Changes to quarry plan

By Paul Dunlop
CARDINIA Shire Council has held back from putting its stamp on an environmental assessment of plans to extend the Readymix Quarry at Pakenham.
In a move that residents say amplifies their concerns about aspects of the proposed expansion, councillors at a town planning meeting on Monday refused to fully support the results of the recently completed study.
Councillors had been presented with a recommendation by town planners that the environmental effect statement (EES) should be supported, subject to matters being raised in relation to visual amenity.
But after an impassioned address by Toomuc Ward representative Kate Lempriere, councillors added further provisos to its support.
The council will present a submission to the independent panel appointed by Minister for Planning Rob Hulls, saying it is satisfied with the bulk of the EES but does not support it in its entirety.
The council will also present a draft set of planning permit conditions to the panel for the proposed extension.
The panel has been set up to hear arguments for and against the plan to enlarge the quarry at Mount Shamrock by a further 20 hectares.
Cr Lempriere argued on Monday that council was unable to form a view with respect to matters of air quality, slope stability, certain matters of visual amenity and cultural heritage.
“Council cannot support the EES in its entirety because it has not had the opportunity to address a range of issues,” she said.
“A new report on air quality has been commissioned by Readymix.
“New information on slope stability raises the prospect of council being subjected to liability issues.”
Cr Lempriere said cultural heritage remained an ongoing issue, with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria continuing to investigate the impact of artefact finds during recent archaeological digs.
“This makes it difficult for council to reach a final position because it is not in receipt of the full data,” she said.
The council heard the EES report comprised some 2000 pages and contained 15 specialist technical reports.
Conducted on behalf of Readymix, the EES finds the proposal will meet the principles of ecologically sustained development.
But many residents living near the quarry have expressed strong concern about the expansion plan.
A group called the Save the Valley committee has led a strong campaign against Readymix’s proposal.
Cr Lempriere said it was up to the panel to decide the merits of the case, not the council.
“In my view there are several areas in which council must reserve its judgement,” she said.
Councillors, with the exception of Helen Ward, backed Cr Lempriere’s view.
Cr Ward said government agencies, including the Department of Primary Industries and Department of Sustainability and Environment, had offered no objections to the proposal.
Cr Ward believed the council should support the EES.
“It is a highly emotive issue and the sentiments of some in the community have been stirred up,” she said.
“But even the Save the Valley committee says most people in Pakenham don’t even know the quarry is there.”