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Phillip Island's New Waste Transfer Station

Phillip Island residents and visitors will benefit from a modern waste transfer station on the Island

By Carol McCormack - 4th June 2001 - Back to News

Phillip Island residents and visitors will benefit from a modern waste transfer station on the Island. Bass Coast Shire Council has investigated seven possible options for the new facility, and two preferred sites have been identified. The two preferred sites include the current waste transfer station site at Rhyll and a site at Ventnor Beach Road on the sewerage treatment plant property. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment owns the current waste transfer station site in Rhyll. Council has approached DNRE to discuss the possibility of locating the new facility on the current site. Westernport Water own the Ventnor Beach Road site and has agreed in principle to the new Waste Transfer Station facility being located adjacent to the sewerage treatment plant. "The waste transfer station is an important facility for all residents of Phillip Island and San Remo," said Cr. Miranda Sage, Mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council. "The new facility will include modern equipment and best practice processes." The new facility, wherever it is located, would not resemble the current facility in Rhyll. From the outside, the new facility will look like a large farm shed with a roofed bin enclosure area to ensure that rubbish is contained within the facility. The access roads around the facility will be fully paved to reduce dust problems and improve traffic flow. Cr. Sage said that rubbish would not remain at the transfer station or be buried on the site, but will be taken to the Grantville tip every day. The only material that will remain on site for longer than one day will be recyclables, including greenwaste. "It is important that all residents realise the new facility is not a tip or a dump," said Cr. Sage. The facility is for residents and visitors only to dispose of rubbish, including recyclables. Trucks that pick up the weekly kerbside rubbish collection will not use the facility. Council considered six possible sites for the new facility including: Phillip Island Tourist Road near Forrest Caves Dunsmore Road industrial estate at Cowes Settlement Road Council Depot at Cowes Sewerage treatment site at the corner of Troutmen and Pyramid Rock Roads at Ventnor The current transfer station site at Rhyll The sewerage treatment site on Ventnor Beach road at Ventnor Another option Council considered was not having a waste transfer station on Phillip Island. This would mean Grantville would be the nearest facility. Cr. Sage said that there was a wide range of criteria considered when looking for a location for the new waste transfer station. This included ensuring sufficient buffer between the facility and residential areas, as well as being central enough to make the facility accessible to residents and visitors from Phillip Island and San Remo. Cr. Sage said it is also important that the site has sealed road access and power, water and sewerage. Cr. Sage also emphasised that although two preferred sites have been identified, Council is still required to go through the usual planning permit processes that are necessary of any development in the Shire. A public information session will be held in Cowes at the Heritage Centre on 29 June before any planning permit application is lodged. At the information session, interested parties will be able to view the evaluation report that shows the advantages and disadvantages of all the sites that were considered. They will also be able to view concept plans of the proposed waste transfer facility together with information about similar modern facilities in other Shires. "The planning process will include the opportunity for residents to have input into the location of the new facility," said Cr. Sage. As part of the planning permit application process, Council will contact residents in the immediate vicinity of the proposed sites when the application is lodged to let them know about the facility. The application for a permit will also be advertised to inform other residents across Phillip Island and San Remo. "People will have the opportunity to make submissions about the proposed sites and will be able to make the submission to Council personally if they wish," said Cr. Sage. Cr. Sage said that if enough people are interested, Council will also arrange for a bus to take people to facilities in other Shires. She said that Council also plans to have an information caravan at the Ventnor Road site on specific days. "I also encourage people with concerns or seeking information about the new waste transfer station to speak to Council’s Environment Manger" said Cr. Sage. "The officer is available at the Wonthaggi Office and is also available at the Cowes office every Monday," she said. Cr. Sage said that Council is at the beginning of the process that will result in a high quality, modern waste transfer facility that will benefit Phillip Island residents and visitors. The decision to consider relocating the site was made by the former Shire of Phillip Island in an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Environmental Protection Association (EPA).

Modern waste transfer stations that are similar to the facility to be built on Phillip Island are also located in La Trobe Shire (top) and Baw Baw Shire (bottom)

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: basscoastshire@gippslander.com

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