By Natalie Gallenti
BRIMBANK Council and residents have welcomed the decision handed down by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to uphold the council’s refusal to allow a landfill at the former Sunshine Quarry site in Kealba.
The decision was a victory for residents across the north-west of the municipality who had fought tirelessly against the proposal by the Barro Group to construct a solid inert landfill.
VCAT concluded that the proposal did not pass the test of providing a community benefit for present and future generations. The tribunal took the view that a landfill at this location was not an acceptable planning outcome.
A number of factors including noise and dust issues, visual impact to residents and environmental implications were taken into consideration when making the decision.
Community activist Marilyn Canet said she was “absolutely ecstatic” with the decision.
A founding member of the Residents Against Sunshine Kealba Quarry said the decision “saved residents from 80 years of living a nightmare”.
“This historic decision shows what can be achieved when the council and the community work together.”
However, Ms Canet said the fight was not over just yet.
“I will lobby the State Government to move the existing plant from the site.”
Ms Canet said a decision on the site and its future was long overdue as quarrying had ceased in 1999.
Council administrator and chair of the Sunshine Quarry Community Liaison Committee, Jo Anderson, said following on from the ruling the council would continue to work with the Barro Group and the community on the future use and management of the site.
Peter Barro, executive director of the Barro Group, said the company was disappointed with the outcome.
Mr Barro said no alternative had been offered and “at this stage there will just be a hole in the ground and that’s not right”.
He said the landfill was only for medium-term use, with a long-term view of constructing a golf course on the site.
“It’s a good site for a landfill and the end result of a recreational facility was a great community benefit.
“People are thinking of the short-term and not looking at the long-term benefits.”
Peter Lewinsky, chairman of administrators, said that the council was concerned about the impact of the proposed landfill on residents and the environment.
