Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:18): My constituency question is for the Minister for Planning and concerns the potential use of the Maddingley Brown Coal facility to dump PFAS-affected soil from the West Gate Tunnel Project, a matter of huge public concern. Over 1500 people attended a meeting I spoke at in March, and an online survey I recently published has already attracted over a thousand responses. Almost 50 per cent of respondents took the trouble to add further comments, noting concerns about pollution affecting schools and agriculture and the devastating impact of hugely increased traffic and the dust and noise that brings. As the necessary planning decision is now with the minister, not the local council, I ask: what specific steps is the Minister for Planning taking to consult with local people, who overwhelmingly oppose the idea, and to gauge their views before making his judgement?