Waste-to-energy plant: Lara residents to march in protest against controversial incinerator
Residents will march down Lara’s main street to protest the development of a controversial waste-to-energy plant proposed for the suburb.
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Residents will march down Lara’s main street as they ramp up their protest of a proposed waste-to-energy plant.
The controversial proposal, by Prospect Hill International, would mean up to 400,000 tonnes of waste would be diverted from landfill and burned to produce 35 megawatts of electricity each year.
The Environmental Protection Authority – which will make the call on the application – received the bid in early 2021.
Initial public submissions for the project were open between March and April 2021.
The EPA received 63 submissions – 59 objected to the proposal, and three offered “conditional” support.
A second round of public submissions opened in October 2021, during which the EPA received 58 submissions, 56 of which objected to the proposal.
A community forum in 2020 was reported to have raised more than 200 questions from the community.
The last public meetings about the proposal were held in mid-2021, and the most recent round of public comment ended on July 13 this year.
Concerns include the effect on air quality, the choice of location, noise and increased heavy-vehicle road traffic.
On September 16 residents will march from 11am finishing in Austin Park.
Protest organiser, Melanie Szocs, said she was hoping for a big turnout.
“We’ve handed out a thousand flyers, I’ve emailed wineries, organic farms, I’ve emailed councillors,” she said.
Ms Szocs, a Lara resident, said she had not received any letters or information sent out by the EPA, and was concerned residents were in the dark about the project.
“We’re trying to create awareness, because this impacts all of Geelong, the Surf Coast, the Bellarine and potentially the Mornington Peninsula,” she said.
“We can’t control wind, the particles from this incinerator, the toxic ash that would be coming out of this facility, it can go so far.
“How long is a piece of string?”
It’s projected the plant would operate around the clock for 25 years.
The protest comes weeks after 150 people attended a community forum hosted by Geelong Sustainability at the Lara Golf Club.
Academic Dr Peter Tait, who authored a study on waste incineration, spoke at the forum.
The plant would generate 300 jobs during its construction, with an estimated 30 ongoing jobs once the plant is online.
Energy generated by the plant is projected to be enough to power 50,000 homes.
Prospect Hill has been contacted for comment.
Director Ken Smith told the Geelong Advertiser in July the company would “assess the comments from the community” and consider the need for additional public meetings.
Greens member for Western Victoria, Dr Sarah Mansfield, said she fully supported the Lara community.
“They’ve made it very clear they don’t want this incinerator going ahead,” she said.
She said she would table the petition opposing it in October.
“Residents have got justified concerns about the potential risks of having an enormous, waste-guzzling incinerator near their schools and houses.”
Member for Lara, Ella George, agreed.
“I will not support a proposal that the community are not behind,” she said.
“I attended a community meeting in Lara recently where I heard concerns from many residents.”
Originally published as Waste-to-energy plant: Lara residents to march in protest against controversial incinerator
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