Laverton waste to energy plant to go ahead after VCAT dispute

A huge waste-to-energy plant in Melbourne’s west, which would create enough energy from rubbish destined for landfill to power 20,000 homes, has got the green light to go ahead after a dispute with eco warriors opposing the project was settled.

Construction of a huge waste-to-energy plant in Melbourne’s west will go ahead after a compromise between the developer and eco warriors opposing the project.

The $150 million Recovered Energy Australia gasification plant, which turns household rubbish into power, was given approval by Wyndham council last March and the EPA in January this year but was opposed by Zero Waste Victoria.

Its appeal against the EPA’s green light at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has been vacated.

The $150 million Recovered Energy Australia gasification plant will turn household rubbish into power.

REA director Ian Guss said it appeared the devil was in the detail when it came to the eco group’s concerns about the Laverton project, which would create enough energy from rubbish destined for landfill to power 20,000 homes.

“We put a bit more detail around the conditions, which basically clarified what we’d always intended to do, but gave them more comfort because it was in writing. We collaborated and worked pragmatically together to come to a resolution,” he said.

Construction of the plant will start at the end of the year.

Once going, it would divert about 200,000 tonnes of rubbish from landfill and employ up to 40 people, Mr Guss said.

The planned recovered energy plant could produce enough power from household rubbish to supply 20,000 homes.

In a message to members, Zero Waste Victoria’s president Kirsty Bishop-Fox said the group had a “huge win to ensure transparency and the best possible outcomes for the community, the environment and public health” at VCAT.

Stricter monitoring and public reporting of emissions and pollutants from the energy plant would occur as a result of its appeal, she said.

While keeping waste out of landfill was Zero Waste Victoria’s ultimate goal, gasification was not the solution to the state’s “enormous waste problem”, Ms Bishop-Fox said.

MORE NEWS

ARGUMENTS BEFORE GUNSHOTS INTO PORSCHE, RESTAURANT

HOW A SIMPLE IDEA CHANGED THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER

41 NEW COVID-19 CASES AS MELBOURNE HOTPOTS WORSEN

[e-mail]