altona north
An environment group has slammed Hobsons Bay council’s “obscene free gift”
of public land to a multimillion-dollar company.
Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek is objecting to the loss of a parcel of land adjoining Altona North Landfill. Melbourne Water is also objecting.
Friends vice-president Simon Hogan said members had fought hard to have the land in McArthurs Road protected.
Mr Hogan said the council officers had recommended giving away a bigger parcel as part of a land swap so an industrial park could be built.
“It’s not just rezoning it – they’re effectively giving it away for nothing,” he said. “They’re saying it’s a land swap, but the land that they’re giving away is considerably bigger than the land they’re getting back, so what the officers are proposing is a free gift from Hobsons Bay to a multi-millionaire. It’s obscene to me, really.”
In 1994, a company, now known as Altona North Landfill, bought the property at 55 McArthurs Road and was required to return a parcel of land to the council to create an environmental buffer.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said she understood concerns raised by the Friends group. “The submissions will be referred to an independent panel which will forward its recommendation to the council,” she said.
Melbourne Water manager Cameron Howie said that, “as with any site of environmental and social value”, there were concerns about industrial use of the land.
Altona North Landfill did not respond to phone calls and emails by deadline.
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