FONTERRA dairy company is pressing for a wider buffer around its Dennington factory and wastewater treatment plant under proposed new planning boundaries as part of the north Dennington growth area.
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Planning panel chairman Rodger Eade has directed the city council to tell nearby landowners that “Fonterra is potentially arguing for a buffer that may include all or part of their property”.
The company will put its case to a special panel hearing on April 23 and 24 after an earlier scheduled sitting on March 24 was adjourned.
Owners of six properties located between 300 metres and 500 metres from the Fonterra plant have been notified of the reconvened hearing and advised they must notify Planning Panels Victoria by April 14 if they want to be heard.
The council, Fonterra and the EPA have been directed to provide any information or data on complaints about odour emissions allegedly emanating from the Fonterra premises since January 1, 2009, from residents or other landholders within 500 metres of the plant.
EPA representatives have also been asked to appear at the hearing and present expert evidence on the proposed buffer.
The public hearing will be at Deakin University Timor Street conference room at 9.30am.
A proposed loop road adjoining the proposed Merri River floodplain and parkland, fragmented land ownership and residential growth will also be considered. A total of 17 submissions were received to the council’s north Dennington structure plan to set aside new residential land to cater for future growth south of the Merri extending west of Harrington Road and north of the recreation reserve.
pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au