Jennifer Pittorino
Noise, chemicals, odours and high health risks are some of the issues a West Footscray family says it will have to deal with if a hazardous waste processing facility moves only 30 metres from their home.
A Paintback facility, which will involve the crushing of paint cans and the release of post-processed fumes into the surrounding area, is proposed for Graingers Road West Footscray.
Resident Ashley Norris said the facility poses a significant threat to public health and safety and will impact on residents.
“The proposed use is unequivocally an inappropriate use of this part of the property and will cause significant adverse impact to the amenity of the neighbourhood,” he said.
“Everyday we see people walking down the street with prams, dogs, children to and from school, it’s not good for the area.”
Mr Norris and his family reside on a street with five other homes which is deemed as industrial-zoned land.
According to Environment Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines, an ink, paint mixing, or processing plant should not be within 500 meters of residential land.
“However the noise limits for a residential zone land are different to an industrial zone land, which display high levels of expected noise in the planning documents,” Mr Norris said.
Community members are forecasting an additional 17 truck movements a day in the area between the hours of 7am and 7pm.
Mr Norris said is most concerned about the fact he felt there was no community consultation about the facility.
“The initial shock came from seeing the public notice by chance walking past the facility,” he said.
“Once we found out what it was going to be, we were astonished that there wasn’t any notification to the surroundings at all.
“Something like that really should’ve been broadcast and made to have community consultation.”
In a statement from EPA they said; “Having received an application from Paintback Limited for a Development Licence, EPA advertised for community feedback in the Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay Star Weekly and on the Engage Victoria website, on Wednesday, May 3.
“Publication in the Star Weekly and on the Engage Victoria website gave three business weeks for submissions, with a closing date of Thursday, May 25.
“EPA also informed the Brooklyn Community Representative Group, who published the link to the Engage Vic website on their Facebook page on Friday, May 12.
“The applicant subsequently conducted a doorknock/letterboxing in the area on Tuesday, June 6, although this was not a requirement of the EPA consultation process.
“EPA can accept late submissions on proposed Development Licences, particularly if they raise significant issues or are from individuals that are potentially going to be directly impacted by the proposal.
“ The decision to accept late submissions is considered on a case-by-case basis, and the process is designed to be fair to both the applicant and anyone wishing to make a submission,” they said.
Footscray MP Katie Hall requested that residents have the opportunity to put in their objections.
“Residents should have every opportunity to participate in these processes and I was pleased to advocate on their behalf for late submissions to be accepted,” she said.
Mr Norris and other community members have submitted objections to the facility and have been in contact with Maribyrnong council, the mayor and other local parliamentary members.
The period for submissions to the EPA has closed, however EPA said, if a community member wishes to make a late submission or raise any other issues about the proposal, they can email EPA.
Details: permissioning.engagement@epa.vic.gov.au .
