The state’s largest grain handler will go ahead with its $50 million Kwinana fertiliser project after the proposal received development approval today.
The state’s largest grain handler will go ahead with its $50 million Kwinana fertiliser project after the proposal received the unanimous support of the Joint Development Assessment Panel today.
In October, CBH Group unveiled plans to develop a facility for the storage of dry and liquid urea ammonium nitrate fertiliser products adjacent to its existing operation.
It would also construct a pipeline along the grain terminal jetty within the Rockingham Industrial Zone.
The company lodged two development applications with the City of Rockingham to clear 5.2 hectares of vegetation for the construction of storage facilities, an evaporation pond, access roads, truck washdown bays, a site office and amenities across four lots owned by DevelopmentWA, CBH Group, Main Roads WA and the Water Corporation.
The two storage facilities will have a combined capacity of 128,000 tonnes, with the fertiliser imported on shipping carriers and pumped via the pipeline.
The proposal was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority earlier this year and deemed environmentally acceptable in May.
More recently, it was endorsed by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
The City of Rockingham had recommended the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel approve the proposal, subject to a suite of conditions concerning the management of sewerage, dust, stormwater and asbestos at the site, the relocation of fauna and landscaping.
That recommendation came despite the proposal raising the ire of a number of local residents, with 29 of the 33 submissions received during the public consultation period objecting to the proposal over concerns about its proximity to residents, the increase in traffic and safety issues associated with the storage of UAN.
Those concerns were reiterated at today’s panel meeting by local resident Mark Skinner, who accused CBH of dismissing concerns regarding traffic volume increases and raised issues with the possible safety and fire hazards associated with the proposal.
But CBH senior project manager Peter Ranzenbacher said UAN was not classified as a dangerous good by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and had been stored and transported throughout Kwinana since the early 2000s.
He said the development was expected to generate $200 million in revenue through fertiliser imports business, increases in grain production nad exports.
It would boost local employment and create about 400 jobs during the construction phase.
The panel unanimously agreed to endorse the recommendation for approval.
While acknowledging the concerns of local residents, panel members Ian Birch, Mark Jones and Deb Hamblin said the proposal had met the necessary criteria.
The decision constitutes development approval for four years from the approval date.
The industrial area is already home to Wesfarmers’ CSBP metropolitan depot. Canadian potash company Nutrien is also looking to boost its storage capacity in Kwinana.
