Dirty tactics alleged in sludge plant fight

Andrew Mathieson
Activists allege they have been threatened over their attempts to thwart a $70 million plan to dry sewage sludge for fertiliser near Breamlea.
Community action group Thirteenth Beach Coast Watch has been working with Clean Ocean Foundation to prevent the development on the site of Barwon Water’s Black Rock Treatment Plant.
The Barwon Water project proposes to dry sewage sludge, called biosolids, to produce fertiliser pellets.
Thirteenth Beach Coast Watch member Sharon Marshall has a led a chorus of objectors who have already stopped an initial plan to dry biosolids on farmland north of Geelong.
Ms Marshall said vandals had repeatedly slashed banners and signs labelling the biosolids project a sludge factory. The banners are on private land near the treatment plant.
“Little did we realise that such action would result in our banners being maliciously damaged every time we put them up,” she said.
Ms Marshall alleged the start of the vandalism coincided with a biosolids open day a fortnight ago to promote the project.
Ms Marshall said Barwon Water had no role in the attacks but claimed she had received “threatening and abusive” phone calls and even a threat to “fix her up” from a worker at the treatment plant.
Another member of the community group said a load of rubbish had been dumped on the driveway of her home in response to the campaign.
Clean Ocean Foundation chief executive Carlo Iacovino slammed the attacks.
“These cowardly acts and threats will not stop us from campaigning against ocean outfalls and the building of industrial sludge processing factories on the Surf Coast coastline,” he said.
Ms Marshall said public meetings had recorded unanimous opposition against the biosolids proposal.
Campaigners had sent State Government petitions against the project with signatures of residents from Ocean Grove to Jan Juc.
Thirteenth Beach Coast Watch also accused Barwon Water of not going through the planning approvals process after the site was given a public utility zoning.
Government has rejected the campaigning groups’ calls for an environment effects statement, instead issuing an EPA works approval.
Barwon Water executive water systems manager Carl Bicknell said feedback from nearly 200 people who attended the open days was “overwhelming support” for the project.
Mr Bicknell said a works approval would give the project a clean bill of health.
“This rigorous process is conducted by the EPA and will ensure it complies with all relevant environmental policies and standards,” Mr Bicknell said.