ALTONA Meadows resident Annette Sullivan moved into her Hibiscus Court home last month, before discovering that an inland port will be built 500 metres away.
Now, the developer of Altona’s inland port wants to expand its operations to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Residents are rallying against expanded operations, saying they will be bombarded with continuous noise from trucks, freight trains and machinery, and from thousands of containers being loaded and unloaded.
Salta Properties has just under 20 hectares of land in Modal Place, Altona.
By the end of next year it aims to be shuttling containers to and from the Port of Melbourne from the Altona inland port, which is near the interstate rail line and Princes Freeway.
Hobsons Bay Council refused its plans, but Salta successfully appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to overturn the council’s decision.
Now, Salta has gone to VCAT to vary the conditions of its permit so it can operate non-stop just 500 metres from Altona Meadows homes.
Residents are also concerned about exposure to chemicals from container fumigation. “If they’re coming in 24/7, there’ll be fumigation 24/7. It’s just not good enough for residents to be exposed to that,” Ms Sullivan said.
“We bought the house on the 15th of October. We had no idea this was going to happen. We wouldn’t have bought in the area if we’d known. We’re really upset. I’m not even a week in the place when I’m getting this letter.”
She said residents received a copy of an amended planning permit from lawyers representing Salta and were given 14 days to respond with a “statement of grounds” to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Residents have formed a Salta Development Objection Group and begun a Facebook campaign.
Hobsons Bay’s planning and environment director Peter Gaschk indicated the council would oppose the expansion of the inland port’s operation. He said VCAT issued the original permit after the council refused Salta’s application. “As a result, VCAT will also decide on any amendment to the permit, not the council,” Mr Gaschk said.
Salta managing director Sam Tarascio said he was not prepared to pre-empt VCAT’s decisions and comments. He said the company holds a permit for development of an inland port at Modal Place, Altona that was originally granted in 2008 by VCAT with the support of the Victorian state government.
A directions hearing will be set by VCAT on December 14.
