Iluka Victorian Civil and Administrative appeal against Horsham Rural City Council: decision could come in February

Horsham Rural City Council’s planning and economic department had expected a verdict within six weeks of the hearings, which wrapped up in Melbourne on Friday.

Horsham council chief executive Peter Brown said he now expected to hear a decision as late as February due to the Christmas break.

“We don’t know, but we are anticipating it towards the end of January or early February,” he said.

The previous term of council voted in June to deny a planning application by mineral sands mining company Iluka Resources to expand its site at Douglas, about 50 kilometres south-west of Horsham.

Iluka uses the site to dispose of byproducts from its mineral separation plant near Hamilton.

The byproducts contain naturally-occurring elements classified as low and very low level radioactive waste.

Some landowners near the site have campaigned for years against the expansion because of concerns about groundwater contamination. 

Iluka appealed the decision, which was examined over 12 days of hearings in Melbourne.

Mr Brown said the tribunal had powers to set additional conditions on the planning permit if it overturned Horsham council’s decision. 

He said the tribunal should require state government agencies to assist Horsham council with compliance issues if a permit was issued. 

“We have got concerns about the ongoing monitoring of the site after it is closed,” he said.

“While it is functioning, we have concerns about the dust and ensuring there is a proper regime of dust suppression.”

Iluka did not respond to a request for comment but has previously stated that its application met environmental safety and community engagement requirements.

Former Horsham council mayor Heather Phillips, whose vote was crucial in denying the planning application, attended most of the tribunal hearings.

She said the hearings reinforced her belief that councillors had made the right call.

“It’s apparent that no single government department has the legislation and the policies that are necessary to administer a radioactive waste dump,” she said.