City works ‘without permit’

Andrew Mathieson
FAILING to obtain a permit for a pipeline project that damaged endangered grassland will cost Geelong’s council $131,000, according to Federal Government.
The Government’s Department of Environment agreed to keep the matter out of court under Commonwealth laws in exchange for council improving its environmental planning and rehabilitating the rare grassland.
The department found that City of Greater Geelong destroyed almost one hectare of nationally-protected Victorian Volcanic Plains between December last year and April.
Federal environment spokesperson Rose Webb said council work to build the recycled water pipeline for Lara’s Elcho Park on Bacchus Marsh Road led to the removal of the endangered native grasslands.
The city must pay for a $67,000 review of its work processes and environment planning programs to “avoid a repeat of this situation”, she said.
The City had to spend a further $44,000 on rehabilitating the damaged area and give $20,000 to a Grassy Groundcover Research Project.
Ms Webb said the grassland damage was “regrettable” but the payments were a better outcome than going to court.
Under national environment law, Federal Government and a company or agency that has breached laws can agree to a written undertaking to avoid court action.
City services general manager Gary Van Driel defended council.
The City commissioned work at the site after securing local and state approval but not a federal permit, he said.
“We acknowledge we should have secured the appropriate permit before doing work on this project and will willingly undertake the actions prescribed by the Federal Department of Environment.”
Mr Van Driel said the City’s remedial works on rehabilitating the site would include revegetation, monitoring and weed control.
The City would also prepare a “native vegetation offset management plan”.
“The City has done a great deal of work on environmental projects in recent years and takes its responsibilities as an environmental manager very seriously,” he said.