Bacchus Marsh Reprieved
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has hailed news that the Maddingley Brown Coal site will not now receive potentially toxic soil from the West Gate Tunnel project.
Tunnel builder, TransUrban revealed on Friday that they had signed off on a deal with Hi-Quality Group, which would instead see millions of tonnes of PFAS-contaminated soil deposited at the Bulla landfill in Melbourne’s north-west.
Mrs McArthur said: “Bacchus Marsh residents have lived with this threat for so long, it seems hard to believe their nightmare may now be over.”
“While this news is incredibly welcome, I remain cautious. The Andrews Government and TransUrban have to date displayed no concern whatsoever for the communities affected, so until the entire project is done and dusted I will continue to remain vigilant.”
She noted the continuing legal action by the Moorabool Shire Council, and Moorabool Environment Group. “It is quite right that the Shire and MEG should continue their actions. At present, it is only a commercial decision by TransUrban which has spared Bacchus Marsh. The faulty decisions of the EPA and Minister for Planning need to be permanently reversed so the community can rest secure.”
Mrs McArthur stated her support for the Bulla community. “I’ve always said this soil should not come to Bacchus Marsh, but there’s no way it should go to Bulla either. The Andrews Government and TransUrban have had years to plan and build a site for this soil, away from human population and agricultural centres. It’s an absolute disgrace they have failed to think ahead. No community in Western Victoria should be made to pay for that failing.”
Mrs McArthur was full of praise for the campaign run by Bacchus Marsh residents against the threat of the soil dumping.
“In all my years in politics, this has without doubt been the best organised, most motivated, talented, imaginative, informed, and persistent campaign I have had the pleasure of working with.”
“It has been incredible to see all sections of the community come together in this way, sharing their expertise and devoting incredible energy to the campaign.”
“I have had the pleasure of speaking at a number of rallies, in Bacchus Marsh and in Parliament. I have seen and heard just how much the community care, and how angry they have been at their total abandonment by local Labor MPs and Andrews Government Ministers.”
“The Government’s approach has been appalling. I have put questions, written motions, called debates and made speeches, and at no stage have Ministers given even the slightest indication of sympathy, or willingness to compromise.”
“This welcome news is a credit to people power, and a valiant fight by residents against a Government, its bureaucracy and commercial partners who have done everything in their power to ram through the project. At every stage they have ignored residents, schools, and businesses of all kinds, even Council, who have ultimately been forced to fight this in the courts. Consultations have been bypassed, conventions ditched, legislation altered – even Parliamentary motions have been ignored.”
“I will continue to stand with the people of Bacchus Marsh against this misjudged project, and the egregious abuse of process which so nearly brought it to pass.”
28 June 2021
