Environment Protection Act 1970 Section 20B Conference Report
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Environment Protection Act 1970 Section 20B Conference Report Application: Development of a waste-to-energy facility at 70 Ordish Road, Dandenong South Applicant: Great Southern Waste Technologies Pty Ltd Produced for Conference Date: Tuesday 3rd March 2020 Conference Chair: Jennifer Lilburn Declaration Limitations of Use I am the Chairperson appointed under Section 20B of the This report has been prepared for EPA Victoria’s consideration as Environment Protection Act 1970 to preside over a consultation part of its assessment of the Works Approval Application by Great conference relating to a Works Approval Application by Great Southern Waste Technologies Pty Ltd. The author has included Southern Waste Technologies Pty Ltd for the construction of a new reflections and recommendations that represent an impartial, non- abattoir at 70 Ordish Road, Dandenong South. I hereby submit my expert view, based on the comments made by community members report to the Environment Protection Authority as required under at the Section 20B Conference held in Dandenong on 3 March 2020. the provisions of the Act. Considerable effort has been made to ensure that the report accurately reflects the discussions that took place at the 20B Conference. However, the feedback by its nature is subjective and not always consistent. It cannot necessarily be construed to be an accurate reflection of the weight of broader community or Jennifer Lilburn stakeholder opinion. No formal statistical analysis of data has been Director Kismet Forward undertaken. March 2020 No responsibility or liability can be taken for errors or omissions, or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party. Acronyms and abbreviations used in this document Great Southern Waste Technologies Pty Applicant Ltd CALD Culturally and Linguistically Diverse EPA Environment Protection Authority Victoria EU European Union Great Southern Waste Technologies Pty GSWT Ltd the Conference The Section 20B Conference Photographs in this report were taken by Kylie Cirak and Jen Lilburn UN United Nations of the subject site and during the Conference VCAT Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal WTE Waste to energy Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction and background .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Summary of the application ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Timelines and submissions ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.3 The Section 20B Conference .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Invitations and participation .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Conference format ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.6 This report.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2. What we heard: Issues and Concerns .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Theme A: Environmental Concerns (water, land, waste) ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Theme B: Air quality, dust, odour, noise .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Theme C: Human health concerns ................................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4 Theme D: Concerns about the location of the facility and road/traffic impacts .............................................................................................. 35 2.5 Theme E: Other Concerns ................................................................................................................................................................................ 42 2.6 Other Input ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 3. Final comments by participants ......................................................................................................................................................................... 52 4. Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 54 4.1 Chair’s reflections and conclusions .................................................................................................................................................................. 54 4.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Appendix: Conference Agenda ................................................................................................................................................................................ 59 3 Great Southern Waste Technologies Approval Application for a Waste to Energy facility 20B Conference Report March 2020 Executive Summary Many participants and submitters are concerned about the waste which will be processed. There is anxiety regarding the incorrect Great Southern Waste Technologies Pty Ltd (the Applicant) has sorting of domestic waste, the risks involved in secondary sorting, submitted a works approval application to EPA for approval for a and the consequences of the incineration of toxic materials leading waste to energy facility at 70 Ordish Road, Dandenong South. to toxic emissions. rd A community conference, held on 3 March 2020 in Dandenong, EPA Victoria and the Applicant have critical roles to play in was conducted under Section 20B of the Environment Protection Act acknowledging concerns and working with community members to 1970. The conference provided an opportunity for 95 community transparently and thoroughly explain how any potential impacts will members to raise and discuss issues, opinions and concerns about be negated. the proposal. Key points raised by those attending have been documented in this report. The comments, concerns and opportunities expressed by Conference attendees have led to the development of The location of the proposed waste to energy facility is a primary recommendations for EPA Victoria as detailed in Section 4 of this focus for many participants. The proximity to residential areas, report. Although the City of Greater Dandenong only attended the community facilities and business is a cause of great anxiety 20B conference in an observer capacity, many of the issues raised especially the potential impacts on human health. There is a relate to the planning permit. As such suggestions for the City of common belief that there is a legally enforceable 1.5 km separation Greater Dandenong are also included. zone - clarification of this separation zone is essential to increase community understanding and potentially allay fears. The overarching recommendations are that There is concern that the cumulative effect is unknown and that the • due consideration is given by EPA Victoria to the potential impacts of this proposed facility should not be looked at in recommendations and suggestions contained in Section 4.2 isolation but in the context of the local industry and its current of this report, and impacts. • feedback is provided to submitters and conference participants regarding the outcome of each recommendation There is a distrust of the proposed technology and a perception that and suggestion. both the EPA and the Applicant are inexperienced with this technology and are not equipped to adequately manage and monitor the facility. There is also a belief that other countries are moving away from waste to energy and that it is a retrograde step for Australia to consider it when cleaner, more efficient energy generation methods are available. 4 Great Southern Waste Technologies Approval Application for a Waste to Energy facility 20B Conference Report March 2020 1. Introduction and background 1.1 Summary of the application Great Southern Waste Technologies Pty Ltd (the Applicant) is proposing to develop a waste to energy facility