Dust up on plant trick at tribunal

Alex de Vos
Geelong’S council staff misled the state’s planning tribunal into removing the major dust-suppression component in plans for a controversial concrete plant, according to objectors.
Belmont’s Terry Phillips, who lives adjacent to the Flintsones site, said residents faced a “clearly detrimental” impact after Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved a planning permit amendment removing a building to contain dust.
The building was included in the initial permit after a long battle with residents until Flintstones successfully sought THE amendment without appeal rights for objectors.
“We’re really upset about the removal of the building. I’ve got an asthmatic son who can’t play outside because of the dust,” Ms Phillips said.
“We fought for eight days at VCAT to get that building in place and it shouldn’t have been removed.”
Ms Phillips urged Flintstones to rebuild the concrete structure.
“The concrete plant shouldn’t be there in the first place but if it’s going to stay then we want the building back. It’s our health we’re talking about.”
Geelong Community for Good Life’s Sue McLean said City planners and Flintstones had concealed the removal of the large building in the permit amendment application.
The building was meant to have covered in-ground storage bins for aggregate and sand.
Ms McLean said VCAT was fooled into thinking the amendment related to traffic management rather than dust suppression, which was the major concern of objectors.
“City planning officers knew about this (removal of the building) but failed to inform the tribunal,” she said.
“It’s a disgrace – council failed in its duty of care by allowing this to be approved.”
Ms McLean called on VCAT to reverse its decision and reinstate objectors’ rights to appeal.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said the City was preparing a response to Ms McLean’s allegations, which she raised at a council meeting this month.
“There are a lot of in-depth questions and it will take time to answer them,” he said.
However, Cr Harwood disagreed with staff and believed the plant should not be near homes in the first place.
“Residents have been adversely affected by the inappropriately placed concrete batching plant. It’s a shame the residents have to feel the brunt of this infrastructure and we need VCAT to understand and support that.”
Flintstones did not return the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press yesterday.