I moved into Giblin St, Lenah Valley, opposite K&D’s raw delivery material at the end of 2005.
A week after moving in I contacted the then DPIWE regarding the 24/7 drone coming from the kiln. Not that noticeable during the week, but in the evening, weekends and public holidays, highly annoying.
DPIWE visited K&D and told them to shut a door.
This did nothing.
He condescendingly told me how to make a brick and that the Brickworks had been there a long time. Stole my line. Long time (160 years) burning coal, oil and now sawdust to fire their kiln. I also complained about the shocking dust (many neighbours say the same), pollution coming out of the stack (regular occurrence), trucks idling outside my bedroom window one hour earlier than allowed.
I also contacted the HCC, who told me that DPIWE (DPIPWE, EPA) were responsible for monitoring K&D. Contacted Bob Brown, Cassy O”Connor and Nick McKim. After saying it was terrible and should not be there, did not hear anything again, until a person moved in further down the road (opposite the brick despatch and delivery end). DPIWE/ EPA were not monitoring anything at this stage.
After living in her property for one week , she began complaining to the EPA about emissions (We have lots of footage and photos of it coming out of the stack and dropping right near her house).
She developed respiratory problems; her daughter a constant rash. She contacted Cassy O”Connor who visited, did a press release about how it should be transitioned into an appropriate Industrial Zone.
Then heard nothing.
My neighbour also contacted the Police Deptartment regarding K&D trucks using Giblin Street as a turning circle as they now have no room on their premises due to on-selling other companies’ product. The trucks were directly outside her loungeroom window.
The EPA even commented on the diesel smell on one of their visits. Their “Existing Use” states, “make bricks for the Tasmanian market, yet their web-site says they export. Don’t know where they got approval to be a depot for others; increasing the heavy duty diesel trucks by one third. They average 10,000 truck movements a year. When we questioned an EPA officer about on-selling, the manager at K&D told him that they don’t do that. It was a result of product being returned. When we pointed out that there were signs on the door to the contrary, he eventually got back to us to say that they did on-sell. This is not their “Existing Right”. Who approved that?
My neighbour also obtained heaps of FOI info regarding K&D; seven years’ of complaints, interdepartmental emails, Environmental Impact Study (before the idiot Governmentt and HCC let them expand in the 70’s), Appeal of Lenah Valley Progress Assoc., who sought legal advice; and the expansion was delayed for one year, with K&D promising not to pollute the area.
Interesting reading. They call people “emotional” when complaining about the kiln noise or soot on their cars or people saying they would have to scrub the house if they wanted to sell. They also say people were complaining who lived half a kilometre away. Maybe their children had to walk past the monstrosity, spewing out pollution, on their way to the many schools in the area. Same complaints still.
In 2010 K&D paid for two neighbours’ cars to be cleaned and provided one with a car cover! This is how they addressed the problem.
Regarding noise. The EIS states on page 18 that “the acceptable level (at the boundary of the nearest residence) for the night time operation of the proposed extension is 45db. (this is the acceptable Residential Level); If the proposed extension is to be operated overnight at the same time as the existing updraught kiln and drier, both the proposed extension and the existing installation will need to be no louder than 42db to allow for the combined effect. This will necessitate reducing the noise levels from the existing installation by 16db.”
Yet, in their Environmental Management Plan from 1991, they have given themselves 55db day and night! Who approved this? I had noise monitoring at my property several times. First time, directly behind a hedge. (EPA guidelines say equipment must be 3.5 metres from a hedge or building. No response from EPA. It was over 45db.
Last year, K&D organised their own noise monitoring. Neighbours didn’t know when this was occurring. Myself and another neighbour noticed convoys of trucks coming the day before. I photographed this and informed the EPA , who said I had brought up a good point which they would discuss at their next managers’ meeting. Also sent an email saying, noise monitorer was there next day; hardly any trucks. Not sure if EPA made them do it again, but exactly the same thing happened (have photos, emails). They then used those two days’ data in their Environmental Management Plan and the EPA said nothing! False info. The report constantly points out that the constant noise at night and weekends was K&D’s kiln. My db levels were 57db and 64db; being the only location breaching the 55db. The others breached the 45db that it should be.
I went to the Compliance Investigation Unit with my evidence of huge dust clouds enveloping a worker shutting the gate, then an enormous cloud obscured my vision of him altogether, crossing boundaries of four houses (K&D own the closest house to their property; more on that later. After wasting more time compiling evidence and going into their office, I was told that they would not be prosecuting them for that breach. They will issue them with an EPN, which just got extended and extended. (The EPA annual report stated that they had issues with K&D, which would be rectified in the 2010 shutdown. (Dec 23rd- Jan 23rd.)
Didn’t happen.
They are now having their 2011 shutdown. Absolute bliss, no dust, constant drone, emissions from unabated stack and the heavy duty diesel double truck movements. On the 23rd they will burn 3,000 litres of oil to re-start the kiln. This is when the EPA gets the most complaints (smoke issues). I have an FOI email from another neighbour complaining about the emissions upsetting her asthma.
The officer tells her it would not be K&D, as their emissions do not vary much. I have years of evidence to the contrary and have spoken to other asthmatics in the area, who say it does.(This is well documented). How dare the EPA give medical advice, especially when it was exposed that they had done no monitoring (two stack tests in 38 years; three- monthly mandatory at most Brickworks in Australia).
