Angry Ocean Grove residents say construction fills houses with dirt

Annoyed Ocean Grove locals say they have been unable to go outside due to large amounts of dust and dirt from neighbouring developments. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Construction site on Banks Road, Ocean Grove have covered nearby residents in dust after recent high winds.

Ocean Grove residents claim dirt and dust from surrounding developments have been filling their houses, pools, and local parks for months.

Four different developments across 20ha are under construction between Trethowan Ave and Ocean Grand Drive.

The four construction sites, all within 300m of each other, include two retirement villages and a Kingston Coast subdivision, and a drainage basin being built to accommodate development in the area.

The City of Greater Geelong has confirmed it has received complaints, and is investigating earthworks undertaken on one development and tree removal on another.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said the construction had been increasingly unbearable over the past three months as dirt piles were filling the air with dust.

“Our whole house was filled with dirt, you couldn’t go outside without breathing in dirt,” she said.

Last month strong winds made the situation worse, she said.

“We couldn’t even open the doors,” she said.

“And both my kids have had pneumonia during that two months.”

The woman said there had also been native trees removed

Josco Civil owner John O’Shannassy said the company, which was developing the drainage basin, completed works at the 1ha site last week, and was now doing everything it could to reduce dust for neighbours.

“I do feel for the residents,” he said.

“I understand the dust complaints.

“It’s a big drainage basin, it’s 1ha in size so it’s a large area.”

“And then there’s a Ryman retirement village and a lifestyle retirement village and residential housing, so it’s all up 20ha of land that’s being disturbed and on a high wind day that’s when the dust is quite bad.

“The (work sites are) all exposed earth … loose top soil.”

Ocean Grove residents say development in the area is filling local pools with dust.

Mr O’Shannassy said hydroseed for grass and a dust suppressant to protect the top soil from erosion, dust and rain had recently been put on his worksite.

“We’ve all got a responsibility to reduce dust as much as possible,” he said.

“We’ve all got water carts on site, but you can’t spray water everywhere and you can’t stop all the dust.

“When it becomes undisturbed it’s less likely to blow dust, and hopefully this spring we’ll get some grass going.”

Civil contractors Drapers and Wellams are working on the remaining projects.

They were contacted for comment.

Originally published as Angry Ocean Grove residents say construction fills houses with dirt