Toxic dump campaign win marks 20 years

Members of WRATD came together to celebrate 20 years since the toxic dump victory at the Werribee Racecourse, the site where 15,000 people came to protest the dump. Picture: Joe Mastroianni

By Charlene Macaulay

In July 1995, CSR advised Wyndham commissioners of its plans for a toxic dump and waste management precinct for the quarry next door to the Wests Road tip.

What followed was a concerted three-year community campaign that resulted in CSR throwing in the towel and selling the quarry to Wyndham council following protracted pre-court negotiations.

November 13 was the 20th anniversary of that well-fought victory, and Werribee Residents Against Toxic Dumps member Harry van Moorst celebrated the milestone yesterday with a small dinner with some of the core activists of that campaign.

Mr van Moorst believes a 15,000-strong protest at Werribee Racecourse following the government’s May 1998 decision to approve the toxic dump – despite years of rampant community opposition – was the turning point for the whole campaign.

The Werribee Banner’s reportage on the toxic dump plan, March 27, 1996

“I think they realised after that they didn’t have a chance,” he said.

“There are a number of people who still remember it, who were very involved in it, and there’s a lot of others who are benefiting from the victory.

“One of the important developments of that is that is showed if a community stands up for itself, it has a good chance of winning. We saw that with the juvenile detention centre.

“I think it gives people a bit of optimism about the fact that, despite all the bureaucracies and everything else, people can still make a difference.”

One of many protests, Werribee Banner, March 25, 1998

Lalor MP Joanne Ryan, who was a WRADT member and member of the Environmental Effects Statement consultative committee, said it was a landmark campaign that taught the community how to use its voice.

She said the group used a number of measures – including petitions, rallies, storming the CSR annual general meeting, a marginal seats campaign during the state election, a campaign to stop buying CSR sugar, and getting the support of the unions – to get their point across.

“It was the actions that put pressure on CSR … it was really sophisticated,” she said.

“The committee was cross-political – there were Libs, there were Labor, there were Greens, there were neutrals – and we all put our weapons down and worked together as constructively as we could.

“It was a highly-charged emotional time [when CSR backed down].”

Werribee Banner, November 18, 1998