Appeal on the nose

By Kath Gannaway
THE EPA has rejected an application from Australian Native Landscapes for a licence to continue to operate its Coldstream compost plant.
All existing composting facilities processing more than 100 tonnes of waste a month are required to be licensed under new regulations brought in last year.
The final decision on the licence, however, will be made by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
ANL has taken the matter to VCAT, arguing the EPA had failed to make a decision on its application within the required time frame.
VCAT will hear the matter on 7 April.
“Based on the information supplied by the company, community consultation and an assessment of the company’s performance to date, EPA will submit at the tribunal hearing that it does not support the issuing of a licence,” EPA executive director regional services Bruce Dawson said.
Mr Dawson said the company had a poor environmental performance.
The EPA has received more than 1800 pollution reports since ANL began operating at Coldstream more than two years ago.
“They have failed to demonstrate an ability to operate their facility in accordance with requirements,” Mr Dawson said.
More than 200 submissions were received regarding the licence application and more than 60 people attended an EPA conference on the licence at Coldstream in February.
In his recommendation to the EPA, conference chairman Peter Davies stated: “The community doubts that further proposed modifications to management procedures will resolve the (odour) problem.
“Opposition exists to any period of continuance within which any experimentation occurs in an endeavour to resolve the air impacts issue.”
He also noted that ANL contended that significant benefits would be gained from proposed upgrading on the site, which should lead to a reduction in the potential for odour emissions.
Chairman of the Stink Abatement Action Group Tony King said the EPA’s decision was right.
“We are however disappointed that ANL has seen fit to not accept the umpire’s decision by continuing to pursue the licence application through VCAT,” he said.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges has applied to VCAT for an order to stop all operations on the site.
Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan said the shire was very proud of what the EPA had done for the community.
“I think the Coldstream, and parts of the Lilydale community, have been living on a knife edge for the past one and a half years with impact this facility has had on their lives and businesses.”
Cr Heenan said the decision showed the EPA was listening to the shire and the community.
ANL has declined to comment on the EPA decision.