By XAVIER SMERDON
A FORMER Wyndham Councillor has accused the council of “misinforming” its residents over the controversial tip mountain.
Cynthia Manson has used an eight page submission to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to claim that while she was Chairperson of the Refuse Disposal Facility from 2005 to 2012 she was kept in the dark about height increases at the tip.
The increasing height of the tip has caused heated debate between the Western Region Environment Centre, residents and Wyndham Council.
“Council officers (in 2008) approved their own permit to increase the height to 44 metres at the Wests Rd facility,” Ms Manson said in the submission.
“Councillors were not given an opportunity to consider or vote on the matter. (The) Officers were outside their authority to make such a decision”.
Ms Manson told Star she would be reporting the matter to the Local Government Inspectorate and that it was not until 2012 when she finally found out about the height increases.
“I was definitely misinformed by the council officers and they did not give full disclosure,” she said.
“I want to know exactly who knew what and when they knew and why they didn’t tell the councillors or the community.”
But Wyndham Council CEO Kerry Thompson rejected Ms Manson’s claims, saying that she knew about the proposed height increases.
“Plans to increase the height of the Wests Rd Landfill were first raised at an RDF Advisory Committee meeting on 23rd May 2011. Council records demonstrate that Cynthia Manson was present at this meeting at which the report was tabled,” Ms Thompson said.
“As the councillor representative and Chairperson of this Advisory Committee, it was Cynthia Manson’s role to provide councillor input in to specific decisions around the RDF and report back to the wider council group.
“A Confidential Contractual Report regarding the proposed height of the landfill was tabled at the 27th June 2011 Ordinary Meeting of Council. This report was moved by Cynthia Manson.”
Ms Thompson said VCAT had now approved the council’s amendment to its planning permit for the height of the landfill, confirming a maximum height of 24 metres above ground.
