FEBRUARY 26, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Battle lines drawn By Esther Lauaki Toxic waste is not welcome in Wyndham. That’s the message that furious residents want to deliver loud and clear when they take to the streets next Tuesday to protest a government proposal to dump contaminated soil from the Westgate Tunnel at a Wyndham Vale stabling yard. A tractor convoy will lead protesters down Watton Street in a bid to derail the proposal to use the stabling yard to temporarily dump some of the Transurban project’s PFAS soil. “We want to let the state government know that if they pursue this, we will not allow their trucks to enter,” community organiser Lisa Heinrichs said. Hundreds of residents have signed a petition against storing the toxic soil anywhere in Wyndham and a human barricade of the Hobbs Road rail yard is also planned. More than 300 residents attended a community meeting last Wednesday to map out a course of action. Werribee MP Tim Pallas was booed by community members when he unexpectedly showed up at the meeting. He maintains that the Wyndham Vale site will only be a “back-up” solution. But Federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan broke Labor party ranks last week and opposed the Transurban proposal saying she was not satisfied with the planning. Ms Heinrichs said one of the first calls to action will be a local rally in a bid to give the government “an opportunity to back down”. “There has been no community consultation thus far … this is a government-owned site that does not need local council approval,” she said. “We have great cause for concern that we will be unaware of any movement of soil being dumped on site. “We believe that of utmost importance would be to organise a barricade of the site. “We can’t have any of it rumbling through our suburban streets. “Ballan Road is the only road to this site … these trucks would have to travel through Werribee, Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes past our homes, schools and our childcare centres.” The state-owned 82-hectare site, which backs onto the heritage-protected Werribee River, is just 70 metres from houses and abuts land for planned housing developments and four schools. Mr Pallas told the meeting the Wyndham Vale site was only a temporary facility. “There are a range of sites being considered for the ongoing storage of soil – none in the electorate of Werribee – but the Wyndham
Lisa Marcovic is a member of the committee organising next week’s rally. (Joe Mastroianni) 205066_01 Inset: More than 300 people turned up to last week’s meeting about the toxic dump. (Esther Lauaki)
Vale stabling site may be used as a temporary facility in rare instances,” Mr Pallas said. “This would be entirely safe, and would only be temporary for a number of days until the soil is moved to where it needs to go.” Ms Ryan said: “Following discussions [with residents], as well as a long history as a community activist, grassroots campaigner and the federal representative, I have decided not to support Transurban’s toxic soil plan for the community I have called home for my entire life. “I am not satisfied that we are hearing talk of plans for extenuating circumstances when
there is no plan detailing the final disposal or treatment facility. “I am not confident the back-up plan being discussed will have the safety measures in place to protect people and … the environment. “Transurban and their construction partners need to come to the table, listen to our community’s wishes.” The community fight comes more than 20 years after thousands of Wyndham residents led a three-year campaign which resulted in the state government scrapping plans for a toxic dump and waste management precinct. Details: bit.ly/3c4Ahk6
Four bin plan rolled out statewide Households across Victoria are set to get a fourth bin to dispose of glass under a new recycling scheme announced by the state government. The plan is part of efforts to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by 80 per cent within a decade. The state government will provide $129 million towards the Recycling Victoria initiative, but it remains unclear whether the full cost of introducing the new bins will be borne by councils, residents or the government. The state’s new bin system will comprise bins with a purple lid introduced for glass recycling; bins with a green lid for food and garden organics; bins with a yellow lid for plastic, metal and paper recycling; and bins with a red lid for household waste. A statement issued by the state government said that by collecting glass separately, “we can make sure more of it is effectively recycled – with jars and bottles transformed multiple times into multiple different products, including new roads and footpaths”. It also stated a separate glass collection would make the recovery of other recyclables simpler. The roll-out of the new bins is expected to start next year and happen gradually – informed by the needs of local communities and existing council contracts. There will also be special arrangements for remote regional households and people in apartments, to ensure everyone gets access to the new four bin system. Wyndham council’s director city design and liveability Ludo Campbell-Reid, said: “Wyndham City Council welcomes any initiative that reduces waste from landfill, as outlined in our Waste and Litter Strategy 2016-2040. “We look forward to seeing the detail of the proposal.” The state government’s Recycling Victoria initiative will also include the introduction of a container deposit scheme, to begin by 2023. Hobsons Bay council recently introduced its own four bin recycling program. Alesha Capone
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