By Elsie Lange
Hi-Quality will begin receiving contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel Project in March, despite an ongoing Hume council Supreme Court challenge and community outrage.
Sunbury resident and founder of the Sunbury Against Toxic Soil Facebook group Chris O’Neill said it was a “difficult day” for residents, considering they had “fought so hard” against the project.
“I think Hi-Quality, the government and all the relevant parties need to start engaging better with the community,” Mr O’Neill said.
In a statement on Thursday, February 24, , Hi-Quality said the first stage of the construction of the facility was complete and ready to accept the soil.
“It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of tunnel excavation for the West Gate Tunnel Project,” the statement said.
A Hi-Quality spokesperson told Star Weekly the facility has been designed with “robust environmental protection measures”.
“To prevent any impact on the surrounding land or waterways, and our operational plans include strict guidelines for trucks and transport, as well on-site mitigation measures for dust, noise and lighting,” the spokesperson said.
This follows concern raised last week by residents and council about the Department of Transport’s approval of a route to carry contaminated soil from to the facility.
According to the traffic management plan, prepared by Hi-Quality Group, trucks will take soil from the tunnel project through Footscray to CityLink, before taking the “preferred haulage route” along Tullamarine Freeway to Sunbury Road/Bulla Road.
Among council’s concerns is the sheer volume of heavy vehicle traffic that will descend onto an already-congested Sunbury Road – 429 trucks a day, making trips to and from the facility.
Hume mayor Carly Moore said the council wrote to Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan to express opposition to the traffic management plan in October last year.
“This decision will see an additional 850 heavy vehicles added to the existing number of vehicles,” Cr Moore said,
“This section of the road already sees more than 24,000 vehicles every day and has had a total of 80 recorded crashes in the last ten years to December 2020, including three fatalities and 39 serious injuries.”
“It isn’t enough that our backyard may become a dumping ground for toxic spoil, we now also have more reason to worry about the safety of those who use Sunbury Road to take their kids to school, go to work and do the shopping,” she said.
Mr O’Neill said the community had a number of concerns to do with the route, most notably the overuse of the heritage-listed Bulla Bridge.
“We’ve continued to raise that the Bulla Bridge is unsuitable, and Hume City Council has raised it as unsuitable,” Mr O’Neill said.
“It doesn’t meet the guidelines required for a heavy haulage route.”
The Hi-Quality spokesperson said at the project’s peak, there will be an additional 15-18 trucks on the road per hour, equating to a 2-4 per cent traffic increase .
“Our approved Traffic Management Plan addresses key concerns, including clear protocols for the use of haulage routes along B-Double approved arterial roads, as well as road safety assessments, and strict tracking and monitoring of Project trucks,” the spokesperson said.
Hume council has launched legal action against Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s decision to grant permission for the testing and disposal of contaminated soil at the Bulla site.
Legal proceedings took place on Wednesday, February 23, but the case was adjourned, and the judge has reserved her decision until after she reviews oral and written submissions.
There is no indication of how long the process will take.
Cr Moore said with the addition of the heavy vehicles, it will be a “matter of when and not if” another road incident occurs.
“Along with advocating for the toxic spoil to not come to Hume, Council has long advocated to the Victorian government for both the full duplication of Sunbury Road and delivery of the Bulla Bypass – both infrastructure projects which will address safety and congestion concerns,” Cr Moore said.
