A council in Victoria's Latrobe Valley has rejected a proposal to build the state's first lead battery recycling plant in the municipality, saying lead from the plant posed too big a risk to the community.
The Chinese company Chunxing had sought approval to build the plant at an industrial site on the edge of the Hazelwood North farming community.
The plant would be built less than two kilometres from the local primary school and attracted community opposition, with more than 4,000 people signing a petition against the proposal.
Latrobe City Council planning staff had recommended the project go ahead, but last night councillors voted 6–3 to deny the company a planning permit after an almost five-hour meeting.
Councillor Kellie O'Callaghan said it was the most contentious issue the council would consider this term and it was important to listen to community sentiment.
"Having considered the information, I'm not in a position to offer assurance to the community in relation to this proposal in its current form and in relation to its proposed location," she said.
"I have ongoing doubts around the nature of independent peer testing applied to some of the information provided to sufficiently justify supporting this application.
"The potential risks of some industry types living, working and educating these children within proximity to industrial zones needs to be fully considered by council and relevant authorities."
Regulator approved project
Last month, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) approved Chunxing's proposed plant, which would have processed 50,000 tonnes of spent batteries into 28,000 tonnes of refined lead a year.
The company's modelling found the plant's lead emissions would be 300 times below EPA standards and would not pose a risk to the community.
Councillor Dale Harriman told the meeting council's decision would be overturned in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal if Chunxing appealed, preventing the council from having an input on the conditions imposed on the project.
"When they decide that, there's not going to be real-time monitoring [of emissions]; when they decide that, they'll hand out the figures as they see fit; and when the community's suffering because of that, it'll come back to this vote here," Councillor Harriman said.
"We are sending a message to every business: 'do not bother coming to Latrobe City', because if somebody objects we're going to run away, even if you're in the right location, even if you're in the right zoning."
Families celebrating
Ahead of the vote, some families said they would leave Hazelwood North or remove their children from the primary school if the project went ahead.
Traralgon mother Sheila James and her family had already abandoned plans to relocate to Hazelwood North because of the proposal and were considering other schools.
"My main concern with this project going ahead is it's a ripple effect on the community … what lead does to young children especially is a massive concern to me," she said.
"As soon as I heard about the battery plant being proposed I did a lot of research online and I was absolutely shocked at what lead does to children and people."
Ms James and her family had planned to purchase property and move to Hazelwood North but abandoned the plan because of their concerns about Chunxing's proposal.
