• Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star

By Nicole Precel

9th March 2010 11:05:45 AM

---

A PETITION with over 2000 signatures against Innova Soil Technology’s soil remediation facility will be handed to VCAT in opposition to the proposal - and it could be the first of many.

The Hobsons Bay Residents Association has collected 2030 signatures against the Altona North, Dow Site development.

HBRA member Anne Palmer said their main opposition was against the site as a permanent facility.

“We do however support the clean-up of local contaminated sites via temporary and mobile units,” she said.

Innova Soil has been fighting to sidestep Hobsons Bay City Council planning procedures by submitting the proposal for the soil recycling facility as a petrochemical industry, which therefore would not require a town planning permit.

However, Hobsons Bay City Council disagrees, identifying it as industry.

Mrs Palmer said there were many residents who still hadn’t received information about Innova’s proposal and that talk of wide community support for the application was misleading.

“There have been so many complaints, that’s the biggest feedback we get,” she said.

“People are still so unaware of what’s happening.”

Ms Palmer said this would be the first of many petitions against the proposal.

Innova engineer Antony Taylor did not comment on the amount of signatures but highlighted the information available about the facility on its website and also the online forum for community response.

“Innova will continue with its wide community consultation on every aspect of the proposed centre for site remediation in Altona and as such we once again encourage everyone interested in finding out more information on our proposal, to visit the independently hosted website and on-line forum on the proposal at www.innovacleansoilproposal.com.au,” he said.

Hobsons Bay City Council director of assets and works Phillip McDonald said there would be a report submitted at the next council meeting and that the council was preparing a case and would expect to have a hearing within the next two to three months.

---

Popular Stories