Council will next week consider a proposed planning permit for the development of an organic processing facility in Huntly.
Western Composting Technology has applied for a planning permit to develop a facility on a 6.2ha site with access from Wallenjoe Road.
The organics processing facility proposes to process the recycling of a maximum 30,000 ton of organic waste per annum primarily from domestic food and garden organics and commercial garden and food waste.
The application states organic material would be held in a semi-enclosed building and shredded before being placed in climate-controlled vessels to undergo pasteurisation (a heating method to eliminate pathogens). The material would then be transferred to long rows where it would mature for up to 16 weeks prior to being screened, and the final compost product being dispatched for agricultural and domestic use.
To be developed, the facility requires a planning permit from the City, and an approved Development Licence from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Both the planning permit and Development Licence consider separate issues related to the proposed use and development. The EPA licence focuses on the technical aspects of the operation at the site. The planning permit process assesses land use and its potential impact on the surrounding area.
Last month, the EPA approved the Development Licence for the proposed site. A Biosecurity Impact Assessment with the application was considered by the EPA. It concluded that proposed biosecurity controls would adequately manage amenity risks in the surrounding area, including the Bendigo Livestock Exchange which is on the same site.
Under the EPA's approved Development Licence, the facility is required to meet its environmental obligations under the Environment Protection Act 2017 to reduce risks to human health or the environment from pollution or waste.
City of Greater Bendigo Director Strategy and Growth Rachel Lee said a thorough planning process assessed the appropriateness of the proposed facility and the potential impacts on the surrounding area.
"The development has suitably demonstrated compliance with relevant sections in the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme, the Planning Policy Framework and the Industrial Zone 1 requirements," Ms Lee said.
"The proposed use and development are considered to be appropriate with generous buffers and should not result in an unreasonable impact to the amenity from a planning permit perspective.
"The application has been able to demonstrate the proposal will not result in any unreasonable air quality relating to odour and dust. Potential noise impacts have been considered and will not result in any unreasonable issues.
"The EPA supports the City's considerations but did raise concerns about the proposed hours of operation. This has been addressed with a restriction applied to daytime hours for the facility's main operational activities (Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6pm).
"All of these findings will be considered at the Council meeting next week at 6pm on Monday December 16, 2024."
