Over 16,000 Australians have signed a petition to thwart the development of a rubbish tip – that will accept asbestos waste – near Arthurs Seat, Victoria. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council – who are pushing ahead with the proposal – have been met with ardent opposition by locals and others to the rubbish tip. The proposed site is the old Pioneer quarry on Arthurs Seat in Dromana, that is close to the houses and holiday houses of thousands of Greek Australians.
Peninsula Waste Management, the company behind the development, is waiting on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to get the go ahead. However, a group of concerned residents have created the Peninsula Preservation Group Inc. (PPG) to oppose this development and are petitioning the council and EPA for the rubbish tip not to go head.
Ilias Salagaras, who lives with his family in Dromana is concerned that the proposed site will have a number of adverse affects to not only his property, but the well being of his family, and his two young daughters.
Mr Salagaras – a member of the PPG – moved his family to the rural property 18 months ago to enjoy the basics of life, including living off the land and growing fresh organic food. Currently they are in the early stages of developing an organic sheep farm, one that could be seriously harmed if this proposal goes ahead.
“If this tip is approved we will never gain organic certification,” Mr Salagaras tells Neos Kosmos.
In a letter to The Age this week, Mr Salagaras wrote: “We are worried that we may not be able to sell our produce. We are concerned about leachate leaking from the landfill into Sheepwash Creek and contaminating the water-table. The creeks junction is situated on our property and our sheep drink this water. A large volume of water is proposed to be pumped into the creek on a continual daily basis. We are concerned that this high volume of water, in addition to rainfall, will erode away the creek lines and cause flooding to our property. Our dam is formed on the creek line and our driveway crosses over this gully at the base of the dam. The continuation of this creek runs through a small tunnel under our driveway. It’s a strong possibility that our driveway may erode away and cut off access to our house.
“The success of our business is at the mercy of decision makers within the EPA and Mornington Shire Council. We would rather not have to fight this proposal, but we are willing to do everything in our power to save our farm.”
Not only this, he says the environment will become smelly and messy.
“We moved here to show the children there was another way of life,” and now fears that this has become threatened.
Another concern Mr Salagaras raised was that 70 per cent of the waste will be generated outside the Mornington Peninsula. He said the area has access to Hallam Road Landfull who “are more than happy to take the waste for the next 30 years” adding that this means the issue isn’t with waste management but “a business case for someone to make a hell of a lot of money”.
The decision on whether or not this proposal will go ahead is currently with the EPA who are still receving objections up until the 19 June.
For more information on the PPG and to sign the petition visit www.communityrun.org/petitions/save-arthurs-seat