Even the Air Specialist pointed out that it is unusual to only do one stack test). Note: no emissions on the day of testing, but when not being tested, heaps of smoke. They then did ground level monitoring and it was found that fluoride exceeded the limit by 5-11 times and was a significant air quality issue for up to 700 metres around the site. (Heaps of sensitive sources, residents, schools, child care centres, community groups on the hill at the old St. John’s Park. Did they require them to put scrubbers on their (disintegrating due to acid gases, according to DHHS) stack?
No.
I also questioned their report to the National Pollution Inventory, which has always reported fluoride in the thousands of kg’s; then in 08/09 they reported 10,926kg. I contacted the Canberra NPI office, who said they would consider this suspect. I then had a phone conversation with the NPI/ EPA officer, who assured me that 34kg would be more realistic. I pointed out that no brickworks’ report in less than thousands, but he was adamant. I have been asking for this in writing for over one-and-a half years. Recently (they seem to answer promptly since a 7.30 Report), I received in writing that this was in fact, an error.
What hope is there if I have to tell the officer how to do his job (negligence yet again).
One of the reasons they were allowed to expand in the 70’s (Soundy /Mayor, Reece/Premier, K&D; stinks of nepotism, cronyism), was that they were going to clad the building with olive colorbond to blend into the neighbourhood. I pointed out last year that the colourbond near the stack had completely disintegrated and they replaced one side only. It is well documented that emissions from brickworks deteriorate roofing. Just look at the rest of the roof and the residents’ house next to the raw delivery end. Late last year, whilst with an EPA officer, I noticed four men on the roof. This horrified the EPA officer, as they were wearing no safety gear whatsoever. This happened again not long after.
Another neighbour contacted Lisa Singh, who contacted David O’Byrne, who sent Workplace Standards over there. They simply made them put up signs saying it is brittle and dangerous.
Another reason they were allowed to expand was, if the Abbotsfield Rd. poultry farm reduced their noise and cleaned up the site and be allowed to stay there, so should K&D. Is the poultry shed still there, tannery in South Hobart, Abattoirs in Glenorchy?
No … All formerly “Offensive Trade”, now classified “Noxious Industry”, as is the Brickworks.
It was suggested that K&D move to Kingborough Municipality, closer to their quarries, but Kingborough would not have buildings of that bulk in their municipality. Granton was suggested (there was a brickworks here, which K&D purchased, along with Knocklofty Brickworks; and closed them down to ensure a monopoly in a residential area(already established). They baulked at Granton, saying it would be an eyesore to both sides of the highway! Bad luck New Town. They also called the houses old around the area. Which I am sure would now be heritage. (My house was built in 1915).
They have been prosecuted twice for many, many, many breaches. $650 each time, because an EPA officer witnessed it, even though over the years, my neighbour, myself and the EPA photographer have many photos, video’s, emails, sent to the EPA.
A year-and-a-half after giving evidence to the Compiance Investigation Unit I was told that K&D could not be prosecuted for gross breach (photos) of dust crossing the boundary because it was on their title. It covered all these houses (one owned by K&D); the rest private and went past the school oval. This would be rectified in the EPN. Hello! They have been able to pollute five houses, and the School Oval and the many groups of children attempting to be fit and healthy there. I also have photos of dust spewing out of the building all day, going that way, whilst three different groups of children were there.
In their EMP, they state that any pollution falls within the K&D site, 200 metres. This is absolute rubbish. The houses in Gregson Aveenue would be 20 metres away; and all of Giblin Street. The house right next to the raw delivery end is five metres away (if that), where the wheel (her house) washing facility is located. Have reported truck drivers covering her house with dust and dusty spray. She says her house is full of dust, as everyone else has been saying for over 40 years. K&D owns this house.
I have a lot more information, but will leave you with the statement in the EIS:
“The Environmental Impact Study Group wishes to express its appreciation for the work under extreme difficulties and were being pressed for time during the preparation and completion of the report”.
Regarding Air Pollution: “The results obtained have been used in determining what impact the proposed extension would have on the air environment in the area”. “This period was quite inadequate to obtain a picture of the long term effect”
And then they polluted for the next 38 years, virtually unmonitored from anyone in this State. Interdepartmental email, early 2010, states that after an EPA visit they discovered that they had no pollution control whasoever, never did. They still operate under a pathetic “1974 Deed of Covenant” from HCC, because they have not finailsed the Part 5 Agreement or they just won’t give me a copy.
It is high time to have an Environmental Impact Study carried out that is (a) not pressed for time and (b) relevant to this century.
And then there is the whole other issue of a disintegrating building (Deed of Covenant says it must be maintained). Not just signposted, thank you.
There is enough written about the Workplace Safety of the plant.
Hobart City Council, the Tasmanian Government, DPIWE/EPA and K&D themselves need to hang their heads in shame for allowing all of this occur.
Most forward-looking councils and government planning authorities transitioned Industry such as this years (decades ago). And dealt with the incidence of contaminated land ( See Pollution Information Tasmania website: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pollution_Information_Tasmania ). It is well-documented that brickworks contaminate land.
I went through the HCC Planning Scheme; found heaps of examples of K&D contravening conditions for Light and Heavy Industry zones. Let alone “Noxious Industry” in a residential area. “Too bad”, they say. They have “Special Rights” to pollute the neighbourhood unmonitored, unabated (for years) and have a very bad safety issue at the plant. Who is going to hold this company to account?
