Councillor Jim Child has called on the Yarra Ranges Council for a formal investigation into a reverse vending machine over beliefs it may be breaching its permit conditions.
The O’Shannassy Ward representative made the request on 20 January after the Star Mail highlighted community concerns surrounding the double parking of trucks and excessive noise caused by the operation.
Upon reviewing the planning permit conditions, Cr Child said the company Visy, which manages the reverse vending machine in Yarra Junction, appeared to be breaking the rules of the permit.
“When I looked at the conditions and what’s been flying out there on Warburton Highway in front of that operation, to me, the conditions of the planning permit are not being adhered to,” he said.
A Visy spokesperson said it “implemented collection systems designed to prioritise safety and minimise disruption to nearby businesses and the community”.
But with limited designated parking spaces available, the collection trucks have reportedly been double parking on the busy Warburton Highway, blocking traffic and potentially endangering pedestrians.
“Those trucks are supposed to park and then safely deposit the materials out of the bins into those trucks.
“Now, at the moment, that doesn’t appear to be happening because if they’re blocking the Warburton Highway and they’re not parking that truck appropriately, I believe they’re in breach of their permit and that’s what I’m asking the council to investigate,” Cr Child said.
The other permit condition Visy has potentially breached is the excessive noise caused when the trucks load the material into its bins.
Red Relish Cafe manager Sue Cordina said it was “louder than a car accident” and was ruining the atmosphere of the area.
“When the glass smashed, everybody jumped. Like, it scared me. I thought somebody had a car accident out the front. It’s absolutely awful,” she said.
The reverse vending machine located at 2467 Warburton Highway opened a day after the popular community refund point at the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm was shut down on 18 December.
Individuals and businesses would cash in on recyclable containers at the egg farm as part of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic), which could process large quantities of recyclables.
But Visy shut the egg farm’s beloved community-run refund point as it had breached its contractual obligations, such as not counting each individual can and checking them for eligibility.
The egg farm’s owners said it felt as if Visy’s self-appointed auditors were grasping at straws.
Complaints have been made against council for approving the planning permit in the first place, but Cr Child said it wasn’t the permit itself which was the issue.
“The important thing to remember is that they’ve got to abide by the conditions of the planning permit.”
While Cr Child can’t do anything about the shut down of the egg farm’s refund point, he said he’d make sure the reverse vending machine’s permit was investigated.
“We’ve got the scenario playing out there [at the egg farm] and that’s between Visy and the owners of the egg farm to sort out their differences.
“The community is concerned about all this and I think that’s why we’ve got to get it sorted.”
