Cade Lucas
Residents near the Harpley estate in Werribee claim dust from the site is still blanketing their homes despite assurances steps had been taken to prevent it’s spread.
As reported by Star Weekly, residents at the Ison Village retirement community on Bulban Road, along with the nearby Casaccio Egg Farm, had complained about dust caused by rock crushing at the site.
In response, Harpely’s parent company, Lendlease, said it was taking measures to control the dust on windy days, while a joint inspection of the site by the Environment Protection Agency and Wyndham council found it complied with regulations and that the dust was not dangerous.
Ison Village resident Joe Shelly isn’t convinced.
“If anything it’s worse,” said the 77-year-old retiree of the dust situation since the first complaints were made.
“It’s on my car and on my house and inside the house,” he said.
“I washed the outside of the house last week and it’s as bad again.”
Mr Shelly, who recently suffered a stroke and also has skin problems, remained sceptical that the dust was safe too.
“If you were breathing in dust, how would you feel?”
It’s a similar sentiment from another Ison Village resident, 75-year-old Philip Lane.
“It’s like any dust, when you breath it in it’s harmful,” said Mr Lane who lives in a unit on Bulban Road, about 200 meters from the Harpley site.
However, Mr Lane said the situation had recently improved though was unsure whether this was due to control measures or favourable weather.
“They have managed to put some covering over the equipment but it’s still leaking dust. Just over a week ago they put it there.” he said.
“‘They haven’t been working everyday with that (rock crushing) equipment and we haven’t had the wind.”
While he welcomed the respite, Mr Lane said the problem still remained.
“Occasionally it has been as bad as it ever was, but it doesn’t have to be bad all the time to cause grief.”
Lendlease said it had not received any further complaints about dust from the site and that it continued to comply with dust management protocols approved by Wyndham council and the EPA.
Wyndham council and the EPA were contacted for comment.
