Almost 130 hectares of land next to a Bulla quarry and landfill has been rezoned to allow housing developments to cater for urban growth.
The Melbourne Planning Authority (MPA) has rezoned, from farming to urban growth, land immediately west and south of the Hi-Quality Quarry on Sunbury Road.
In a document, the authority outlined why the rezoning was needed, stating the land had been temporarily zoned for farming purposes in 2010 to act as a buffer. It went on to state the quarry operations had since been scaled back.
The authority determined “the subject land was no longer limited by the quarry operation and now suitable for urban development”.
But Hi-Quality Quarry has applied to Hume council for a permit to increase its operating times to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except some public holidays.
Airport contract
The company has been contracted by Melbourne Airport to receive soil and other material from the airport’s taxiway and other construction work there, as well as from other major projects in the city.
Melbourne Airport – six kilometres by road from the quarry – is building a new fourth terminal and transport hub, expanding its southern apron. A third runway is also in its plans.
MPA chief executive Peter Seamer said while the Bulla site had been rezoned, urban development could not occur on it until a precinct structure plan (PSP) had been approved. PSPs are master plans for new communities usually catering for between 10,000 and 30,000 people.
“The Sunbury South PSP … will include controls to ensure that sensitive development cannot occur in the adjacent area until quarry operations have ceased,” Mr Seamer said.
The Sunbury South PSP will be exhibited early next year.
Hume’s director of city sustainability, Kelvin Walsh, said the council was aware of the rezoning. He said the council had not yet considered Hi-Quality Quarry’s permit application.
