Tip produces more of the same

DISGRUNTLED residents converged for Bass Coast Shire Council’s second information session on Friday at Inverloch to discuss the proposed closure of the Inverloch Transfer Station.
Ratepayers were fed more of the same with the meeting part of the night wound up at 5.20pm with a number of questions still needing to be answered.
The meeting continued on in a less formal basis as an information session; while some residents remained others decided they’d had enough and went home.
Mayor Cr Jordan Crugnale joined manager sustainable environment Deirdre Griepsma and general manager sustainable development and growth Allison Jones in facilitating the information session which intended to provide residents with answers to their concerns of the proposed closure.
“Friday’s was the second of two information sessions which came about to answer the questions of the community. The public was given an opportunity to discuss the proposal of the transfer station which is due for closure in September 2017,” Cr Crugnale said.
Council deferred the original submission to close the transfer station at its last meeting and will come to a decision at its August meeting following the series of public consultation workshops.
“Council chose to defer the decision until August to give the community a chance to talk with us and so that we could answer any questions or concerns,” Ms Jones said.
Many members of the public took the opportunity to voice their disagreement with the submission and gave many reasons as to why they felt the transfer station should remain open.
Inverloch resident Kevin Griffin came forth once again to state his concerns in a crowd of angry ratepayers who took jabs at Council for its “poor communication” and “irresponsible conduct”.
“Council did not keep the meeting open at its first information session despite the fact many residents had not yet had their questions answered,” he said.
“Again on Friday, Council wanted to close the meeting prior to the proposed 6pm before all questions were asked.”
Council chose to stop taking questions from the entire floor at 5.20pm and split off so more residents could address questions to the five officers present in smaller group conversations.
Ross Smith told The Star “the mayor lost control and either did not know the answers or just got tired of constant criticism but she closed the meeting at 5.10pm in the midst of a series of questions from Kevin Griffin. He has been deeply involved in researching this vexed issue.”
“I am sure Bass Coast councillors have a death wish about their future as so called representatives of their communities,” Mr Smith said.
Inverloch’s Allan Peter questioned the environmental factors which have lead to the potential closure of the transfer station.
“Who tested the water quality at Little Screw Creek and deemed it polluted?” he asked.
“I worked with Water Watch for six years and tested the water there and I never saw a problem between 2000 and 2006. Little Screw Creek is perfect.”
Wattle Bank resident Peter Dalmau agreed with Mr Peter and said there was no sign of pollution in the transfer station’s surrounding environment, despite concerns from Council.
“There is no significant pollution coming out of the transfer station,” he said.
“There is no smell or odour. Furthermore, Inverloch is the largest town in South Gippsland and we deserve our station.”
Resident Chris Howard disputed Mr Peter and Mr Dalmau’s claims the station does not produce pollution.
“If the Environmental Protection Agency came here I think it would find significant changes to the quality of water at Little Screw Creek,” he said.
“There have been significant changes to farming up stream as well as increased rainfall. That and the old tip would surely be filled with asbestos because Inverloch was primarily built on asbestos 45 years ago. It is not wrapped to regulation.”

Voicing concern: from left, Kevin Griffin and Peter Dalmau both took to the floor during Bass Coast Shire Council’s Inverloch Transfer Station information session on Friday where they both stated they did not want the station to close.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Jul 19 2016. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry