Melton City Council is continuing to advocate to the Victorian Government to reject Cleanaway’s proposal to dump the contaminated West Gate Tunnel soil at its Ravenhall landfill.
In one of several steps required for the proposal to go ahead, the EPA this week approved an Environmental Management Plan for the Melbourne Regional Landfill.
It brings Cleanaway a step closer to constructing a permanent facility extension that could accept future contaminated soil projects indefinitely.
To stop this from going ahead, Council is continuing to urge the Victorian Government to reject Cleanaway’s application for a Planning Scheme Amendment that would allow construction of a soil management and reuse facility. If approved, the amendment as it stands would remove the need to consult the public on the proposal, which Council has openly objected to.
Melton City Council CEO Kelvin Tori said Council would continue to make its concerns over the proposal known to the State Government.
“We remain absolutely opposed to contaminated soil being sent to an area where local families live and work, and we continue to advocate to the State Government to reject this proposal,” Mr Tori said.
“Our greatest concern is this facility expansion going ahead and becoming a permanent addition to Ravenhall. The site would be able to accept other contaminated soil projects indefinitely.
“That potentially means no end to the truck traffic, and an on-going amenity and safety burden for the many people who live and work nearby. Such a proposal should not be exempt from public consultation.
“I’d like to reassure residents that EPA approval does not mean the contaminated soil will be dumped at the Ravenhall landfill. The EPA has simply determined that the plans for this proposal meet environmental requirements.
“For any site to accept this soil, the operators must also be granted Victorian Government approval and the Transurban contract. Council is doing everything it can to demonstrate why the State Government and Transurban should reject this proposal.”
