By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK Council is investigating activity at Calder Park Raceway amid concerns operations at the site could be in breach of planning laws.
The council has commenced an investigation after residents complained about an increase in truck traffic, elevated dust levels and landfill operations at the site.
Council officers have inspected the site and reported an increase in truck activity, believed to stem from the importing of soil used to increase the height of mounds surrounding the site, as part of landfill operations.
Council inspectors claim that the mounds have been built up too high, breaching the site’s planning permit.
Stephen Sully, the council’s General Manager of City Development said the council had ordered the raceway to stop activity at the site until the investigation was completed.
But Mr Sully said Calder Park’s operators had refused to comply with the council order.
“To date this has not occurred and council is currently continuing with its assessment to determine if and what breaches to the planning permit have occurred,” he said.
But Calder Park General Manager Ian McArthur told Star the raceway was complying with its planning permit conditions.
Mr McArthur said the site had operated as a landfill for decades and had never received any complaints.
“We’re just adding to existing infrastructure, we have a planning permit and we’re not doing anything wrong,” Mr McArthur said.
“We’re not aware of any complaints but we will be continuing to work with the council to ensure that we’re meeting our obligations.”
The council received 24 complaints over planning compliance in the city in February, up from 16 the previous month.
A total of five penalty notices were issued to sites in Albion, Sunshine North, Cairnlea and Tullamarine for breaches ranging from illegal signage to improper use of land.
