By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A permit decision on a waste-to-energy plant in Dandenong South is now “out of the hands” of Greater Dandenong Council.
The proponent Great Southern Waste has appealed the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), city planning director Jody Bosman told a council meeting on 28 January.
“Now VCAT is responsible for the processing and decision making,” Mr Bosman said.
“The application is longer in the hands of the council.
“It’s an application that will now be decided by VCAT.”
Great Southern Waste appealed to VCAT on the grounds of the council failing to make a decision within the legislated timeframe.
On 11 November, Greater Dandenong councillors deferred its decision until a community consultation, an Environment Protection Authority approval and a councillor briefing by the EPA.
The EPA briefing and community consultation were not likely to proceed, Mr Bosman said.
Greater Dandenong will be a party to a ‘practice day’ hearing at VCAT on 28 February.
Mr Bosman said an EPA briefing to councillors was “unlikely”. The council had no plans for a community consultation, as a result of the appeal.
The plant would be expected to incinerate 100,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste a year. About 3 per cent of ash byproduct is expected to be emitted from its 55-metre smoke stack.
It would generate 9.3 Megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power the plant (1.4 MWh) as well as about 7000 homes, according to Great Southern.
The project is currently being assessed by the EPA.
