Development panel shuns council’s environmental concerns to approve Onslow FIFO camp

A 500-person, $100 million transient workers camp located on Onslow’s Back Beach has been given development approval, despite the local government voting against the proposal. The proposed camp, known as Onslow Village, was granted approval by the Joint Development Association Panel on December 23, subject to 31 conditions after an amended motion was passed 3-1. It will be built on Back Beach Road on 20.45ha of crown land 300m west of the Onslow town centre. The camp was previously put to the Shire of Ashburton council on December 14 by Rowe Group on behalf of Mineral Resources Limited and would feature 500 bedrooms, a restaurant, a tavern and recreational facilities. Local councillors rejected plans for the camp because it did not address environmental impact concerns. A shire officers’ report stated a traffic impact study presented to the local government found Third Avenue, which borders the camp on the western end, would need to be upgraded to a sealed standard. Shire President Kerry White told Pilbara News in December council was not opposed to the development but would prefer to see other sites in Onslow used for such purposes. “Council believes environment impacts on the site and the adjacent townsite have not been considered at full capacity in that location,” she said. The original recommendation raised by councillor Linton Rumble to reject the application lapsed after no one from the panel seconded the motion. An amended motion was put forward to find the application was appropriate for consideration as a “Transient Workforce Accommodation” land use and approve the plans. The conditions include a traffic impact assessment, a fauna survey and having a qualified zoologist preparing a site report. Other conditions included no fencing to be permitted on the site unless approved by the Shire, capacity limited to 500 people and no pets to be allowed at the facility. Ms White said the shire was disappointed the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel did not take council and community sentiment into consideration when approving the proposed workforce accommodation facility. “While council is supportive of the development, the issue really was about the location and environmental impact the development would have on native flora and fauna and neighbouring residents,” she said. “We recognise that JDAP have put some environmental protection conditions in the approval and hope that these are substantive to mitigate the risks that we identified. “We are looking forward to continuing to work with industry and our resources partners to achieve opportunities for our communities, not only in Onslow, but across the Shire.” Mineral Resources was contacted for comment. The JDAP decision is valid for four years and constitutes planning approval only.