Pakenham East residents fight against dust storm flurry rising from Honora Fields estate development
A large pile of dirt from a construction site dubbed “Mount Pakenham” has covered nearby homes in dust, leaving residents furious as they battle through regular dust storms.
South East
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Outraged residents in Melbourne’s southeast are furious that the construction of a new 7000 house estate reguarly covers their homes and cars in dust.
A Pakenham East community has been left parched and perturbed by ongoing dust storms caused by works at the new Honora Fields estate.
With everything from house windows to cars coated in a fine film of dust, residents say the dust at times has been so thick it has obstructed their view of the street.
It comes as a big dirt pile was dumped about 100m from existing residential homes near Ryan Rd, frustrating locals.
Resident Robert Curry said he and his neighbours had battled the dust for up to a year, with the recent heatwave exacerbating the issue.
“They’ve been stockpiling the dirt on Ryan Rd for 12 months and the hot weather has dried it right out,” he said.
“The piles should never have been put so close to homes.”
Despite contacting Cardinia Shire Council with their concerns, Mr Curry said residents received a lacklustre response.
“One councillor came out and said ‘it didn’t seem that bad’,” he said.
“The councillors are meant to be there to represent the public and hold council to account, but they haven’t been doing that.
“They’ve just been toeing the line.”
Fellow resident Adrian had a similar experience with the council, calling the situation “ridiculous”.
“We all know (construction) is progress and it has to be done, but there has been no dust suppression,” he said.
“When the wind blows out here, it blows — they’re moving thousands of tonnes of earth a week, it’s full on.”
Adrian said the development needed to be done with consideration of existing residents.
“(The workers) get to get back into their utes and drive home – but this is our home,” he said.
“When the machines are running, you can’t see down the road from the amount of dust.
“You just have to look at the cars in the street — they’re constantly covered in dust because they’re outside.”
Referring to one of the piles as “Mount Pakenham”, Adrian said “upset was a pretty polite word” to describe how he felt.
“This is only the first stage, it will go on for at least three years,” he said.
“All they have to do is make sure there is dust control, but there’s been no consideration on the impact.”
Council Watch’s Dean Hurlston said Cardinia Shire Council needed to “pull their socks up”.
“It’s not right — it’s ruining (the residents) quality of life,” he said.
“Council might not be the authority that approves everything, but they are responsible for enforcing appropriate developing conditions, including if someone is leaving huge dirt or dust piles – they need to be enforcing the clean up.
“Dust is hugely problematic for people with asthma – council could be ultimately negligent and causing health issues.”
The council’s general manager for infrastructure and environment Peter Benazic said much of the dust was “the result of recent hot, dry and windy conditions combined with new housing and commercial construction.”
“Council is completing ongoing surveillance activities around all new developments sites,” he said.
“(Council) will address the dust concerns with the developer’s contractors and work with them to further reduce dust.”
Mr Benazic said the council required contractors to provide an environment management plan, which “may be updated as the contractor’s work changes”.
“It is the responsibility of the contractor to implement the mitigation measures,” he said.
“It is the role of council to oversee the implementation of these plans.”