By DANE LILLINGSTONE
LOCAL residents have vented their concerns over what they say is constant noise and dust coming from the GrainX site in Allora.
Southern Downs Regional Council held an open meeting at the Allora Community Hall to discuss the issue.
The meeting acted as a question and answer session where local residents voiced their concerns.
These ranged from the fear of increased diseases such as asthma in the area from the dust, to noise levels of operations lasting up until 9pm at night.
In 2011 GrainX commenced operations at the Allora site and since then there have been numerous complaints.
There were three silos already at the Herbert Street site in what was described as previous existing use, with the council saying they were unable to block or force any type of change on the company. Council also approved an additional silo in 2011.
Mayor Peter Blundell fronted proceedings with councillors Neil Meiklejohn, Denise Ingram and Jo McNally also at the meeting.
Mayor Blundell repeatedly explained the council’s hands were tied because the land came under lawful existing use and GrainX had “rights as a business to operate on that site.”
“It’s unlikely we can get them to shift, but we’re in the process of getting those impacts addressed,” he said.
He also noted that representatives from GrainX were invited to the meeting, but declined to attend.
Various design modifications were brought up that could be introduced to reduce the dust and noise, and these were met with some support.
Southern Downs Regional Council CEO David Keenan at one point asked for a show of hands on what exactly the people wanted done.
He said they could either vote for compliance with GrainX on working to better conditions, or if they simply thought it was not welcome in its current condition and should be located elsewhere.
A few hands went up for compliance but an overwhelming majority did not want anything to do with it.
Local Allora resident Kerry Denne was vocal about her disapproval after getting severely sick in July 2014.
She also noted that they worked sometimes seven days a week, and that the noise would sometimes continue past 9pm.
“It’s mainly health issues for me, it’s severe asthma I’ve had all of last year – I missed half the year because of asthma. I’d be sitting up in bed coughing my lungs up, unbearable,” she said.
“My concerns are, you know, are they going to keep this operating? I’m hoping some things will change. We get a lot of dust around my house – it’s a red dust, it’s very thick, it’s not just a light dust.”
She said her son, who lived across the road from the site, had to move away because of the dust.
“My son’s tank water was ruined, he had to come to me to get drinking water,” she said.
Mayor Blundell is expected to have a meeting with GrainX this week, where the community’s concerns will be presented.
