AN OLD Darkan tannery may reopen as a cattle hide salt curing plant after the West Arthur Shire approved a proposal at a special meeting of council on July 14.

If it happens, the project will create eight to 25 jobs.

The council received the proposal from Cardno (WA) Pty Ltd on behalf of VTA Australia for planning appro-val to use the old tannery on Shields Road.

Operating at full capacity, the plant will process about 1800 cattle hides per day, according to the application — potentially 543,600 hides a year.

Andrew Mack of Cardno said the project was likely to happen. But the proponent could still back out if Department of Environment and Conservation requirements were too costly.

The council approval is subject to conditions including:

• complying with plans submitted in the initial application,

• getting council approval for a works program and community consultation plan,

• regular access is available via the sealed part of Shields Road,

• any modifications to the building or land must be applied for,

• no polluted drainage can be discharged beyond the land boundaries, and

• it will not injure anyone or cause unreasonable effect — dust, smoke or fumes.

It must also shield any lights so there will be no glare nuisance to nearby residents, firebreaks must be maintained and site development must start within two years or the approval will lapse.

The proponent must also get a certificate of classification from the local government to show Building Code requirements of the BCA are met, make sure firefighting services are fully operational and serviced and ensure the buildings to be used are structurally sound and any deficiencies are to be rectified prior to operation.

The plant will be built on the 63.46-hectare block owned by Darkan Leather Australia Pty Ltd.

The subject site is the location of a former wet-blue tannery which was established in 1994.

According to the council agenda, a wet-blue tannery is where salted hides are brought from various operators and abattoirs, including from interstate, and then unsalted.