Georgia Tacey
The Sunbury community is concerned it will be treated like “Melbourne’s dumping ground” if plans for a waste incinerator on Sunbury Road are approved, a Hume councillor has claimed.
HiQ is proposing to build an energy-from-waste facility at its Sunbury Eco-Hub which will process non-hazardous waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill.
According to HiQ this would include household waste, and pre-sorted materials from construction, building, and business operations.
HiQ said the proposed facility would generate enough electricity to power at least 50,000 homes.
The development will not require planning permission from Hume council as the state government will be the responsible authority for the application.
Hume councillors have called on council officers to prepare a report on the proposal and council’s options for engaging in the application process.
Councillors also want advice on how they can advocate on behalf of the community.
Speaking during the June 10 council meeting, Cr Kate Hamley said the community feared the facility would not be maintained standards to prevent harm, given HiQ’s history of Environment Protection Authority breaches.
“There’s a situation on our doorstep and it stinks,” Cr Hamley said.
“This development will include a huge exhaust column releasing invisible gasses into the air within one kilometre of homes, farms and Emu Creek.”
Cr Hamley said there was concern about an increase in the number of trucks travelling along Sunbury Road to the incinerator, with the facility likely to be able to consume more waste than Hume can create alone.
“Our community out in Sunbury are concerned that we will again be treated like Melbourne’s dumping ground,” she said.
“We’ve taken the contaminated [West Gate Tunnel] soil that nobody wanted. We’ve done our fair share already.”
A HiQ spokesperson confirmed the company is finalising applications for the facility.
The spokespersons said HiQ was working with the community and addressing concerns, adding that they are looking at several ways to reduce the traffic impacts on Sunbury Road by distributing movements across operational hours and proposing multiple travel routes to the site.
“While Hume City Council is not a decision maker in this process, we know that council plays a crucial role in the approvals and ongoing operations of the Sunbury Eco-Hub, and we are committed to working with them,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ve already held a number of meetings and briefings with councillors and council officers and will continue to do so.
“The proposed energy-from-waste facility is aligned with Hume’s waste management strategy and supports efforts to divert waste from landfill. HiQ is committed to supporting Hume’s broader sustainability targets and considers this project a key contributor to local and regional environmental outcomes.”
