EPA hears concerns

Concerns about traffic, flooding and location were among the issues raised by about 100 Longwarry residents who attended the Environment Protection Authority information session to discuss the proposed new saleyards.

The information session, held on Thursday, was organised by the EPA in response to a works approval application from Longwarry Saleyards Pty Ltd.

EPA director development and infrastructure Richard Marks said the fact that so many people attended the information session showed the level of local interest.

The saleyards proposes to accommodate up to 132,000 cattle per annum with sales on Mondays, Tuesdays, every second Thursday and the first and third Fridays of the month. Operating hours would be 8am to 2pm, with a 10pm curfew for the delivery of cattle the night before a sale.

The works approval application is available on the EPA website at https://engage.vic.gov.au/epa -works-approvals/longwarry

The EPA is conducting the works approval process alongside Baw Baw Shire Council’s consideration of the company’s application for a planning permit that is also required if the project is to proceed.

Mr Marks encouraged community members to make a submission by March 5.

All submissions can be lodged online at https://engage.vic.gov.au/epa -works-approvals/longwarry, by email to works.approvals@epa.vic.gov.au or by mail to EPA Victoria, GPO Box 4395, Melbourne Victoria 3001.