Melton City Council has unanimously rejected an application from Boral Recycling to expand landfill operations at its Ravenhall site.
The long-awaited decision was welcomed with rousing applause from a packed gallery at last week’s council meeting. More than 200 people attended the meeting, many waiting in the council grounds despite freezing temperatures.
The council had received 6600 written objections to the proposal before last week’s meeting.
Boral’s application was to increase the area of the existing landfill to match that of on-site quarrying operations, a significantly larger area.
Councillors determined that the proposal was premature, lacked important information, could prejudice the orderly development of the area and did not comply with the relevant requirements of the planning scheme.
Mayor Bob Turner said the council believed the application was premature given the existing landfill on the site appeared to have more than 10 years of airspace available.
“The proposal was to expand the landfill operation across the entire site, into large areas of land which have yet to be quarried. In effect, the proposal sought to lock in planning approval to fill the site for a long period of time, possibly 100 years or more,” Cr Turner said.
“The application also lacks important information such as a detailed assessment of appropriate buffer zones.”
Stop the Tip campaigner Marion Martin said she was “on top of the world” following the council’s decision. She said the group was more determined tto fight for the right outcome.
“The 250 to 300 people who stood out in the cold were all over the moon. Some of them said they believe in justice now.
“We’re very, very strong moving forward, we’re not going to stop now and we’ll go as far as we have to go.”
Boral Waste Solutions business manager Richard McCarthy said the company was disappointed by the decision.
“We will carefully review the council’s decision and consider our next course of action,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Boral takes community concerns seriously and is working closely with council, residents and the EPA to respond to issues raised.”
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… Natalie Gallenti-Brekalo
