Anger builds over giant incinerator for Geelong
Community campaigners are calling for the Victorian Government to dump plans for a massive industrial incinerator in Lara on Geelong’s outskirts, saying it will be a human and environmental disaster.
According to the proponent of the project, Prospect Hill International, the waste-to-energy incinerator will burn 1,000 tonnes of garbage every day within five kilometres of 20 schools and pre-schools, in the heart of one of Victoria’s most important residential growth corridors.
Campaign spokesperson Charles Street said despite clear environmental and health concerns, the project was not subject to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), nor was there a Business Case to support optimistic claims about jobs and investment, how much electrical power will be generated, and who will purchase the offtake output.
“Incineration produces greenhouse gasses, especially carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming, and the main combustible component of garbage is plastic, derived from fossil fuels. Burning 1,000 tonnes of garbage will produce up to 300 tonnes of toxic ash, which goes to landfill,” he said.
“Incineration is a poor alternative to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’, and will only undermine recycling programs. Burning plastic for the next 25 years is not consistent with Net Zero emissions ambitions.
“Years ago, every home had a backyard incinerator, and the practice was banned for good reasons. Yet here we are, contemplating an incinerator on a scale never seen before, literally within eyesight of thousands of residents and schools.”
Lara treated as “Victoria’s toxic waste dump”
Mr. Street said community anger continues to grow as the Government refuses to address legitimate concerns about the impact on air and water quality, how the environmental effects will be monitored and managed and why the area continues to be treated as “Victoria’s toxic waste dump”.
“We have repeatedly challenged the proponent and the Government to show us where the demand is coming from, how the waste will get here, and how it will operate, as the technology is not even finalised. We cannot find a single authority who can point to the demand for this scale of waste incineration, nor are there any supply arrangements in place.”
He said the incinerator’s capacity of 400,000 tonnes of garbage per annum is about four times the available garbage in western Victoria, and over five times what is available in the City of Greater Geelong.
“It is telling that the City of Greater Geelong is itself not interested in burning garbage. So where is the demand – and why Lara? This is one of the fastest growing areas of Victoria, with many young families moving here for the affordability of housing and the semi-rural lifestyle.
“After so many years shrugging off the reputation as the waste capital of Victoria, is this the sort of future we want for Greater Geelong ?”
Alliance and rally
Mr. Street said the campaign had triggered a powerful community reaction, with a major rally planned for August, which will be addressed by an alliance of Liberal, Labor, Green politicians from all three levels of Government.
“This project has no public support and no social licence. It has been a cynical exercise by both the Victorian Government and the proponent to sneak this application through in the hope that the community won’t notice or care.
“They are wrong.”
Further information:
Charles (Chaz) Street, President – No Waste Incinerators in Lara & Greater Geelong Incorporated
Mob: 0427 147 007
Follow our group on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/saynolarabigincinerator
