BREAKING: Cleanaway has just withdrawn its application for a development license concerning its highly contentious Waste to Energy (WtE) facility in Wollert. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was set to make a crucial decision on this proposal for the Melbourne Energy Resource Recovery Centre (MERC) at 510 Summerhill Road on August 30. However, the company pulled its application just before the deadline.
This urgent development comes as Cleanaway plans to submit an updated application that aligns with Recycling Victoria’s recent decision to increase its waste burning cap. On August 17, Recycling Victoria approved a cap allowing Cleanaway to process up to 760,000 tonnes of waste per year—double the previous limit of 380,000 tonnes. This expanded capacity is poised to impact approximately 13 percent of Victoria’s landfill-bound waste and generate enough electricity to power 140,000 homes and businesses.
Opposition to the incinerator remains fierce. Community members, including No Northern Incinerator group member Cath Rousse, have voiced strong criticism of the EPA’s communication with those who submitted concerns about the facility. Rousse stated, “The community in Wollert and Epping North have been very vocal in their opposition to this planned incinerator.”
The withdrawal comes amid a public outcry, as residents gathered at Whittlesea’s council offices on August 31, unaware that Cleanaway had already taken action. Whittlesea mayor Martin Taylor previously indicated that the council had moved to reject Cleanaway’s planning application back in December 2024. Local councillor Lawrie Cox expressed his disbelief that a commercial industrial incinerator could be proposed so close to residential housing, emphasizing, “It was some 40 years ago we recognized burning off in the backyard was a problem and we banned property incinerators.”
Residents like Julie Ahmad, an active member of the No Northern Incinerator Facebook group, lamented the lack of transparency surrounding the project. She remarked, “There’s been a complete lack of consultation. If you ask anyone in the supposed letter drop range, they’ll tell you they never received anything.”
In response to the withdrawal, Cleanaway had previously stated that community engagement began in 2021 when the MERC project was first announced. They claimed to have conducted multiple community engagement sessions and established a stakeholder reference group to facilitate communication. However, many residents feel that these efforts were inadequate.
The proposed MERC facility is now part of broader discussions as the Victorian upper house has initiated a parliamentary inquiry into WtE projects. This inquiry, backed by MP Rachel Payne, will scrutinize consultation processes, the placement of such projects near homes and schools, and their long-term social and environmental impacts. Payne highlighted the need for careful consideration, stating, “We must ask whether this is the future we want – one that risks polluting our people and planet?”
As the situation continues to evolve, residents and community leaders are urging further engagement and transparency from Cleanaway and regulatory bodies. The next steps will be critical as Cleanaway prepares its new proposal, and the inquiry into WtE facilities progresses.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as we follow this developing story.
