Council has approved a planning permit for the development of an organics processing facility in Huntly.
The planning application from Western Composting Technology’s (WCT) is for a 6.2ha development with access from Wallenjoe Road.
The company has already received an approved Development Licence from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
The organics processing facility proposes to process the recycling of a maximum 30,000 ton of organic waste per annum primarily from domestic food and garden organics and commercial garden and food waste.
The application states organic material would be held in a semi-enclosed building and shredded before being placed in climate-controlled vessels to undergo pasteurisation (a heating method to eliminate pathogens). The material would then be transferred to long rows where it would mature for up to 16 weeks prior to being screened, and the final compost product being dispatched for agricultural and domestic use.
A Biosecurity Impact Assessment with the application was considered by the EPA. It concluded that proposed biosecurity controls would adequately manage amenity risks in the surrounding area, including the Bendigo Livestock Exchange which is on the same site.
Under the EPA’s approved Development Licence, the facility’s operations would continue to be regulated to ensure it meets its licence conditions. These processes rely on the opinion, research, and advice of qualified experts.
Mayor Cr Metcalf thanked Councillors for carefully considering all of the technical documents and the planning application before making their decisions at last night’s Council meeting.
“The use and development of the site is suitable for the organics processing facility. It is zoned correctly under the Industrial 1 zone, and land within the site that is subject to bushfire or flooding is not being developed,” Cr Metcalf said.
“There are appropriate buffers in place as determined by the EPA to alleviate amenity issues such as noise, dust and odour. WCT has also identified extra processes that will be put in place to manage dust on windier dry days.
“The main operational activities will be restricted to daytime hours and proposed reduction in car parking are reasonable changes to the application.
“There were 141 individual objections received, and many concerns raised were unrelated to the planning permit. The main concerns around biosecurity issues sits with the EPA which is responsible for these matters.
“These objections will be dealt with at a forthcoming VCAT hearing as objectors have appealed the recent EPA decision to give a Development Licence. VCAT would assess the planning application at the same time should the Council decision also be appealed by objectors.
“The development of new landfills, or transport of waste to other locations, is not in line with the Council, State or Federal government policies. The WCT organics facility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create local jobs and reduce double handling of materials.
“A facility dealing mainly with domestic food and organics and green waste would replace the need for the City to cart its organic waste out of the region for treatment.
“The establishment of a privately-owned local composting site within 25km of Bendigo to process up to 30,000 ton of food and garden organics each year is expected to reduce emissions by around 16.3 per cent, in comparison to current kerbside organics disposal arrangements.”
