BROOKLYN is still being heavily polluted by industry – but there is hope in the air that change is coming, according to Williamstown MP Wade Noonan.
Mr Noonan praised Brimbank City Council in parliament for developing the Brooklyn Evolution strategy.
The 55-point implementation plan aims to fix the area’s “poor image”, improve the impact of the Brooklyn Industrial Precinct on surrounding homes and support the development of businesses such as
light industry and general manufacturing.
Mr Noonan called on the State Government to help coordinate – and dedicate resources to – the implementation of the Brooklyn Evolution strategy.
Mr Noonan said decades of poor planning have led to industries polluting Brooklyn, Tottenham and Yarraville “so badly that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) now issues regular health warnings to local residents”.
“In fact, since 2009 the EPA has recorded more than 90 days where poor air quality in Brooklyn has exceeded the accepted national standards,” he said.
Mr Noonan said this was “well above the five days per year that is considered a reasonable benchmark.”
“The EPA has put a small army into the Brooklyn area since about 2009 to track down and penalise offending businesses, but, sadly, they seem to be losing the battle,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Environment Ryan Smith said the EPA had made progress on Brooklyn’s odour issues “in recent times”.
“The Environment Protection Authority has been very diligent in issuing pollution abatement notices to those who have been a little slow in introducing the right controls around dust pollution in some areas,” he said.
The Brooklyn Evolution strategy includes a plan for the Brooklyn Industrial Precinct to key employment node in the West with businesses using “new, clean and green” technology across the next 20 years.
