PLEASE HELP OPPOSE THE TOXIC SOIL FACILITY IN ALTONA

Despite significant community and council concerns about plans for a permanent toxic soil facility in Altona, VCAT approved the facility last week with the full support of the EPA.  When built, this facility will truck in contaminated soil from around Victoria into Altona for treatment.  Our area already has issues with dust, so  we are very concerned about the impact this facility will have on our health and amenity.

I have opposed this application for the last 4 years and am extremely disappointed by VCAT’s decision which was allowed to happen by successive State Governments as they refused council requests to establish clear policies about where facilities like this should be located.  Clearly politicians don’t understand facilities like this should not be permanently located near homes – and on the doorstep of the largest growing residential area in Australia.  It doesn’t make sense.

I thank the thousands of residents that signed petitions by the Hobsons Bay Residents Association to oppose this facility.  I am sorry we weren’t able to stop it.

The full VCAT decision can be accessed here:

P677 2012 P1723 2011 Innova Soil Technology v Hobsons Bay CC

What can you do to help oppose this facility?

I think it is fair to say we have little chance of preventing this facility going ahead now, so we need to focus our energies on ensuring a monitoring station is set up to the south of the facility, that it is managed independently, and that the results are made public on a regular basis.  To ensure this happens, I urge you to write to our local Members of Parliament and the Minister for Planning.  I will put a template letter on this page in the coming days.

Please keep in touch.  It’s best to keep visiting this website and/or visiting my official facebook page to keep up to date with what is going on – www.facebook.com/CrTonyBriffa

Jill Hennessey MLA
Member for Altona District (includes Altona, Altona Meadows, Laverton & Seabrook)
Address: Suite 603, Level 1, 2 Main Street, Point Cook Town Centre, Point Cook VIC 3030
Phone: (03) 9395 0221
Fax: (03) 9395 3061
Email: jill.hennessy@parliament.vic.gov.au

Bernie Finn MLC
Member of Western Metropolitan Region
Address: 277 Hampshire Road, Sunshine 3020
Phone: (03) 9312 1212
Fax: (03) 9312 4598
Email: bernie.finn@parliament.vic.gov.au

Andrew Elsbury MLC

Member of Western Metropolitan Region
Address: Shop 1, 662 Old Calder Highway, Keilor 3036
Phone: (03) 9331 7644
Fax: (03) 9331 7430
Email: andrew.elsbury@parliament.vic.gov.au

Colleen Hartland MLC
Member of Western Metropolitan Region
Address: 75 Victoria Street, Seddon VIC 3011
Phone: (03) 9689 6373
Fax: (03) 9689 6227
Email: colleen.hartland@parliament.vic.gov.au

Mr Khalil Eideh MLC

Member of Western Metropolitan Region
Address: Suite 2, 80 Carmody Drive, Cairnlea VIC 3023
Phone: (03) 99363 1644
Fax: (03) 9363 1766
Email: khalil.eideh@parliament.vic.gov.au

Hon Matthew Guy MP
Minister for Planning
Phone:  (03) 9938 5990
Email:  matthew.guy@parliament.vic.gov.au

Julia Gillard MP

Member for Lalor
Address:  Shop 2, 36 Synnot Street  Werribee  VIC  3030
Phone:  (03) 9742 5800
Fax:  (03) 9741 6213