Mountain Views Mail | Star News Group Local community news

Mountain Views Mail | Star News Group Local community news

IT’S the stench that’s stuck. 

Coldstream and Lilydale residents who are sick and tired of the compost smell wafting over their towns are breathing a fresh sigh of relief after an application for new works on the Coldstream Compost site was blocked by the Shire of Yarra Ranges. 

A bad reputation and objections from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) saw an application by Australia Native Landscape (ANL) refused at Monday night’s council meeting.

The application included plans to amend its site layout and construct in-ground compost aeration facilities, a green waste storage building, holding bay and biofilters and changes to an existing trammel building. 

As well as 33 staunch community objections to the proposal, the council’s decision was heavily weighted by the EPA objection and ANL’s poor track record on the site. 

Lilydale resident Tony King, who spoke on behalf of those affected by the odour, said the community was happy with the council’s decision to deny the planning application. “It was a fair, just and responsible decision,” Mr King said. 

“It is just disappointing that ANL hasn’t seen the writing on the wall, so to speak, and moved on.”

In a statement to the council, the EPA said it had received more than 2500 reports of bad odours during the past three and a half years and that the site had continually been at the top of its list of community complaints. 

Deputy mayor Tim Heenan said the facility had created amenity problems for residents since it began operating in 2006. He said concerns about odour from the site had also topped the council’s list of community complaints. 

“Citing that the proposed works would help minimise these odours is not enough – residents should not have to suffer any odour at all from the site,” Cr Heenan said. 

“Given the EPA itself has no confidence in ANL’s proposal, council had no other choice but to refuse the proposal.”

Councillor Jeanette McRae echoed the deputy mayor’s sentiments. 

She said she could not support the application because the facility did not use the best practice technology and because of that had encroached unreasonably on the lives of residents for many years. 

“It has been diabolical and it’s something that we need to stop,” Cr McRae said. 

“It’s a fantastic concept, having green waste and recycling – but you have to pick your spot and technology, and listen to your community.”