THE peace and quiet that drew Peter Edwards to Wattleup 25 years ago could soon be replaced by the sound of heavy machinery, reversing alarms and truck training just 15 metres from his back door.
Driving into the area, there are signs that Wattleup has long accommodated rural industries, with the odd large shed hinting at backyard businesses. But by the time Mortimer Road winds towards the Edwards’ property, the landscape has a distinctly rural feel.
A small tractor trundles along the road, while a magnificently-horned cow mixes with a goat and chickens in his next-door neighbour’s paddock.
It’s a lifestyle Mr Edwards says is under threat.
• Peter Edwards and Chaos enjoy their idyllic neighbourhood, but say their lifestyle is at risk. Photo by Steve Grant
A development application has been lodged with the City of Cockburn to convert a long-abandoned market garden over his back fence into a training facility for plant and machinery.
The proposal includes a hardstand for storing machinery and equipment, asphalt carpark, fuel storage area, portable office and two portable classrooms.
It would run 7am – 5pm Monday to Friday, with machinery operation limited to midday until 5pm.
Mr Edwards said the scale of work already carried out on the property had shocked nearby residents given the application hasn’t yet been approved.
“The market garden hasn’t been marketed for the time we’ve been here, so it had regrowth of 25 years on it.
“But that’s just been stripped completely back… the whole 2.5 acres back to nothing.
“Was there any surveillance done to determine what sort of wildlife may be living there?” he said.
The clearing itself took six weeks, he said, giving residents a taste of life beside a training facility.
“We had machine noise, we had reversing alarms, we had commercial road rollers rolling the block. And the house was shaking,” he said.
Mr Edwards said when he approached the machine operator about the dust and noise, work stopped until the next morning, but he got the impression the project was steaming along and that has him querying what assurances the company has been given.
“Their training pad, where they want to operate these machines, is 15 metres from my back door,” he said.
“We’ve had peace and quiet for the whole 25 years… it’s been lovely.
“There’s a lot of residents supporting us because they’re all going to be impacted by the noise and the dust.”
Mr Edwards said his dealings with the City of Cockburn initially left him frustrated, but after getting in touch with councillors Phil Eva and Kevin Allen and having a visit from its planning manager this week, he’s feeling a little more confident their concerns are being heard.
He’s hoping to let nearby residents who may have missed council’s mailout know about the proposal, urging them to let the City know their thoughts by this coming Monday’s deadline. Submissions should be emailed to riley.brown@cockburn.wa.gov.au
by STEVE GRANT