Cranbourne resident Michael Selesnew is one of many calling for the Cranbourne Waste Transfer Station to be closed.
By Nicole Williams
CRANBOURNE residents are desperately trying to shut down the Cranbourne Waste Transfer Station.
Transfer Lies community group member Michael Selesnew said the stench coming from the tip was threatening residents’ wellbeing.
“As soon as this smell comes in you feel nauseous and people get immediate skin rashes. There are children around here who get severe asthma attacks as soon as this happens,” Mr Selesnew said.
At Tuesday’s Casey Council meeting Councillor Geoff Ablett tabled a petition with 36 signatories asking for the waste station to be closed.
Mr Selesnew said this was only a portion of the signatures the group had obtained.
“We’ve got about 400 signatories now,” he said.
“There are a lot of people starting to swell up against this.”
At the meeting, the council passed a motion to look into the operators’ contract and if it is found to be in breach, the operator will be issued a notice to clean up its act.
A public meeting will also take place at the end of March with the EPA, some councillors and residents asked to attend.
“I’m quite happy that this meeting was passed last night,” Mr Selesnew said.
“Up to this point, Cr Geoff Ablett has been fighting on our behalf and I think last night they (the other councillors) realised there was a problem.”
Mr Selesnew said they won’t stop until the transfer station was shut down, and they were prepared to go to VCAT if the council did not act accordingly.
“Our aim is to shut this place down,” he said.
