THE entire hamlet of Killara and about 600 defence workers are too close to an organic recycling and composting plant, says Victoria’s environmental watchdog.
The EPA has imposed a 1500- metre buffer zone around the Greenchip Recycling plant near the Bandiana saleyards based on the quantity and quality of the manure and food waste being processed.
But residents of the Wodonga satellite suburb are yet to be told and people can still build on a normal block without being aware of the zone.
A change in guidelines, dating back to 1996, had not previously been applied to the plant.
Wodonga Council chief executive Gavin Cator admitted people living in the zone had not been informed.
This week the council again met the Victorian government’s environmental watchdog in a bid to scale back the zone.
But the discussions have been ongoing for almost 18 months without resolution.
EPA North East regional manager Ann Telford said the buffer zone was to protect people and the environment.
“The buffer zone is calculated from the type of waste received, the composting process used and the tonnage received per day,” she said.
“The guidelines are not binding but their purpose is to provide advice on best practice management for the benefit of both compost operators and the community.
“EPA is working with Wodonga Council and North East Water, which has a neighbouring sewerage plant, to agree to the preferred buffer zones.
“Our objective in these discussions is to improve the environment and protect the amenity of current and future residents of Wodonga.”
Mr Cator said discussions with the EPA and North East Water were continuing.
“The 1500-metre buffer zone imposed on the council by the EPA will be taken into account when the council considers planning permit applications for developments that could involve sensitive land use,” he said.
“As always ... the council will assess each planning permit application on its merits.
But Mr Cator said there was no trigger to refer the building of a normal house on a residential block greater than 300 square metres to the EPA.
“A land owner can build the house without a planning permit,” a council spokesman said.
“If a planning permit was required for a ‘use’ or ‘development’ within the buffer zone, the permit would be considered on its merits.
“A referral to the EPA would draw council’s attention to the state policy on buffer distances.”
Former mayor Rod Wangman recently highlighted the potential for litigation over the matter.
He suggested that it may be better and cheaper to assist Greenchip Recycling with relocating the business.
Greenchip Recycling declined the chance to comment yesterday.
Editorial — page 36
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