ABLE's plans for Lilydale waste station hit new snag

Yarra Ranges Council’s Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal bid to stop ABLE Demolitions and Excavations building a waste transfer station on Lilydale’s Quarry Rd could be strengthened by State Government rule changes.

Council and ABLE will face off at the tribunal on October 29 over recent planning scheme rule changes.

New rules - which were gazetted on August 2 - mean land cannot be used as a refuse transfer station if it is within 30m of residential land.

Yarra Ranges Council planning services manager Kim Marriott said the council hoped the new rules would strengthen its case against the waste transfer station.

“VCAT has to consider the current planning scheme in its decision,” she said. “Our position is that the proposal is now prohibited.”

VCAT re-called both parties on August 26 for a directions hearing over the rule change, with council and ABLE now set to make further submissions over the transfer station.

Previously State Government planning rules allowed for as-of-right use, meaning because the site was zoned industrial ABLE could potentially build a waste transfer station on it without a permit.

Now a permit is required and conditions must be met to allow the permit.

Resident Tony King said residents were pleased common sense appeared to be prevailing over rules governing refuse stations near homes.

ABLE director Rick Charylo said he did not want to comment ahead of the hearing.