Hundreds of trucks loaded with asbestos could be moving in and out of Morwell along local highways, if Latrobe City Council finds alternative sites to store the dangerous material.
Latrobe City Council deferred a decision on a permit application from Energy Brix Australia to store 15,000 cubic metres of asbestos in deep underground pits at the old Morwell Power Station, if it gets approval from Heritage Victoria to demolish the old buildings.
Instead, council agreed to reconvene to discuss finding a place to take the asbestos off-site.
Cr Sharon Gibson spoke against the application at Latrobe City’s ordinary council meeting on Monday night, concerned the site was only 650 metres away from a residential area.
“I’d be quite happy for it to be stored in another municipality – we can send our asbestos out and other people can cop that,” she said.
“Just like we are getting drug-affected people sent our way, they can have our asbestos.”
Cr Gibson was referring to her previous comments about the numbers of public housing residents being sent to regional areas without enough support.
Gippsland Resource Group spokesperson Christine Sindt, a former Latrobe City councillor, spoke against the application in the public gallery.
“This proposal could result in designated asbestos dumps throughout Latrobe City. Asbestos needs to be removed from Latrobe City, not buried in the city,” she said.
Cr Graeme Middlemiss said he did not trust the Environment Protection Authority to oversee the project.
He said the EPA let the community down during the Hazelwood mine fire.
“I will vote against this only to alert the community that this is very close to a town. I have no confidence in the EPA’s ability to regulate this,” Cr Middlemiss said.
“This is 650 metres from a housing estate. The prevailing winds will come from the east and blow straight off this dump and straight towards the residential area.”
Energy Brix remediation project manager Barry Dungey said burying the asbestos onsite in deep pits which would be sealed and capped-off, was the safest and most secure option.
He said if the plan did not get approved, it would mean 400 trucks loaded with asbestos would be moving about on the roads.
“The reason we chose this was to minimise risk of asbestos removal. And the best way to handle large amounts of material,” he said.
“If anyone’s been exposed to a truck accident involving asbestos, it’s not a pleasant time. We know our roads are congested and not in good standing.”
Other councillors spoke in favour of the application, saying it was the best option and would be carefully monitored.
Asbestos Council of Victoria executive Vicki Hamilton was upset by Latrobe City’s decision to find another place to store it and backed EBAC’s application.
“Whose backyard do you want to put it in? Where else would they put it? It should not be trucked up and down highways,” she said.
