Business Leaders call on Govt to end uncertainty

Geelong business leaders have called on the Victorian Minister for Planning and the EPA to move immediately to formally reject the planning application for the proposed Lara Waste-to-Energy Incinerator.

The group’s spokesperson, Lara businessman Richard Bisinella, said: “We are delighted to see common sense prevail, but there is still a very real risk this project could rise from the grave. There is still a valid Development Licence and the very real risk the Government could at any time raise the cap again and encourage the backers to make a new application.

“We respectfully ask the Minister and the Premier to state formally that the project cannot and will not be built as proposed, and that they acknowledge any similar incinerator project of this nature can never be established in the City of Greater Geelong.”

Mr Bisinella, whose family has funded a lengthy fight in VCAT and the Supreme Court, said he would be writing to the Minister for Planning and the Premier to reiterate the planning, environmental and legal grounds on which the project needs to be formally rejected.

“Clearly in these circumstances it would be futile to grant a planning permit in respect of the permit application as it could not be acted upon without a cap license. But we can’t rely on the inability for the applicant to secure a licence, and we need to ensure this or any other similar project can never be revived. The community deserve this certainty after months of distress, and we implore the Government to once and for all perform the last rites and we can all get on with our lives.”

Mr Bisinella was joined in the call to formally reject the Planning Application by the Committee for Geelong and the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, who have continued to fight against the proposal from Day 1.

Jeremy Crawford, CEO, Geelong Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our business community speak loud and clear. A Chamber business survey found majority of businesses believe this outdated form of incineration would negatively impact Geelong's investor capability and visitor attraction.

“We've presented alternative cleaner waste to energy technologies and infrastructure far more advanced and better suited to our region, a UNESCO city of design. 

“A solution benefiting business, environment and community can be achieved to tackle Victoria's waste problem."

Michael Johnston, CEO, Committee for Geelong, said: “Not many issues draw this level of bi-partisan agreement, nor support across local residents, community groups and the broader business community.

“Put simply, the Geelong community did not want to see Melbourne’s waste dumped on our doorstep. This proposal was too close to housing. The size, design and positioning was inconsistent with our UNESCO City of Design status. And there were too many questions over the environmental and health risks to our region.

Mr Bisinella said that it would be also appropriate for the EPA to revoke the Development Licence it granted the project, which he continues to fight in the Supreme Court.

“We respect the right of the applicant to exercise their legal rights, but if the cap license refusal is not successfully reviewed then they cannot not legally engage in the activity, so we can all stop wasting time and money fighting something that cannot proceed anyway.”