The use of coal washery reject at a Kangaloon property has generated a lot of debate.
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The issue dates back to early 2016, when council was notified coal washery reject was being used to build an internal driveway at Sugarloaf Lane.
Councillors acknowledged the complexity of the item at the July 12 meeting.
It had been raised at previous council meetings due to concerns of possible contamination of the nearby Doudles Folly Creek.
However, the issue at hand at the July 12 council meeting was to consider a development application (DA) request to construct the internal driveway of coal washery reject and the creation of a building envelope for a future dwelling.
Councillor Larry Whipper said the contamination concerns would be addressed at a future meeting. “There are a number of issues here. One is the contamination event which we’re not dealing with tonight – I’m flagging that will come back for further consideration by council.”
The decision on the DA was deferred from the June 28 council meeting, pending the results of a specialist report on contaminants at the site. “What we’re looking at tonight is a DA and to take away some of the angst from previous meetings I think we need to look at this as coming before us now,” Cr Whipper said.
Representing the applicant and owner, Mark Nelson addressed council on the matter and said the property owner was happy to remove the coal washery reject from areas of the driveway affected by flooding and liable to flooding in future.
“We would propose we will replace the coal wash in that area alone with a roadbase suitable to council specifications,” he said. “For the area that is subject to inundation, we’re quite happy to remove the coal wash from that area to move forward.”
A council report recommended the DA be approved, subject to conditions. Cr Whipper moved to approve the DA, but worked with fellow councillors to provide additional criteria.
The DA for the driveway and establishment of a building envelope at the property was approved, providing the coal washery reject at identified areas of the driveway and nearby stockpiles is removed.
The applicant is also required to resurface a section of the private road with reinforced concrete with a thickened edge 450mm on the upside of the road, with a minimum width of 2.5 metres for a length of 25 metres, in response to concerns about leaching of possible contaminants.