Fox Studios Industrial Operations
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Minister for Lands, representing the Minister for Planning. Is the Minister aware that Fox Studios Australia plans to increase its industrial operations by building a 4,000 square metre workshop to accommodate such activities as spray painting, power coating and fibreglassing? Is the Minister aware that residents in Moore Park Road, Cook Road and Poate Road have suffered from asthma and skin problems, such as rashes and infections, as a result of adverse air quality? In particular, is the Minister aware that one resident who lived opposite the post production buildings, Mr Kevin Winter, required two sinus operations as a result of living near Fox Studios? Given that occupational health and safety legislation requires that notices be placed between a heavy industrial site operation and a publicly accessed site, will the Minister indicate if notices will be attached to the perimeter fences of Fox Studios to warn people of health and safety dangers?
The Hon. Tony Kelly: No, I am not aware of the operations in that area. I will undertake to forward the member’s question to the Minister and obtain an answer in due course.
Deferred answer
On 20 October 2009 Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes asked the Minister for Lands, representing the Minister for Planning, a question without notice regarding Fox Studios Australia industrial operations. The Minister for Lands provided the following response:
The Minister for Planning advises that neither she nor the Department of Planning are aware of plans by Fox Studios Australia to construct a new workshop at their Working Studios site at Moore Park.
The Minister for Planning is aware that some residents in the vicinity of the Fox Studios site have attributed health complaints to the operations of the workshops at the site. The site is regulated by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water under a Notice of Preventative Action. The Minister for Planning has been advised that these complaints have been investigated by that Department and no evidence of offensive odours on or off the site have been found.
The issue of signage requirements under the occupational health and safety legislation is a matter for WorkCover and not the Minister.