Hume Council extends Bulla tip lifespan despite resident calls to shut site down

BULLA residents have vowed to appeal a decision to prolong the lifespan of the town’s tip.

Hume Council has extended the permit for the Bulla Tip until December 31, 2016. Pictures:

BULLA residents have vowed to appeal a decision to prolong the lifespan of the town’s tip.

Hume councillors last night agreed to extend Bulla Tip & Quarry’s permit by two-and-a-half years to allow landfill and rehabilitation works to be completed.

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The decision was a compromise on a 10-year extension sought by the tip’s operators, who were

originally granted a permit for a 20-year lease in 1993.

Thirteen residents spoke out against the application with concerns about litter, odours, health and potential asbestos risks.

There are also fears the Environment Protection Authority has not properly monitored the privately-owned Sunbury Rd site, despite two-yearly audits and dust, groundwater and landfill gas monitors in place.

Bulla CFA first lieutenant Martin Pelly said the tip was the only high-risk site in the area where firefighters were refused access keys and maps.

He said there had been nine call-outs to the tip in the past 12 months due to an ongoing fire about 60m below ground level, with crews having to wait on average 40 minutes for management to arrive and let them in.

With the potential for asbestos exposure, he said fire fighters were forced to wear mandatory breathing apparatus, with equipment hosed down and sent off for analysis after each call-out.

Despite calls from objectors to shut the site down immediately, councillors resolved to extend the permit until December 31, 2016.

Cr Jack Ogilvie sympathised with residents and said the operators had not been “good corporate citizens”, but said council needed to be responsible.

“We’re trying to really put the pressure on them now to be better corporate citizens,” he said.

“(If not), they could have this thing going on for 30 years, 40 years.

“(It’s the) safest way to go without maybe taking the risk of this extension going longer.”

Bulla resident Carmel Egan said residents were disappointed with the decision and would appeal at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

“The problem isn’t that they’ve been given an extension. It’s that it’s unconditional,” she said.

“Council had the opportunity to impose limits and checks and balances. Clearly they had no intention.”

Councillors also requested the EPA undertake more frequent monitoring of odours, dust and litter and participate in public consultation with residents.

Leader has sought comment from the owners of the tip.