In a massive kick in the guts to the Bulla community, the Andrews Labor Government is making Bulla a toxic dumping ground.
Bulla residents will be waking up this morning devastated to hear that Labor’s West Gate Tunnel Project will now dump millions of tonnes of toxic tunnel spoil on the doorstep of thousands of homes.
For months Labor has been trying to rush through approvals to dump PFAS contaminated soil from its trouble-plagued West Gate Tunnel Project, which is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.
While the government attempts to blame its foreign-owned tunnel contractor for selecting the Bulla site, it is Labor that has been in the thick of the decision-making.
The Labor Government sneakily rushed through new regulations to allow fast-tracked ‘environmental’ approvals for toxic dumps close to homes, removed important legal appeal rights to VCAT, and gave its foreign-owned tunnel contractors a tax-free ride to dump the toxic tunnel soil. This has left taxpayers to foot the bill to clean up the toxic mess, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
On the one hand, Labor approves new housing developments on the one side of the road, and a toxic soil dump on the other. It makes no sense.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Bridget Vallence:
“The Andrews Labor Government has made Bulla a toxic dumping ground.
“Labor has treated local families with absolute contempt, and will be dumping millions of tonnes of toxic soil on the doorstep of thousands of homes from its trouble-plagued West Gate Tunnel project.
“The Andrews Labor Government has approved new housing developments on one side of the road, and a toxic dump on the other. It makes no sense and is a massive kick in the guts for the Bulla community.
“The Labor Government created this toxic mess and cannot blame tunnel contractors for choosing a Melbourne suburb to dump toxic soil. It is Labor that sneakily rushed through new regulations to fast-track ‘environmental’ approvals, remove legal appeal rights to VCAT, and approve a tax-free ride for the tunnel contractors to dump the toxic tunnel soil.
“It shows, yet again, that Labor does not care about protecting people and the environment.”
Comments attributable to Member for Western Metropolitan Region, Bernie Finn:
“This is another kick in the guts for Melbourne’s west. The Andrews Labor Government has turned its back on the west and will plough ahead with no regard for locals.
“Local Labor member Josh Bull has been completely silent and missing in action.
“Even Labor’s own reports have revealed that dumping of this toxic and contaminated soil is a threat to our community, our waterways, wildlife and our local environment.”
