High time for smell change

By Kath Gannaway
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has taken the operators of the Coldstream Compost Facility at Coldstream to VCAT in a bid to resolve a problem which is causing a stink with local residents.
More than 200 people attended a meeting at Coldstream Community Centre on Thursday night to voice their concerns about a range of problems associated with the facility.
Representatives of the operator, Australian Native Landscapes (ANL), Yarra Ranges Shire and the EPA heard a raft of complaints from residents and business operators.
Councillor Jeanette McRae said she had received numerous complaints from residents who are affected by the odour coming from the facility.
“The planning permit issued by the shire requires that the facility doesn’t cause a nuisance and it’s very obvious that it is,” Cr McRae said.
“The shire is going to VCAT on that point,” she said. “At the same time we are working with ANL to try to resolve the problems.
Coldstream resident Tony King said an action group – as yet unnamed – had been formed to tackle the problem.
He said although he had not found anyone who was against the facility in principal, the inability of the operators to deal with the stench which is coming from the site has caused a loss of confidence that the matter can be resolved.
“Most people have simply lost trust in it. It was a brilliant idea but it’s in the wrong spot,” he said.
“Depending on the way the wind is blowing, the smell is travelling as far as Old Gippsland Road at the Wandin end to Victoria Road towards Melbourne.
“A lot of people are also concerned about diseased plant material being brought in and possibility of it getting loose before it even gets to the site,” he added.
He said residents have noticed an increase in flies and other insects since the facility opened and that property values and restaurants and other businesses were losing customers.
A spokesman for ANL said they were unable to comment on specific aspects because of the pending VCAT action other than saying it has been fully cooperating with the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the EPA and is fully committed to working for a satisfactory resolution to community concerns.