Opponents of Waste to Energy (WtE) incinerators in Wollert and Sunbury have welcomed the announcement of a parliamentary inquiry.
The inquiry was given the green light by the Victorian upper house on Wednesday, August 26.
It comes after South-Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Rachel Payne moved a motion requiring the Economy and Infrastructure Committee to inquire into the expansion of WtE infrastructure in Victoria, which includes the use of incineration to generate energy from burned waste in Victoria.
The inquiry will look into the suitability of current WtE plans, including the proximity of projects to homes, the adequacy of community consultation, and the long-term economic, social and environmental consequences.
The Legislative Council sitting was attended by residents from Wollert, Lara, Sunbury and Lynbrook who have banded together to advocate against the proposed incinerators after seven new cap licences were granted for WtE plants across Victoria earlier in August.
Wollert resident Cath Rousse has been involved in the fight against the proposed incinerator in Wollert since February last year and took part in a rally against the incinerators on Parliament steps prior to the council sitting.
“We’re here because we need an inquiry. These incinerators are a risky business. They’re risky to the companies involved but even riskier to the communities they pollute,” she said.
Ms Payne said while WtE facilities are often presented as a solution to landfill, the rapid growth of the industry in Victoria raised significant questions.
“These are not backyard incinerators of the past, but they will still be burning through millions of tonnes of waste,” she said.
“We must ask whether this is the future we want – one that risks polluting our people and planet?”
Victoria has more WtE projects in development than any other state, with the annual cap on the amount of waste that can be incinerated rising 150 per cent in three years to 2.5 million tonnes.
Following the decision, Ms Payne said she felt “relieved”.
“I’m very appreciative of the government for acknowledging the fact that we need to do better when it comes to the circular economy and reusing and recycling, and not producing so much waste,” she said.
“But there is an opportunity there to see if the current processes and practices are fit for purpose and if they need to be looked at.”
