By Jessica Micallef
The Bulla tip, also known as “Bulla’s Ayers Rock”, is set to rise even higher.
Hume council last week approved a planning permit to increase the capping contours and height at the Sunbury Road tip from 182 metres to 184 metres.
More than 30 objections from neighbouring property owners and Sunbury and Melbourne Airport residents were received. Concerns included environmental impacts to surrounding areas, visual impact of increased height, traffic impacts and intrusions to controlled airspace.
Sunbury Resident’s Association Graham Williams said he was disappointed there was no community consultation about the proposal.
“That is the issue and that’s what concerns us more,” he said.”
“They [council] are really turning the whole road into Sunbury into a very industrial-type road where there are new housing estates.
“It’s [the tip] has been labelled ‘Bulla’s Ayres Rock’. I cannot see the size of the Bulla tip shrinking anytime soon.”
Cr Jodi Jackson said the increased height was not in the best interest of the Jacksons Creek ward community.
“The height is of serious concern to most residents. It is overbearing … and it certainly is an eyesore” she said.
“Is it in the best interest of the broader community? Based on the contributions that have been made in terms of the objections, I would … say no. They are not happy with the height that it is now and they are not going to be happy with the height that it’s intending to be.
“We are not just talking about residents who live in Bulla or the residents who live in Sunbury. We have residents over in Wildwood, we have residents over towards the Calder [Freeway] who are also being imposed.”
Cr Jackson said the height of the fence at the tip was not high enough to stop rubbish from flying over onto Sunbury Road.
“I think kangaroos can jump over that fence,” she said.
“A fence would have to be a significant height to prevent that [rubbish flying over] from happening.”
Cr Jack Medcraft said rubbish from the tip had been “compacted” and green screening wrapped along the fence line stopped rubbish from “blowing onto the road”.
“We have got to be realistic. This is a tip, it’s got to be used as a tip,” he said.
“The only one that will have the final say …. on the height, will probably be Melbourne Airport.”
