Introduction
In December 2023 Council received a planning application by Veolia Waste Management to develop land located adjacent to 290 Hallam Road, Hampton Park for the purposes of a waste transfer station. This is the site of the Hallam Road Landfill.
- 2024 – Council approved the planning permit application. Veolia were required to obtain a Development Licence from the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
- 2025 – The EPA refused Veolia’s application for a Development Licence. Veolia applied to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for a review of the EPA’s decision.
- 2026 – On 10 April VCAT announced their decision to uphold the EPA’s decision to refuse to grant a Development Licence to Veolia for the waste transfer station in Hampton Park. This means the planning permit for the waste transfer station can not be acted upon.
Further information about the decision can be found on the EPA website.
You can view VCAT's decision.
Frequently asked questions
- View the questions
Have Veolia requested to realign the boundaries of the Hallam Road Landfill site?
Council received a planning permit application on 7 January 2025 to amend a condition of an existing planning permit for a boundary realignment on the site of the Hampton Road Landfill and the proposed Waste Transfer Station.
The existing planning permit was approved on 30 October 2020. It allows a boundary realignment to include land containing the currently operating Outlook Transfer Station (the area highlighted in aqua, below) into the land adjoining to the west (outlined in pink in the map below).
The permit is subject to conditions relating to the creation of drainage and carriageway easements over the land.
After the permit was granted, the applicant asked Council’s Engineers to consider alternative drainage solutions.
The applicant has now requested, via a planning permit application, to amend the permit condition to reflect the alternative drainage solution.
This does not change the boundary of the site. The current amendment does not allow for changes to the boundaries that have already been approved by Council. These boundaries are consistent with the land identified for waste and resource recovery in the endorsed Hampton Park Hill Development Plan.
Application Number PPA24-0171 to amend the existing 2020 permit is currently being considered by our planning team. This amendment is exempt from notice, and not open to further public consultation.
Why did Council approve this application?
The application achieves the objectives of several State Government policies including State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan 2018 and Victorian Recycling Infrastructure Plan.
A review of the application against the relevant requirements of the Hampton Park Hill Development Plan, Casey Planning Scheme and relevant state government policy was undertaken to ensure the waste transfer station is strategically justified.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Department of Transport (DOT) have also reviewed the proposal and indicated no objection to the grant of the planning permit.
The EPA have stated they did not object to the planning permit application as there was no basis for an objection on planning-related grounds. They have also publicly stated that the planning permit allows a certain use for a specific piece of land (location), whereas the EPA Development Licence assessment considers the proposed design and construction in detail including best available technologies, the applicant, community consultation and environment protection laws and regulations.
Council considered several technical reports and utilised specialist input when making this decision.
Why wasn’t this application advertised publicly?
This application was assessed against the Hampton Park Hill Development Plan. According to State Government planning process this means the application was exempt from public exhibition or public submissions.
How was this decision made by Council officers and not elected Councillors or the Panel of Administrators?
Under Council’s planning delegations, this application can be decided by planning officers. Council officers have carefully considered the application in accordance with the Hampton Park Hill Development Plan and the Casey Planning Scheme, this included reviewing several technical reports.
View the plans
Hampton Park Transfer Station - Development Plans
Buffers
In August 2024 the EPA updated its Separation Distance and Landfill Buffer Guidelines. The Council has taken the updated EPA guidelines into account when reviewing Veolia's planning application for the waste transfer station.
Separation Distance for dust and odour
The Separation Distance Guidelines recommend how far industrial sites that produce odours or dust should be from sensitive areas like homes. The new guidelines now suggest a distance of 500 metres from odours and 250 metres for dust from waste transfer stations, which is an increase from the previous distance of 250 metres for both.
Because of this change, the proposed waste transfer station does not meet the new distance requirement for odours. However, the guidelines allow for a variation if the applicant submits a risk assessment to support their case.
A risk assessment has been prepared by Veolia that indicates that the waste transfer station can operate within the new separation distance, provided that it follows certain permit conditions.
Landfill Buffer Guidelines
The EPA Landfill Buffer Guidelines are in place to manage the risk of landfill gas from the Hallam Road Landfill. The Guidelines recognise that some uses can operate safely within the Landfill Buffers, subject to appropriate design measures. The planning permit identifies measures that will be required to ensure the waste transfer station can operate safely within the buffer.
Veolia Community Reference Group
Veolia has established a Community Reference Group to facilitate community information and help address community questions and concerns relating to the planning permit application submitted to Council and the Development Licence application process with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
If you would like to receive updated information from Veolia, please email anz.hpts.engagement@veolia.com
Stay up to date
Veolia has a dedicated website related to the Hampton Park Transfer Station, as well as a Community Reference Group.
Visit the Veolia Hampton Park Transfer Station website.
Do you have a question?
If you have a question regarding the planning permit please email caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au Please reference Hampton Park Hill and PA23/0694 in the subject line.