THE proposed settlement at Carbanup Hamlet has raised concerns with several state government departments expressing opposition to the development.
City of Busselton officers have recommended the council and WA Planning Commission reject the proposed development.
While the city supports the location being proposed there are a range of issues they said the proponents need to address which have been raised by state government agencies.
Both the Health and Agricultural Departments are concerned about health issues and Main Roads WA expressed concerns about traffic safety.
Carbanup Hamlet sits amongst agriculture and farming land in an area between Wildwood Road and the Bussell Highway.
Main Roads WA director South West operations Brett Belstead said an extra 2000 vehicle movements along Wildwood Road would create congestion and the potential for severe accidents at the Bussell Highway intersection.
While Main Roads is not opposed to the development it did advise the City of Busselton that it was concerned no traffic assessment was made by the proponent.
“Main Roads therefore recommended that the proponent be required to undertake a traffic impact assessment for the overall hamlet area and investigate potential additional access options,” he said.
The Wildwood Road and Bussell Highway intersection was notorious for rear end crashes and Mr Belstead said recent upgrades to add a right turn lane should minimise the number of crashes.
Heath concerns were raised by the Department of Health and a spokesperson said the plans for Carbanup Hamlet do not account for all the chemicals used by nearby farmers or have appropriate buffers in place.
The spokesperson said there was a risk spray drift from chemicals used on nearby farms would harm people’s health and does not comply with guidelines for separation of agricultural and residential land.
The spokesperson said the department was concerned about pesticide residue on children’s play equipment, homes and rain water tanks.
“Health effects would depend on what chemicals were being applied, at what concentration and the nature of exposure,” they said.
“Soil fumigants and some vineyard fungicides have a strong odour which can produce nausea and headaches.
“Fumigants and some other pesticides can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and some pesticides can exacerbate symptoms of asthma.”
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said it was up to the proponents to determine whether the development was viable if it gets support from the WA planning Commission and the council.
Councillors will vote on whether the development gets the go ahead at a council meeting on Wednesday February 10.