BURNING PASSION: Community ralliesagainst Lara incinerator plan

ENVIRONMENTAL advocates are ramping up their opposition to a waste-to-energy incinerator planned for Lara as the state government mulls a final decision on approval of the project.

Geelong Sustainability has helped organise a community event opposing the plan in Lara on Monday, August 21, that will invite discussion and questions on the proposal.

Prospect Hill International (PHI) is planning to build what it describes as “a state-of-the-art energy from waste plant” at McManus Road, Lara.

PHI’s facility would convert up to 400,000 tonnes of waste destined for landfill into electricity each year, producing abouty 35 megawatts of electricity – enough to power 50,000 homes.

It would burn municipal, commercial and industrial waste and recover energy with steam boilers and turbines.

Objectors say the incinerator will cause significant health impacts from air pollution and are questioning the proponent’s plan to source the intended volume of waste.

Retired biochemist and science teacher Charles Street, who lives in Lara, is among the lead opponents to the PHI plan.

In questions to the City of Greater Geelong during last month’s council meeting, Mr Street said his family was “deeply concerned about the potential health risks to ourselves and our community”.

Mr Street also raised issue with PHI’s figures relating to waste collection.

“Their numbers don’t add up. I’ve calculated that western Victoria has at most only 110,000 tonnes of realistically available red-top-bin and [commercial and industrial] waste.

“So where will the other 290,000 tonnes come from? We fear they may import waste in ships into the Port of Geelong.”

In its response, the city said the questions should be directed to the state government’s responsible authority, the Department of Transport and Planning.

PHI indicates it needs 320,000 tonnes a year for the incinerator to be viable, and would source up to 220,000 tonnes from Melbourne.

Geelong Sustainability has also opposed the project since it was first released publicly in 2021.

It has called for PHI to undergo a rigorous Environmental Effects Statement to assess its potential impacts to Lara and its surrounds.

The local group also rejects the waste-to-energy method as being environmentally-friendly, saying it would destroy reusable waste and hinder efforts towards circular waste economies.

Objectors have also questioned the need for the facility as local and state governments are pursuing recycling and zero-waste initiatives intended to minimise waste sent to landfill.

Former Geelong Sustainability president and ongoing volunteer Vicki Perrett lodged petition to State Parliament against the plan that has attracted 500 signatures.

In its submission to state authorities, PHI argues millions of tonnes of waste still going to landfill will mean planned reduction initiatives will fail to keep pace with population growth.

“Despite increases in recycling rates, waste management remains a major challenge in Victoria.

“Additional rationale for the project includes the future of landfills in Victoria which are expected to close in the near future.”

Environmental Protection Authority Victoria closed a final comment period on July 13, and has indicated it will make decision on the project mid-this year.

Monday’s community opposition event will be held at at Lara Golf Club from 7-8.30pm

Public health researcher Dr Peter Tait will be the event’s guest speaker, and organisers expect local and state politicians to attend.