Council costs hits $100,000 in mine waste decision

In June, council rejected an application from Iluka Resources to expand its disposal site at Douglas, about 50 kilometres south-west of Horsham.

Iluka took council’s decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with the tribunal handing down its determination on Friday.

Council chief executive Peter Brown said the cost of the decision and tribunal was about $100,000, but council stood by its decision to protect the interests of the community.

“Council has a responsibility to advance the interest of this community as it sees it,” he said. 

“While we have had to spend considerable money to defend the decision, it is what the community expects – to defend decisions council makes on behalf of the community.”

Mr Brown said council had no choice but to move forward. 

“Essentially council doesn’t have any avenue of an appeal and we must accept the decision,” he said.

“We will now work to establish various management plans to put in place and issue the permit.

“We need to ensure ongoing monitoring costs are manageable and we don’t know exactly what they will be yet.

“Iluka will be bearing a considerable part of of that. What we will be doing is estimating the costs going forward and talking to government about how they can assist.” 

Mr Brown said the decision should not have been left to council to make.

“I’ve clearly expressed the view all the way along that this is a matter of state significance and the state government should have taken direct responsibility for monitoring and oversight. However, that’s not the decision we received,” he said.

An Iluka Resources spokesperson said the company welcomed the tribunal’s findings. 

“The decision provides regulatory certainty for the continued operation of the Hamilton plant, which employs 90 people directly and contributes to an estimated additional 175 local contractors across 55 local companies in the region,” the spokesperson said.

Iluka said the company looked forward to engaging with stakeholders to enact the decision.

“Iluka notes that VCAT’s findings on health, safety and environmental matters are consistent with the company’s longstanding position and operational track record; as well as separate determinations made by state government regulatory agencies and independent technical experts,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Brown said councillors would discuss the decision at Monday’s council meeting.

“If people take the time to read the VCAT judgement they’ve been very clear they don’t see any environmental risk,” he said.

“I think as a community we have to accept that and work with Iluka and the state government regulators to ensure the project is managed properly and there is no risk to the community.”

Nearby landowners have fought for years against a plan for larger disposal pits, claiming the low-level radioactive waste posed a threat to groundwater.