ILUKA Resources will have to wait until the end of this month to find out if Horsham Rural City Council approves its application for mineral sands disposal to continue at Douglas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The company has applied for a planning permit to continue the practice in pit 23 of its Douglas mine.
Council had originally planned to vote on the application at a regular council meeting on Monday night, but will instead vote at a special meeting on June 27.
It comes after the Environment Protection Authority Victoria ruled last month Iluka did not require a licence or works approval to continue disposing mineral sands waste at Douglas.
The authority assessed the company’s proposal, and ruled neither pollution or environmental hazard had occurred or was likely to occur in the future with current and proposed pit 23 activities.
However the company will still require a council planning permit and a radiation management licence.
Cr Mark Radford said having a separate meeting to discuss the planning permit was appropriate given the developments.
“Perhaps the applicant might not be too excited about the timing, but I think it’s important the community is aware of the incredible commitment and time that has been committed to this project,” he said.
“I think having a meeting in a couple of weeks’ time is a good thing.”
Cr Sue Exell agreed.
“I’m looking forward to our meeting prior to that to have a really good summary of all the information we can round up and really get our heads around this, and hopefully finally make a decision so everyone can move forward,” she said.
Council’s planning and economic director Angela Murphy said since the Environment Protection Authority’s announcement, council had gathered information from stakeholders to help in the permit process.
She said council staff had met with the representatives from the authority and the state’s mining regulator; the Department of Health and Human Services; planning consultant AECOM; Iluka Resources; and permit objectors including Kanagulk Landcare Group members.
“Council officers are currently working with key state government agencies to secure their ongoing support, and with council’s solicitors for advice and review of documentation,” she said.
Kanagulk Landcare Group members are against Iluka’s practices and want waste to be returned to its source.
Council chief executive Peter Brown said last month council needed to make a decision about the planning permit in a timely manner, otherwise Iluka would have grounds to take the issue to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
