By Eleanor Wilson
The City of Casey is inviting Hampton Park locals to have their say in the long-term future of land at the site of the Hallam Road Landfill.
The landfill is tipped to reach capacity in 2032, after which the City of Casey plans to transition the space to cater for a waste transfer station and public open spaces, according to a draft development plan released by Casey Council in July.
The Draft Hampton Park Hill Development Plan outlines council’s intention to develop almost 85 hectares of public open space reserves on the site, as well as over 16 hectares of pathways and pedestrian/cyclist connections and a permeable local road network including pedestrian pathways and landscaping.
The plan includes the Hallam Road landfill and is bound by Ormond Road and Central Road to the north, the transmission line easement to the east, Glasscocks Road to the south, and Hallam Road/South Gippsland Highway to the west.
While council intends to move away from waste disposal, the land will still be used as a waste resource and recovery sub precinct, containing a waste transfer station that holds waste in anticipation for transfer to an offsite processing facility.
Casey Council said the transfer station will be fully enclosed to reduce odour, dust and noise, which are frequent complaints of the existing landfill.
The waste transfer station is proposed to be located near Hallam Road at least 250 metres away from residential areas, in accordance with the EPA and other planning requirements.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM, encouraged residents to share their feedback to help Council identify any gaps in the Development Plan and ensure the precinct meets the needs of Casey’s growing community.
“I encourage all residents to review the Development Plan to help shape the key elements of the site and future use of the precinct,” Ms Duff said.
“While the Development Plan aims to meet the waste processing needs of Casey and Melbourne’s outer suburbs, it also aims to meet the open space and employment needs of our community, which is crucial to Casey’s economic and environmental well-being.”
The decision to implement a waste transfer station comes as the State Government moves to prioritise utilising existing waste and resource facilities, given the limited locations for new waste recovery infrastructure within proximity to Melbourne’s growing population.
The State-wide Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan (SWRRIP, 2018), identified the Hallam Road Landfill and surrounding land as one of 22 significant waste and resource recovery sites it aims to retain for use.
The current landfill, located at 270-310 Hallam Rd, Hampton Park is one of Victoria’s largest landfills and accepts household and commercial and industrial putrescible waste and solid inert waste.
After the landfill stops accepting waste, rehabilitation will occur and an Aftercare Management Plan will be put in place for a minimum of 30 years, including re-vegetation of the area, landfill gas monitoring and general monitoring by the EPA.
For more information on the Draft Hampton Park Hill Development Plan, head to conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/hampton-park-hill-initial-public-consultation]
Consultation is now open until 6.00 pm on Sunday 31 July and feedback can be provided online via the City of Casey’s community consultation website Casey Conversations.
