Tuesday, 14 October 2025

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:08): My constituency matter is for the Minister for Environment. Recently Cleanaway have decided to double their plans for a waste-to-energy plant in the growing suburb of Wollert in my electorate. It is true that Victoria does need to decarbonise and effectively deal with landfill, but the solution to this is not to burn rubbish in growing residential suburbs or in their vicinity. The incinerator will risk polluting air near residential homes and put future generations in Wollert at risk.

The City of Whittlesea and the mayor Martin Taylor have made it absolutely clear that the location and proximity to homes is just not appropriate. Even the minister’s cabinet colleague the Minister for Energy and Resources herself has petitioned against this plant, seemingly to no avail. Will the minister listen to the voice of my community in Wollert and Epping, block the Wollert incinerator outright and save the community months, years and decades of anguish if this project goes ahead?