Residents fume at mayor’s tip support

– Shaun Inguanzo
RESIDENTS battling to stop hazardous waste being dumped at the Lyndhurst tip are outraged that Greater Dandenong’s mayor has welcomed the Planning Minister’s support for the tip operator.
Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown said he was not surprised to see Planning Minister Rob Hulls intervene in the Greater Dandenong and SITA tribunal battle that could decide whether the Lyndhurst tip continues to receive hazardous waste.
Cr Brown said the council would continue its legal battle against SITA on behalf of residents but he said Mr Hulls intention to side with SITA was a reflection of a cabinet decision.
“Should council succeed at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, I’m of little doubt that one of two actions will occur,” he said.
“Either SITA will go to the Supreme Court and if it won then that would be the end of the matter.
“If SITA lost at the Supreme Court then I believe the Victorian Government would then intervene and use its executive powers to ensure the tipping continues.”
Cr Brown said the government’s intervention now was a shorter, less expensive way for all parties, rather than paying for Supreme Court battles.
But Residents Against Toxic Waste in the South East spokeswoman Thelma Wakelam wrote a letter to Cr Brown and fellow councillors out of disgust at Cr Brown’s public comments.
“Our group was shocked to read what can only be interpreted as a lack of support for the real situation surrounding the battle at VCAT and the needs of the residents of this municipality,” the letter read.
“It would appear Cr Brown’s preoccupation with costs and future legal costs would not be relative to the importance of achieving the cessation of the depositing of hazardous waste in our great city.
“Particularly as at this stage, as far as we are aware, Minister Hulls has not telegraphed specifically what he plans to reveal at VCAT.
“Also the changes in the ground water alone at the site indicate a massive potential financial liability in the future for this council by way of clean-up – current court costs would be minute in comparison.”
Ms Wakelam called for the council to lobby for what she said was in residents’ best interest – safety.