Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Western Metropolitan Region

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (15:32): (454) My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Environment, Mr Dimopoulos. My constituent, a resident of Brooklyn, has recently been made aware of a proposal by a resource company to expand its waste recycling operations to include soil waste washing facilities. The proposed facility will see up to half a million tonnes of toxic soil stored at the facility each year as well as an additional 480 truck movements per day. This is fringing a residential area and exposing local residents to potentially contaminated dust and exhaust fumes, compromising their health, safety and amenity. The Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group was established by the state government in 2018. It recommended that this type of polluting heavy industry be moved outside of the metropolitan Melbourne area. So my constituent asks: what is the minister doing to prevent the continuation of this type of polluting industrial activity close to residential areas and to protect health, safety and livability for Brooklyn and Sunshine West residents?