Residents reject toxic dump

The Victorian Government has approved plans to build a toxic waste dump 
in Gippsland. The $5.35 million project has been earmarked for Gippsland 
Water' s Duntson Downs site, 25 kilometres south of Sale.

Local residents and environmentalists are up in arms about it.

Dutson Downs, which already has to cope with local sewage and waste, 
happens to be close to internationally renowned wetlands, backing into Lake 
Reeves and the Gippsland Lakes network, and is five kilometres from the 
Ninety Mile Beach.

Dunston Downs is also near the RAAF bombing range.

The new dump will be designed to handle about 30,000 tonnes of contaminated 
soil from industrial sites across Victoria. There has not even been an 
environmental impact statement. Perhaps the Bracks Government fears the 
reaction that would result if the facts were put on the table.

A number of attempts were first made to impose this facility in different 
parts of Melbourne. Huge local community-based campaigns put an end to 
this.

It is obvious that they came to the view that an isolated rural community 
would be a soft target. This is not the case at all.

Wellington Residents Against Toxic Hazards is a new group that has emerged 
to fight the project. Many others around Gippsland are also joining the 
fight. Even local National and Liberal Party politicians are stating their 
opposition to maintain some local credibility.

Such is the strength of the feeling being generated.

This has been made all the worse by the Government's move to strip 
Wellington Shire Council of any planning controls over the dump.

A significant battle is on the cards.

Opponents of the toxic dump will generate a lot of support throughout 
Victoria.

They are in a strong position to win.

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Acknowledgements: Vanguard