Those living close to a new water treatment plant to be built near homes at Doncaster Hill in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, have expressed strong views on the benefits and threats the plant offers.
Whittens Lane residents, whose properties back onto the proposed site, have expressed objections to Yarra Valley Water’s plan to build a plant with a potential footprint of 2400 square metres. Steven Hatzolos, a civil engineer whose property is 80 metres from the site, told Neos Kosmos that the development could harm the character of the area and property values could fall.
“It’s going to affect our quality of life. Imagine having a backyard barbecue and having these smells coming over. It’s not the right area and it’s not appropriate to build this near people’s homes.
“There are other options that can be explored, and water savings can be achieved by other means,” said Mr Hatzolos, who added that his concerns are shared by hundreds of residents living in the area, and that a petition against the proposed plant would be now organised. In a statement provided to Neos Kosmos, Yarra Valley Water (YVW) explained that the plant would be cut into the hill, fully enclosed within a building, and that trees would be planted to screen the building.
The company added that “an odour treatment unit will be installed to ensure that the treatment plant will not smell and meets EPA requirements. The building will also be insulated to ensure that noise levels are also within EPA requirements.”
YVW’s Media Manager, Cheryl West, added that extensive ongoing community consultations were taking place, “so that residents’ concerns can be addressed and taken into consideration in the planning where possible”. Not all Doncaster Hill residents are opposed to the plan, however. Lynn Heath who lives on Clay Drive said she would support the council’s decision to allow the recycling plant to go ahead. Ms Heath told Neos Kosmos “I don’t see that it should affect property values, it’s in a freeway valley already so I don’t see that’s an issue. If we have the capacity to recycle we should.” A planning application is yet to be made to Manningham City Council but construction is planned to commence later next year.
