By Mitchell Clarke
Councillors have unanimously voted against the APA-AGL Gas Import Jetty and Pipeline project’s Environmental Effects Statement (EES) in it’s current form.
The high pressure gas pipeline will connect AGL’s proposed Gas Import Jetty at Crib Point to the Victorian Transmission System, near Pakenham.
But the consultation period has been slammed by Port Ward councillors Graeme Moore and Ray Brown, who said landowners within the 640 metre measurement length of the proposed pipeline weren’t adequately consulted.
“The minimal consultation with our local landowners, our farmers that is, is a major issue,” Cr Moore said.
“The lack of communication and consultation with landholders is so extreme … from a professional organisation to not do their consultation adequately is really ridiculous,” Cr Brown added.
“The community ask questions but they don’t seem to get answers.”
Cardinia Shire Council refused to support the EES in it’s current form until a number of identified issues could be addressed.
Issues included the impacts on groundwater, the refinement of the pipeline alignment to reduce impacts on Green Wedge Zone land and general inconsistencies with the Renewable Energy Act 2017, the Climate Change Act 2017 and the Victorian Reductions Emissions Targets.
Central Ward councillor Michael Schilling said there had been a lot of community interest around the project.
“This is a massive piece of infrastructure that is being proposed to run through our shire and to have no direct consultation with the major landowners is a significant issue,” he said.
“When you have something as major as a major gas pipeline going through your community, you need to engage with your local residents.”
Written submissions will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 26 August. To have your say: www.engage.vic.gov.au/crib-point-IAC.
