Moolap recycling hub approved

A RECYCLING centre for Moolap has received approval from the state planning umpire and can now go ahead despite objections from Alcoa.

The $4-million transfer station and materials recycling facility would process recyclables including glass, plastic, cardboard and paper at Buckley Grove, which is towards Point Henry at the eastern Geelong suburb.

Original plans had also proposed to accept organic waste, but that idea was ruled out in an approved permit due to concerns about odour.

Alcoa, the operator of the former Point Henry aluminum smelter, still owns land in the area including neighbouring the proposed development site and opposed the plan due to potential conflicts with residential plans.

But the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) knocked back the company’s objections and approved the plans last month.

Point Henry is due for large-scale development in coming years under the state government’s Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan, which outlines residential, industrial, tourism and environmental precincts for the area north of Portarlington Road.

Alcoa had argued that the proposal inadequately addressed concerns such as noise, odour and fire risk that could clash with future uses of the area under the planning framework.

VCAT will allow the development to proceed but developers must resubmit their plans to meet a range of conditions, including submission of assessments for odour and dust and fire risk, limiting collection hours to between 7am and 6pm and meeting design requirements around environmental sustainability.

The facility also can’t accept kerbside organic waste as planned after the tribunal heard evidence from air quality experts that included concern for an “accumulation of odour”.

In its submission to the state government in 2020, proponents argued their proposal would fit in with current and future uses of the area and boost Geelong’s recycling capacity.

“Planning policies and strategies at state level increasingly recognise the importance of recycling construction and demolition and commercial and industrial materials, together with the growing role of recycling of kerbside glass and plastic,” planning documents stated.

“It is considered that the proposal is a well-considered and site responsive land use and development which will contribute positively to the existing industrial precinct within Moolap.”

The site would accept a maximum of 50,000 tonnes of waste from municipal, commercial and construction sources in its first year and ramp up to 150,000 tonnes by year 10.