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Works Approval Lodged For Callignee South Road Landfill

Latrobe City Council has lodged a works approval application with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to establish the new landfill facility at the Callignee South Road site.

By Latrobe City Council - 2nd February 2007 - Back to News

The application was lodged following the elimination of the Hernes Oak and Yallourn Open Cut options as feasible landfill sites, and confirmation that the Callignee South Road option will meet the strict EPA criteria required for a works application to be considered.

In acknowledging that the decision to locate the landfill at the Callignee South Road site will meet some community opposition, Latrobe City’s chief executive officer stressed that criteria at the site had been rigidly assessed to ensure the landfill not only meets but exceeds compliance with EPA requirements, and will have little or no impact on residents in the Callignee and Traralgon South communities.

"The Callignee South Road site is located in a failed plantation on land owned by Loy Yang Power, and as such the landfill operations will not be visible from the road," Mr Buckley said.

"In depth analysis and investigation of the site identified that groundwater is fifty metres below the surface, vegetation and fauna is restricted to that which has established itself within a plantation environment; and soils are compatible for the purpose, meaning that the design specifications for a landfill at this site can all be met. There is an acceptance that a plantation of this nature plays a role in meeting the needs of wildlife as a corridor, but it must be emphasised that the new landfill facility will occupy only 18 hectares of the 140 hectare plantation site which will eventually be harvested, so the facility will not unduly disadvantage fauna," Mr Buckley said.

"The potential for increased traffic on Traralgon Creek Road and Callignee South Road, with associated road safety and traffic management issues, has been identified as of major concern to the nearest communities. I’m happy to announce that following an approach to Loy Yang Power, access to the new landfill facility will be from the Hyland Highway, and as a result no additional traffic will be encountered on Traralgon Creek Road and Callignee South Road by Traralgon South and Callignee residents."

Mr Buckley explained that proximity to groundwater had ruled out development of the Hernes Oak site as an option for landfill. "The Hernes Oak site presented a number of engineering impediments. Hydrology tests and groundwater modelling precluded this site from further investigation as the groundwater beneath this site is at a depth which would be unacceptable for fulfilling the EPA’s guidelines for landfill sites."

"Three locations within the Yallourn Open Cut were also subjected to investigation. Two locations were ruled out as groundwater was within one metre of the surface.

"While a third location within the open cut revealed groundwater at nine metres, which was assessed as being satisfactory; mine authorities have since informed us that this third test site is now required for retention by Tru Energy for future overburden placement operations," Mr Buckley explained.

"The lodgement of a works application with the EPA for the Callignee South Road site takes us one step closer towards establishing a new landfill facility for Latrobe. As part of the approval process important for good decision making, EPA will advertise for submissions and correspondence on the matter before making a decision.

"Latrobe City will also consider a local government planning application which will shortly be advertised by council with submissions invited," Mr Buckley said.

"In the meantime I urge residents concerned about landfill issues to attend a visit to the Morwell landfill facility being arranged by council on Thursday 8 February.

"Those attending the visit will be able to view current landfill operations and discuss any operational, environmental, social, or economic impacts of the proposed landfill with the council officers who will be present," Mr Buckley concluded.

Those wishing to visit the Morwell landfill will travel by bus from the Latrobe City corporate headquarters car park at 3pm and return at 4.15pm. To ensure that adequate transport to the facility is available, those wishing to attend should contact Tessa Prestipino during business hours on 5128 5751 by Monday 5 February 2007.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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