Adelaide Brighton Cement’s Birkenhead plant is licensed by the EPA and its current  5 year licence began on November 1, 2017:

The Licensee is authorised to undertake, at the location(s) shown above, the following prescribed activities of environmental significance under Schedule 1 Part A of the Act,
subject to the conditions in this Licence.
2(3) Cement works
3(4) Activities producing listed wastes
7(1) Bulk shipping facilities
7(3)(c) Crushing, grinding or milling works (rock, ores or minerals)
8(2)(a) Fuel burning coal or wood
8(2)(a) Fuel burning not coal or wood

The company undertakes an Environment Improvement Program and there are a series of improvement plans proposed. The Community Liaison Group and community members will be monitoring the progress of these developments. The licence will next be due for renewal on 1 November 2022.

Of the 80 companies licensed by the EPA on the Lefevre Peninsula, Adelaide Brighton Cement generates the most complaints from residents, with complaints including cement dust on vehicles, roofs and solar panels; damage to property; noise and concerns about possible health implications from living close to the plant.

ABC’s impact on the community is reflected in its Representation on Ministerial Development Plan Amendment Port Adelaide Centre Renewal Part 2 (23/12/2016) in which it expressed concern that complaints could be generated against the company and residents affected in areas of the proposed redevelopment. “Five storey residential development (in the Port Approach Policy Area) will have clear lines of sight to the ABC facility and will have the potential to be impacted upon in terms of dust, noise and visual amenity.”

ABC’s community website for their Birkenhead operations provides information about the plant, their licence, ABC’s improvement and community programs and company contacts.

ABC damaged its reputation with the local community when, after almost twenty years of ownership, it elected to sell 60% of the ABC Community Park, on Hargrave Street, for a service station development . The remaining 40% of the park has been redeveloped as a dog park.

(Current as at Jan, 2020)

This post is one in the series Significant Environmental Issues on the Lefevre Peninsula