Cautious note sounded on apartments

A waterfront apartment building near Albany Entertainment Centre could struggle to get city support if developers can’t prove outside noise won’t be too loud inside the apartments.

On Tuesday night council voted unanimously that more should be done to study external noise around the proposed apartments before it makes a decision on their fate.

At the heart of the issue are concerns that nearby machinery, heavy vehicles and the port operations in general could be unacceptably loud to apartment users.

Stirlings to Coast Farmers Group chief executive Dr Christine Kershaw, who represents 200 south coast farmers, attended the July 24 meeting and said any decision to impose a night-time curfew on heavy vehicles in a bid to reach a suitable noise level would be unacceptable.

“Unanimously and without exception our members are quite concerned about the potential risk of restrictions on access to the port because of development,” Dr Kershaw said.

She said she was worried complaints from permanent residents, if permanent residency were approved in the future, would be inevitable.

“It’s vibrations, if it’s not that it’s odour, if it’s not that it’s noise, if it’s not that it’s dust, if it’s not that it’s oil leaks,” she said.

“This is an industrial zone, it’s the reason this city is here and our farmers feel very strongly about this.

“Any hold-up (would have) a significant economic impact.”

Deputy Mayor Greg Stocks said he supported developing the apartments as long as they did not interfere with the port.

“I support this completely with a note of caution,” he said.

“Eighty per cent plus of our economic GDP comes from agriculture (and) whatever comes back must satisfy the industry.

“I can’t support something that will derail 24/7 use (of the port).”

A recommendation to support or reject the development will be made to council at a later date, after further consultation.