Seven Councils in Melbourne’s west and north west have joined together to call for a State Government Inquiry into the management, treatment and disposal of industrial waste.
Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham Councils have called for the State Government to show positive leadership on the issue of industrial waste.
This follows recent State Government decisions approving new industrial waste dumps at Wyndham and Niddrie, and a time extension for an existing prescribed waste dump at Tullamarine.
All these facilities are located in the western or northern suburbs where many residents feel their health and amenity are disregarded in favour of more affluent areas.
“The State Government must recognise that the western region of metropolitan Melbourne can no longer remain a dumping ground for our State’s noxious industries,” said Brad Matheson, Mayor of Hobsons Bay City Council and President of the Municipal Association of Victoria.
The Councils point out that while municipal waste disposal is subject to coordinated controls and monitoring, such coordination does not apply to prescribed and intractable waste management.
“It is an outrage that the Minister has given his support to extend the life of the Tullamarine dump without going through any of the proper Environmental Effects Statement and planning processes,” said Bill Muir, Mayor of the City of Hume.
The combined Councils have presented Planning and Local Government Minister, Rob Maclellan, with a Draft Terms of Reference for the proposed Inquiry indicating specific issues to be considered.
These include considering whether such waste disposal should be solely the responsibility of State Government agencies, determining best practice for the industry, funding research and developing incentives for waste minimisation and cleaner production methods.
An approach is also being made to Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill advocating national coordination of industrial waste management issues.
