Toxic Tunnel Tale
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has expressed her bitter disappointment at yesterday’s 19-18 vote in the Legislative Council, which saw an Opposition proposal to halt the dumping of toxic soil in Bacchus Marsh defeated.
The Liberal-National motion, supported by many crossbenchers, would have prevented Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s amendment to the Moorabool Shire planning scheme.
Mrs McArthur said:
“I’m deeply disappointed for the Bacchus Marsh community that we came so incredibly close to stopping this appalling project yesterday, falling just one vote short.”
“From the beginning the planning system has failed the people of Bacchus Marsh. It has permitted this monstrously unsuitable proposal to progress, when by any measure it defies sense and reason.”
“It has always been clear that Ministers have sought the quickest and easiest solution to dig themselves out of their West Gate Tunnel Toxic soil hole.”
“Their cynical consultation exercises, failure to provide documentation, and their stonewall approach to local residents, Moorabool Shire Council, and the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament have been completely consistent.”
“This was clearly a pre-determined decision, and Ministers have worked backwards to justify a decision which rescues their sinking flagship project. Along the way they have displayed total contempt for local residents, council officials, and elected representatives at every level.”
“Tuesday’s decision by the EPA to withdraw approval for the MBC Environmental Management Plan is the latest and clearest indication that pressure has been coming from the top. In combination with Minister D’Ambrosio’s cynical disposal of inconvenient environmental protection laws, it makes crystal clear the Government’s disregard for any existing safeguards.”
“The fight goes on. I remain confident that Victoria’s planning and environmental protections will prove sufficiently robust to reject this obviously flawed process and I will continue my advocacy for the Bacchus Marsh community, especially when the four local Labor MPs are absent and silent.”
10 December 2020