Smell still causing a stink

COLDSTREAM residents have been put on hold again as the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) continues to deliberate on matters that will determine the future of the Australian Native Landscapes compost plant at Coldstream.
After the Environment Protection Authority rejected an application from ANL for a licence to continue to operate the plant the company took the matter to VCAT arguing that the EPA had failed to make a decision.
In December VCAT allowed ANL an extension of time to conduct further experiments to exhaust all options to fix the odour problem that has plagued residents of Coldstream and some areas of Lilydale for three years.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges is asking VCAT to issue an order to stop all operations on the site.
The matter came before VCAT again last week with hearings on Wednesday and Thursday again failing to resolve the matter.
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor Tim Heenan has been involved with the issue for the past three years.
He said the shire’s stance had not changed from its previous VCAT appearances and was continuing to argue that the plant should be shut down.
The EPA is also continuing to refuse a licence.
The EPA had no comment on the matter other than to say it, too, was awaiting the decision.