By Tate Papworth
The Brimbank council will not appeal a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) decision to allow a large expansion of the Melbourne Regional Landfill at Ravenhall.
Brimbank mayor Lucinda Congreve said the council came to the decision not to appeal after legal advice.
“As a council we share the extreme disappointment of our community with the decision by VCAT to grant approval for the expansion,” she said.
“We understand there will be people in our community who will be disappointed with our decision not to appeal.
“We share this disappointment, however after considering all options council could not justify the legal costs involved, for a case we are unlikely to win.”
The council has been fighting the proposal for two years.
Cr Congreve said they will now turn their attention to advocacy.
“Our focus now is to advocate on behalf of our community to the EPA and the state government to ensure Landfill Operations Pty Ltd meets the conditions of its licence.
“As the authority who exists to protect the environment from adverse impacts of waste and unwanted noise, the EPA has a key responsibility to regulate compliance of the Landfill Operations Pty Ltd, and to make sure it meets its licence conditions.”
The Melton council, which is also against the proposed expansion, is still considering its options.
