By Violet Li
Casey Council is on the same page on the proposed Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station, as the Mayor will write to the Planning Minister to ask for assistance to find a new location for the proposed facility.
Councillor Lynette Pereira raised a notice of motion at Casey Council’s meeting on Tuesday 18 March, requesting stronger advocacy to the State Government and Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to share the local community’s concerns on the proposed Hampton Park Waste Transfer Station.
Cr Shane Taylor seconded the motion.
The motion was unanimously passed.
Councillors agreed to write to the Minister for Planning and Local MPs to consider finding a new location, and to the Minister for Environment to share community concerns about the ability of the operator Veolia to safely operate the Waste Transfer Station.
The advocacy would also share the community’s concerns about Veolia’s history of non-compliance and seek a commitment from the EPA to meet with the local community and respond to their concerns before any decision is made on the Development Licence.
Cr Pereira said the community had been sick of living in the rubbish capital.
“They’re speaking up at meetings, signing petitions, and making their voices heard,” she said.
“This is community spirit at its best, people standing up for their neighbourhoods, fighting for what they believe in, and working together for the greater good.”
Cr Taylor said the motion was about standing up for our community.
“We’re talking about increased traffic, potential, air pollution, noise pollution, health and safety risks,” he said.
“It’s about ensuring that our State Government and EPA, don’t just pay lip service to our communities, but, yeah, they actually take action.”
Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said the motion was forward-thinking.
“It’s opening the option to discuss alternative locations, and I think we need to be having those conversations now, as councillors, across the Casey and the south east, because the EPA is currently considering the development license,” he said.
“If this development license is not approved, then the proposal as it stands is not able to go ahead.
“This is a good step in that direction.”
