OCTOBER 20, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Damjan Janevski) 217839_01
Gymnastics fun for kids Now that some COVID-19 restrictions have eased in regional Victoria, kids can get back to being kids. With locals able to exercise outside in small groups, BK’s Gymnastics in Bacchus Marsh has started 45-minute classes at Federation Park in Darley. Bree Mort from the gym said she was expecting some very eager little local faces at the sessions. “We’ve had over 50 kids joining us for online classes … and expect this number to grow exponentially now that kids in regional Victoria can start outdoor training,” she said. “After such a long period with no sports or organised group activities, it’s great to be able to welcome kids back, even though it’s not in our usual indoor facilities. “It’s particularly challenging for the little ones who aren’t of school-age yet, as they won’t be returning to school with the opportunity to connect with other kids and organised physical activity.” Details: www.bkgymswim.com.au/ bacchus-marsh-outdoor-gym-fit-classes. ELISABETH, 6, AND JULIET, 11
Ewen McRae
Soil plan gets EPA tick By Ewen McRae Melton council has stepped up it’s opposition to a local landfill receiving contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel project, despite a key approval being granted last week. The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) last week approved an Environment Management Plan (EMP) for Cleanaway’s Ravenhall landfill as part of its application to receive the soil. It means all three sites bidding to receive the soil – Ravenhall, Maddingley Brown Coal (Bacchus Marsh) and Hi Quality (Bulla) – have received EPA approvals.
EPA regulatory standards, assessments and permissioning executive director Tim Eaton said each site had been rigorously assessed before having approvals granted. “The health of the local community and the environment is our first priority and these Environment Management Plans will ensure they are protected,” Mr Eaton said. “Each of the EMPs has been rigorously reviewed and approved on the basis they meet strict conditions designed to protect human health and the environment. “EPA will monitor any selected site closely to ensure it operates in accordance with its EMP.” Melton council chief executive Kelvin Tori
said despite Ravenhall ticking all the EPA boxes, the council would still advocate strongly to the state government for the soil to be processed elsewhere. “We remain absolutely opposed to contaminated soil being sent to an area where local families live and work, and we continue to advocate to the state government to reject this proposal,” Mr Tori said. “Our greatest concern is this facility expansion going ahead and becoming a permanent addition to Ravenhall. The site would be able to accept other contaminated soil projects indefinitely. “That potentially means no end to the truck
traffic, and an on-going amenity and safety burden for the many people who live and work nearby. Such a proposal should not be exempt from public consultation. “I’d like to reassure residents that EPA approval does not mean the contaminated soil will be dumped at the Ravenhall landfill. The EPA has simply determined that the plans for this proposal meet environmental requirements. For any site to accept this soil, the operators must also be granted Victorian government approval and the Transurban contract. Council is doing everything it can to demonstrate why the state government and Transurban should reject this proposal.”
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