subject: Do Urban Planners Really Balance The Needs Of Residents, Industry And Developers? [print this page] Do Urban Planners Really Balance The Needs Of Residents, Industry And Developers?
Port Adelaide residents are exposed to toxic air yet Newport Quays developers want to build more housingThe Environmental Protection Authority says this needs to be prevented. A report obtained by The Advertiser newspaper found the precinct also faced risks from explosion or fire due to large-scale storage of ammonium nitrate at fertiliser warehouses nearby. The report to the Development Assessment Commission remained hidden for several months despite requests for its release. It was obtained under Freedom of Information laws. The authority says:
- Residents of the proposed Dock One expansion face "high potential" of exposure to "unacceptably high levels" of dangerous microparticles known to trigger respiratory disease and lung cancer.
- The combined impacts from industries including the Adelaide Brighton Cement factory, Incitec Pivot chemical warehousing and nearby fuel storage facilities contribute to the risk.
- Housing development should be banned near the sites of existing industry.
- Vulnerable people including the young and elderly are at highest risk of illnesses, including asthma and other respiratory problems.
- Windows and homes are being damaged by corrosive airborne particles including potassium, calcium and sodium oxides. Duh! This is not difficult to understand?!?The proposed Dock One development is forecast to deliver up to 275 two and three-storey townhouses as well as a three-storey apartment building on a site near the Birkenhead Bridge and Port Adelaide lighthouse. And unfortunately the danger-zone is already home to hundreds of residents and includes the LeFevre Peninsula Primary School. Could this be developer greed. A lot of these existing houses have been built over the last 10-15 years when the dangers were already clearly known. This is an intensive industrial area on a working port with uses such as cement manufacturing, chemical storage and warehousing, chemical works and fuel storage, why build high density housing. There are limits to the improvements industry can make to reduce their emissions given that some emissions are inherent from their operation. There need to be separation distances recommended between housing and industry. The Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson said the peninsula had one of the highest rates of cancer and illness in the nation, but "It's actually a combination of all the industries down there, so just getting one to address it won't solve the problem," he said. Why even think of putting new housing development in polluted industrial areas? Is there some other place that is suitable for industry? And what on earth would this cost? These industries are currently located in the Port where they have access to shipping and their own wharf facilities in some cases, the rail to their premises and major roads. I think back to when my brother bought a small factory zoned industrial in Brompton SA, then the suburb was rezoned residential and huge redevelopment commenced. He had to move at his own great expenses and inconvenience or else close down. At least that was possible because it was small industry that did not need rail and shipping access. We do need some industry in this country if we are to have jobs and a healthy economy. Some people for get that? It really is helpful in producing wealth and employing people. Plus just think of the cost of importing all our fertiliser and concrete! Plus the thing that everyone has forgotten is that the Port River is very high in nutrients as the major stormwater "drain" for Adelaide plus where they discharge the Port Adelaide sewage effluent. There is always a high concentration of nuisance algae in the river using the nutrients in the water. At present it is a larger benthic alga called Caulerpa that is using all the nutrients. This is harmful to fisheries but ok for humans but if this were removed which many regulators would like to do, the probability is that the river would get back its large blooms of toxic red tides because the cyst or "seeds" for this are there in their millions in the sediments. Previously Dock 1 had the highest dinoflagelate toxin level found anywhere in the world. If you want your kids to be able to fish outside their homes or mess about in boats, this is not the right location. Some locations are simply not siuitable for housing. It is the same story with the airport which was built in what was then empty swampy land. Now the residents, who all moved there after the airport did, constantly complain. They chose to live there.
