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Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Garth Lamb
EPA Victoria has rejected Australian Native Landscapes’ proposal to re-establish a composting facility in Coldstream, saying it “does not have confidence in this company’s proposal”. ANL’s head Pat Soars has said he is “very disappointed with this decision” and is currently seeking reasons for the refusal. The head of Compost Australia, meanwhile, said Victoria is out of step with the other states.
EPA director environmental services Bruce Dawson said ANL applied for a works approval to reinstate operations on site, and proposed to process 40,000 tonnes/year of kerbside greenwaste in a semi-enclosed facility. But “after careful assessment and consideration”, EPA decided not to issue an approval.“EPA does not have confidence in this company’s proposal. For the last three and a half years, this site has continually been at the top of the list of community complaints and we have received more than 2,500 reports of odour from the company’s operations during that time,” said Dawson.
“A number of community objections were received regarding this proposal and submitters were able to voice their concerns at a public conference during the assessment process.
“EPA has determined that while the proposal will reduce odour emissions, it does not use best practice technology. Nor does it have adequate buffers to prevent off site odour impact.”
Dawson said the fact the site is in an area with unusual topography and weather conditions which limits odour dispersion also factored into the decision. He said an earlier, separate decision, by EPA not to issue the company with a licence to operate was still being considered by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
ANL has 21 days to lodge a review of the latest EPA decision, which would also be heard by VCAT. While Soars was reluctant to comment until he has clarification on the reasons for the decision, he said he was “concerned [about] how Victoria will deal with the potential huge volumes of greenwaste without a viable compost industry”.
Compost Australia head Peter Wadewitz said Victoria is out of step with the other states.
“What I find really confusing is that in NSW and Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia there’s all this outdoor composting going ahead. Victoria is the only state that’s continually trying to drive it inside a box,” he said.
He points out totally enclosed composting facilities – “which have their own issues too” – are much more capital intensive than open air facilities, which needs to be reflected in higher gatefees and higher prices for final outputs, “that you’re not going to be able to sell”.
“Victoria’s already got some of the worst stockpiles around in terms of finished products getting out to market – so it’s a bit confusing.”
3 comments:
It feels like Compost Australia Head Peter Wadewitz is saying Composting should come before the welfare of human beings. I think Mr Wadewitz should get his facts right before making such comments as "Victoria is the only state that’s continually trying to drive it inside a box,”. None of the residents that I have spoken to in and around this facility has ever been against Composting and in fact are all for it, but NOT at the expense of their right to breathe clean fresh air in and outside their homes. I wonder if Mr Wadewits has spent the last 4years in an area that most of the time all you smell is VOMIT!If you want to have a composting site in Victoria Mr Wadewits, perhaps more consideration should be placed on the location of the site, so that should the facility create odours they will not impact the lives of community around them....Instead of as you put it in relation to Composting being put in its box....like the residents have been put in their BOX for the last 4years!
I am suremost of ushave NO problem with composting. What we do have a problem with is it's proximity to residentswanting a reasonable quality of life. I think Peter Wadewitz ismissing this very important point. I would like to know whether he has visited Coldstream to experience the issues we have put up with. Also remembering we were promised "no odours" from day one
As a resident I can say I am very happy with the decision EPA have made. The facility has had years to fix its problems and haven't, it still stinks! Mr Wadewitz is most welcome to have this facilities stench in his own backyard, rather than in ours.
As for clarification, Im not sure what Mr Soars is reading, I thought Mr Dawson from EPA's comments were straight forward.
Simple solution in Victoria: move this facility away from residental areas & keep any new sites away from residential areas.
Personally I think instead of wasting money in court they should have moved this facility at the beginning!!
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