Overview

Updated: 1 February 2010

We are very pleased that after many years of hard work and investment all of the remediation, decommissioning and associated civil works at our Rhodes site have finally been completed.  Meriton has been working closely with many government agencies, including Canada Bay Council, the Department of Planning, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW Health and WorkCover in order to ensure that the remediation works have been completed strictly in accordance with the highest environmental standards and relevant regulatory approvals.

Given that all active remediation works on our site were complete as of June 2009, we received permission to occupy our first development, Riverview, on 24 July 2009.

We have also since received consent to occupy stage two development, Aqua.

It is important to note, that prior to occupation being granted for the Riverview development, NSW Health reviewed Meriton’s environmental consultants’ reports and stated categorically that there is no issue of concern in relation to any carcinogen risk.  The sole concerns of NSW Health in relation to health matters have been in respect of potential cumulative impacts of elevated levels of dust, odour and noise, which one may experience from time to time due to construction activity on the Meriton site and neighbouring sites.  It is worth noting that this is a normal occurrence on all large staged construction sites.

1. Ongoing Works

As you are no doubt aware, the Rhodes Peninsula has undergone and is undergoing remediation and construction works.  At our site, active remediation has been completed, but construction will continue for several years.

You should also be aware that active remediation will continue on the neighbouring “Lednez” site through 2010 and construction activity will continue for several years.

2. Noise, Dust & Odour and Sensitive Receptors

Notwithstanding that project specific and cumulative impacts associated with construction and remediation works within Meriton and Lednez have been considered and assessed, there may be periods when certain individuals, particularly sensitive receptors, may experience disturbance, discomfort and/or irritation as a result of noise in addition to dust, and odour associated with ongoing decommissioning, excavation, filling, construction and remediation works.

Meriton has, at the request of NSW Health, asked its environmental and acoustic consultants to design management plans in order to address the potential disturbances to occupants.  However, it may be that some people who have particular sensitivity to noise or dust or odour will still be affected.

3. Management Plans

Meriton has put in place a dust management plan which is available either from our head office, from the site sales office or from the website address set out below.  Meriton has committed to such measures as expediting the sealing of the roadways, dust monitoring, ensuring truck movements are at low speeds and watering the dirt roads and construction sites (as required).

Since the plan was formulated Meriton has expedited construction and sealing of roads and has undertaken many months of dust monitoring.

The dust monitoring has revealed that Meriton is able to successfully manage and minimise dust levels caused by or increased by construction activities. This is done by the use of water carts, sealing of the roads, scheduling of construction activities and more.

The dust monitoring regime, comprises a level 1 and level 2 criteria.  The real time monitoring data we receive is extremely helpful in limiting the escalation from a level 1 to level 2 criteria, thereby minimising the impact on our residents.

Meriton has put in place a noise management plan, which is also available to anyone who would like a copy.  The management plan identifies the general processes that will take place, proposed hours and length of construction, the likely noise generation and the measures proposed to manage noise emissions.  It also stipulates procedures for noise monitoring and complaints handling.

The noise management plan identifies the expected noise levels from remediation and construction activities.  The extent to which they may cause annoyance will depend on a number of factors including individual sensitivity to noise, whether the occupant is normally home during the day (as construction works normally occur during normal working hours).

The noise monitoring carried out to date has revealed that noise levels have been below the relevant criteria set by the regulatory authorities.

4. Further Information and Feedback

Should you require any further information or wish to lodge a complaint in relation to noise, dust or odour, please do so through one of the following methods:

1. Write to: Mr Benjy Levy
C/- Ms Cassie Laird
Meriton Apartments Pty Limited
Level 11, 528 Kent Street
Sydney  NSW  2000

2. Email: Mr Benjy Levy
rhodesfeedback@meriton.com.au

3. Web Site: www.meriton.com.au/peninsula_communication
 Click on “Feedback”

4. Phone: Cassie Laird on 9287 2888 and state the nature of your complaint.  The relevant officer from Meriton will respond.

This web page has been created with the following objectives in mind:

•  to provide valuable information about the remediation and construction works;
  
•  to make available copies of relevant documents and consents, including the Dust and Noise Management Plans;
  
•  to provide a mechanism for feedback;
  
•  to provide results of dust and noise monitoring; and
  
•  to provide valuable links and more.

Finally, we note that NSW Health has advised that:  “proper risk management and communication can reduce stress by empowering those likely to be affected with the ability to act on an informed choice with regard to acceptance or not of the risk.”  To this end, Purchasers should note that a form of disclosure has already been registered on the Certificates of Title for all apartments in this development.  Should any purchaser decide at some future point to rent out their apartment, NSW Health recommends that the attention of all prospective tenants be drawn to the matters raised in this letter and also the disclosure on title.

Certainly Meriton will continue to keep our purchasers and tenants informed of all of the matters outlined above, and we would ask that you do too.