A petition opposing a waste to energy incinerator proposal for Lara is being prepared for state government.
Around 100 people attended a Q&A panel hearing on the issue this week at the Lara Golf Club, where state Greens MP Sarah Mansfield said most people expressed opposition to the project.
“They’re currently collecting signatures to demonstrate the concern they have about this facility,” the member for Western Victoria said.
A former GP herself, Ms Mansfield was at the meeting that was moderated by public health expert Dr Peter Tait from the Australian National University, who has authored papers on the health impacts of waste incineration.
“I think this is really disturbing for the local community out there,” Ms Manfield said.
“There are obviously a lot of concerns for them about the potential health impacts about having a facility like this so close to a residential area.”
The proposal from Prospect Hill International is to process around 400,000 tonnes of waste per year and generate 35 megawatts of electricity.
The company estimates it could power up to 50,000 homes and take residual wastes currently destined for landfill.
It’s been three years since it was first proposed and now sits with the Environment Protection Authority for consideration.
“Ultimately it’s the state government who’ll make a decision about whether this goes ahead,” Ms Mansfield said.
She’s promising to lodge the opposing petition with in the Victorian parliament, calling on government to scrap the the project.
Prospect Hill was contacted for comment.
