HORSHAM Rural City Council has asked the Victorian Minister for Planning to call in a mining waste disposal application rather that have the matter go to a tribunal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Horsham council has been told that the minister Richard Wynne would consider the request by September 9.
Mr Wynne’s spokesperson later said the minister’s office had not given a deadline.
In June, Council refused planning permission for mineral sands mining company Iluka Resources to continue and expand its was disposal operation at Douglas.
The site is located about 50 kilometres south-west of Horsham and receives waste from Iluka’s mineral processing plant in Hamilton.
Councillors opposed to the application said they were concerned about the risk of radioactive contamination of groundwater and ongoing costs of monitoring the site.
Iluka has taken the planning application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in an attempt to have council’s decision overturned.
Council has estimated that it will cost ratepayers between $30,000 and $50,000 to defend the case.
Council director of planning and economic Angela Murphy the minister was contacted because of the complex technical and environmental issues in Iluka’s application.
“Council does not have the capacity and technical expertise to monitor a proposal of this nature,” Ms Murphy said.
Mr Wynne’s spokeswoman said he would consider the request.
“The administrative tribunal is the independent planning umpire and is generally the right avenue for planning appeals,” the spokeswoman said.
“The Minister is considering the council's position and whether intervening is a better option than a tribunal hearing."
Council chief executive Peter Brown and Mayor Heather Phillips attended a tribunal directions hearing in Melbourne on Friday.
Cr Phillips said the council’s legal representatives and landowners near the Douglas site had been able to talk with Iluka representatives.
Mr Brown said council was also given a fair hearing by the minister.
“We had a meeting with the minister on Thursday in conjunction with Member for Lowan Emma Kealy,” Mr Brown said.
“We put it to him that it was a matter better suited to the state government.
“The minister has said he will consider that and take our request on board . He has committed to giving a response before September 9.”