Canterbury Hills residents may soon see an end to the constant stream of heavy trucks cutting through their estate to dump soil on open land adjacent to their homes.
Locals have staged months of protests over the activity, citing noise, dust, safety concerns and damage to local roads. In September they submitted dozens of questions to Hume City Council and met with city officials behind closed doors to press their case.
Following that meeting, council lodged papers with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), seeking both an interim enforcement order and a full enforcement order under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
Council alleges that earthworks at 370 Riddell Rd are in breach of the Hume Planning Scheme and pose risks to the environment and community.
Sunbury councillor and Hume Mayor Jarrod Bell has now confirmed via a Facebook statement that a public hearing will take place this Thursday, 16 October, to consider the council’s application for interim enforcement orders that, if granted, would stop all work at the site immediately.
“This hearing recognises the urgency of the current situation,” Cllr Bell said. “Even interim orders require a high level of proof to be successful, and as such the work to date by our investigators and community to collect evidence will be critical.”
He said the interim hearing is a key step ahead of a later enforcement hearing that will determine the long-term outcome for the site.
“Council’s and my focus remains clear, building a case that can win, aimed at protecting the safety, wellbeing and amenity of the Canterbury Hills and our broader community, and ensuring this matter is dealt with properly and as swiftly as possible through the legal system.”
