MOVES to establish a rubbish sorting facility in Morwell were blocked by Latrobe City Council on Monday night, amid fears it could cross-contaminate a neighbouring food business.
A recommendation by council’s planning department to grant a planning permit for LV Recovery and Recycling under strict operational and environmental conditions was voted down by councillors, six to two.
Six representatives from businesses neighbouring the proposed facility, including food-grade liquid smoke manufacturer Grayson Australia, voiced their objections at Monday night’s council meeting, citing concerns about potential odours, vermin and airborne bacteria.
In his objection to the permit, councillor Graeme Middlemiss, also council’s representative on the Gippsland Waste Management Group, encouraged the business to reapply in a different location. “There is a need for this facility – it’s simply in the wrong place,” Cr Middlemiss said.
