Community frustration with lack of communication over proposed Lara incinerator

A Lara resident leading the charge against a proposed waste to energy incinerator is frustrated by the government’s lack of response to questions, as more local MPs express concern.

Proposed Lara Incinerator. Source: Prospect Hill International

A Lara resident leading the charge against a proposed waste incinerator says the state government has refused to respond to a series of questions, despite MPs backing concern about the project.

Charles Street, who has organised a number of rallies opposing the proposed incinerator, said while Labor Lara MP Ella George had been helpful, questions sent to a up to eight minsters back in March remained unanswered.

“By May we’d had no response, by August we’d still had no response,” he said.

Mr Street said the only response he had received was from Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, who referred the questions to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny.

Federal member for Corangamite Libby Coker and state member for Geelong Christine Couzens have both written to Ms Kilkenny in recent weeks.

Organising president Charles Street at an anti-incinerator protest in August. Picture: Alan Barber

Ms Kilkenny has refused to answer the Geelong Advertiser’s questions asking whether the letters have been received and replied to.

“Many locals across my region have approached me to raise their concerns about the proposed Lara incinerator, I share these concerns and have written to the state minister to ensure the views of my community are considered during the decision-making process,” Ms Coker said.

“The Deputy Prime Minister has also written to the state minister, and the member for Lara is particularly engaged with this issue and I’m proud to support her advocacy.”

Ms George said she was pleased Ms Coker and Ms Couzens had joined a growing number of politicians who had expressed concerns.

“I’ve been clear on my position – I don’t support the proposed Lara incinerator,” Ms George said.

Corangamite MP Libby Coker is the latest local member to express their opposition to the project. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I’ve had many conversations with my parliamentary colleagues to explain the community’s concerns about the Lara incinerator.

“My colleagues have also heard from residents in their electorates, and I am pleased that they share my views on this.

“This issue has brought the Geelong community together, and we are united in our opposition to the Lara incinerator.”

Mr Street questioned how many more MPs would need to jump on board before it reached “critical mass”.

Lara based developer Richard Bisinella, who has been a key opponent of the project, also wrote a letter to Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, who has publicly thrown her weight behind community opposition to a similar project in her own electorate of Mill Park.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily Lily D’Ambrosio has publicly opposed a similar project in her own electorate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

“Minister, we note your support for your own community in relation to a similar project, and we would like to meet you to discuss how we can ensure the government’s waste to energy policies can be implemented, but in locations that avoid the proven health and amenity impacts that these operations have been shown to create for communities like Lara,” Mr Bisinella wrote.

Questions regarding Ms D’Ambroio’s support for community push back to either project were met with a generic line from a Victorian government spokesperson.

“Any proposal will be considered on its merits and all submissions will be considered as part of the assessment process,” they said.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Community frustration with lack of communication over proposed Lara incinerator