably doesn't stop anyone on a general farming zone setting up a similar site development regardless of whether it's a resource sector.
"You would still have to find something out of this stratosphere that it doesn't comply with."
Community concerns
Binningup Town Association spokesperson Ross Sharp said the scale and scope of the proposal was inappropriate.
"The BTA says whilst there is always change and nothing is without risk, what is being contemplated here in Binningup is unexpected, unforeseen and unreasonable."
Albermale says the workers camp is needed in order to continue its expansion in Kemerton.