Victoria’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee will hold two days of public hearings this week as part of its inquiry into the development and expansion of waste-to-energy (WtE) infrastructure in the state.
The Committee is inquiring into the suitability of existing WtE infrastructure plans and policies, including the impact of WtE projects on residential communities and transport infrastructure; annual caps on waste that can be used in thermal WtE processing; and the regulatory framework to establish and manage WtE facilities.
Public hearings will begin in Sunbury on Thursday 7 May at the Hume Global Learning Centre from 10 am.
The Committee will hear from a range of community groups, advocacy organisations and local stakeholders, including No Sunbury Waste Incinerator, Sunbury Clean Future Inc, Toxics Free Australia, Clean Air Communities and Climate Action Merri‑bek. Two resident panels will also appear, alongside representatives from primary producers, local industry and Hume City Council.
The second day of hearings will be held in Melbourne on Friday 8 May.
Witnesses scheduled to appear include Al Siraat College, the City of Greater Geelong, South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing, and several community and advocacy groups opposing waste incineration projects across Victoria. Industry, union and community perspectives will be presented by the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council and Friends of Latrobe Water.
The inquiry is also examining the impact of WtE, including from separating recycling and organic material from WtE streams; nature and management of emissions, waste and ash byproducts; and the cost-benefit of WtE generation to consumers and businesses.
The Committee will explore alternative waste management approaches and emerging technologies that also align with circular economy principles and look at the adequacy of community consultation.
The Committee will report by August.
The hearings will be streamed live on the Committee’s website, where the full schedule of witnesses is also available.
