Green light for kilns

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
DESPITE a Powelltown resident’s pleas for “a bit of peace and quiet”, the Yarra Ranges Council has supported a retrospective planning application by the Powelltown Sawmills for two kilns and drying sheds.
Seven objections had been raised with concerns about the noise, emission of smoke plumes, site appearance and land devaluation.
But there was little debate at the 14 December council meeting, after councillors deferred the planning application at the 12 October meeting over confusion about how many kilns were on the site and what constituted an acceptable noise level.
An on-site meeting was held at the sawmill on 18 November to confirm that five additional temporary kiln structures were existing and operating on the site.
They exist as a crucial part of drying wood during winter, but will no longer be required over summer and will be removed within three months as part of the planning permit. The structures would need a permit if they were to be rebuilt.
Further noise tests by the applicant’s acoustic specialist and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed the kilns would comply with state noise control policies during the day, but the two kilns will be required to operate at no more than 30 per cent to comply with evening requirements.
Powelltown resident Ron Gribble, who was one of the original objectors, told councillors at the 12 October meeting that he had been reporting the noise for three years to the EPA, Yarra Ranges Council and to the operators of the mill.
He described the noise at times as like having a jumbo jet next to his house and rejected the 30 per cent suggested by the EPA, saying an acceptable level during the night would be 10 per cent.
Councillor Graham Warren had said at the time it would be detrimental if council went against the EPA recommendation of 30 per cent.
“If we say 10 per cent and the kilns can’t work on that speed, I don’t want to be responsible for the mill losing timber, or for losing employment in the area as a result,” he said.
At last week’s meeting, councillors gave the planning application unanimous support and O’Shannassy Ward councillor Chris Templer said the permit would be granted “for the future of the business.”
“It has been around for 100 years and it’s extremely important to support the motion,” Cr Templer said.