No signs of community group easing pressure against landfill expansion

The Dardanup Environmental Action Group has continued to deliver a clear message that it does not want lithium tailings stored at Cleanaway’s Banksia Road landfill site.

Signs proclaiming “No Tailings”, “No 24/7” and “More Wine!” have been erected on Ferguson Road just before the Banksia Road turn-off, just weeks before the company holds an open day on-site.

Group spokeswoman Ellen Lilly said she was encouraging community members to take part in the open days.

“We want people to go see what they are doing to understand our concerns,” she said.

“Some people are still unsure if its a problem and this should provide clarification.

“Until you get close to it to hear the noise, see the dust and appreciate the scale, its hard to get that understanding, especially if you don’t live nearby.”

The group is also collecting signatures on a new petition.

It will be delivered to the State’s Legislative Council by South West MLC Colin Holt.

A previous petition, set to be delivered to the Legislative Council by Collie-Preston MLC Mick Murray, had more than 1700 signatures.

A separate online petition collected 1400 signatures.

“We just want to keep the pressure on the different levels of Parliament,” Mrs Lilly said.

Representatives from the group had opportunities to speak to government policy advisers last week.

Mrs Lilly said she felt the meetings with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Water and Environment Regulation all went well.

“We talked to them about the existing issues with the site and the fact we don’t want tailings in Dardanup,” she said.

“They were positive meetings because they really seemed to listen to us – how that translates going further I’m not too sure.”

Mrs Lilly is also a member of Cleanaway’s community reference group.

She said the company had outlined all of the remedial actions it was taking on issues raised by the DEAG during a separate meeting last week.

“Nothing has been remedied as yet but they have either commenced or planned remedies,” she said.

“They also committed in that meeting to have ongoing better communication – but we need to hold them to that.”

The Dardanup landfill open day takes place on Saturday.

Those interested must RSVP at cleanaway.com.au/darda nup by tomorrow.