Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan will campaign to raise awareness of the proposed expansion of the Ravenhall tip.
Cr Khan met the Stop the Tip group late last month, and later said it was important for Wyndham residents, especially those moving into new estates in Truganina, to know what the expansion meant for them.
If tip owner Cleanaway’s permit is approved, the landfill would be about 1.5 kilometres from the Wyndham-Melton boundary.
The state government has taken over the permit application from Melton council.
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The application will be sent to an independent panel, which will consider submissions and hold public hearings, before a report is prepared for Planning Minister Richard Wynne to make the final decision.
“That doesn’t mean to say I’m opposing [the expansion], but I want to run an awareness campaign so my constituents – including those who will move into the Elements and Rothwell estates – will know that the tip will be 1.5 kilometres away,” Cr Khan said.
“It’s important that we understand what the impact will be if the expansion goes ahead.
“I’m not saying that it won’t be compliant; it could be the most compliant tip in Victoria, but there might be a potential impact on the property market … and residents’ health.”
Cr Khan’s comments come a week after Stop the Tip campaigner Marion Martin called on Wyndham council to make a submission opposing the Ravenhall tip’s expansion.
“I think the residents who are building in Elements estate should be aware of what they’re going to live with,” Ms Martin said.
“They’re going to move in there and all they’ll smell will be the tip.”
Wyndham council chief executive Kelly Grigsby would not comment on whether the council will oppose the tip’s expansion.
“Staff are monitoring the progress of the development to ensure matters, such as buffer zones, environmental impacts and traffic controls, are appropriate,” she said.
