VCAT decision for landfill development leaves …

By Bridget Brady
IN AN attempt to prevent another Brookland Greens debacle, Casey Council will appeal a VCAT decision allowing residential development near a landfill site in Hampton Park.
Council last week announced it would lodge an appeal in the Supreme Court against the “extremely disappointing” VCAT decision to allow the Seventh Day Adventist Church’s application for residential subdivision of 24 lots at Hallam Road in Hampton Park.
Mayor Lorraine Wreford said the council had grave concerns the proposed development was close to the landfill and would seriously impact on the wellbeing of future residents. SITA Environmental Solutions owns the landfill where municipal and commercial waste is dumped.
“It’s an absolute blow for council, and the community, that VCAT has overturned the council’s decision considering the close proximity to the landfill site and that the development will occur within the landfill buffer distance recommended by the Environment Protection Authority in its best practice guidelines,” Cr Wreford said.
“If only VCAT had heeded council and the EPA’s expert advice in the case of the Brookland Greens appeal, the issues which arose in 2008 would have been avoided.”
Cr Wreford said “common sense” should ensure a cautious approach was taken when considering residential development near a landfill.
But at the hearing VCAT presiding member J. A. Bennett and member Graeme David said they were satisfied the landfill site involved a different set of circumstances to the Brookland Greens case. They said a 2009 EPA audit of landfills found the Hallam Road site would not be adversely affected by gas migration.
“We can well understand why Casey City Council has adopted a very cautious approach to this proposal.
“Based on the material that has been presented to us we are satisfied that the SITA landfill will not adversely impact on the proposed residential lots.”
Last year the News reported Lynbrook residents who lived near the landfill complained of foul smells during hot weather.
Hundreds of Brookland Greens residents have joined a class action against Casey Council after higher than acceptable levels of methane gas were found in some homes.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church did not provide comment before the News went to print.