Bellarine MP Alison Marchant writes to planning minister in opposition to Lara incinerator

The long list of Geelong leaders, politicians and residents opposed to a proposed Lara-based waste incinerator continues to grow.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant said she has a “responsibility to listen to the concerns of my electorate.”

Another Geelong state member has raised concerns with a controversial waste to energy incinerator, siding with a growing number of concerned residents and leaders about the proposed project.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant wrote to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny this week opposing the facility, citing proximity to residential areas in Lara.

She joins Lara MP Ella George as state Labor members against the Environment Protection Authority backed development, to be built by Prospect Hill International Pty Ltd.

“The Minister has advised me that submissions can be made up until a decision is made, and all submissions will be considered as part of the assessment process,” Ms Marchant said.

It’s understood the Bellarine Catchment Network has also made a submission to government opposing the project, joining a long line of Geelong stakeholders.

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Jeremy Crawford, also penned a letter to premier Jacinta Allan outlining what he described as an “archaic” incinerator.

He followed 18 business leaders to also object in a letter to Ms Allan.

City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan has said community concerns were “largely around the health and environmental impacts, particularly in relation to the homes, schools and preschools located nearby.”

Council is also on public record saying they wouldn’t send their waste to the incinerator if it were built, which was outlined in the first of Mr Sullivan’s letters.

If the facility goes ahead, it will burn up to 400,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste per year, with 80 per cent of waste to come from Victorian household rubbish bins and the remaining 20 per cent from industrial sources.

If 400,000 tonnes of waste is processed the facility could generate up to 35 megawatts of energy to power 50,000 homes.

Construction is expected to commence in 2025-26.

Prospect Hill International said in July they are “committed to engaging with the community and we have been holding information sessions, answering questions, receiving feedback and having discussions about the project throughout the approval process which has been in progress since 2020.”

If built, the Victorian-based company said it will create hundreds of jobs during its construction, and around 30 ongoing roles during its operations, pledging to prioritise the hiring of locals.

Lara-based developers Bisinella group filed legal documents with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in July also opposing the EPA’s granting of the development licence.

The hearing ended in late August, with the tribunal yet to hand down a decision.

Originally published as Bellarine MP Alison Marchant writes to planning minister in opposition to Lara incinerator