Residents in South-East Melbourne face skyrocketing home insurance premiums, high flood- related excesses and are struggling to get insured as new housing developments are proposed on historical floodplains.
Rachel asked a question on behalf of a Cranbourne constituent. Rachel’s constituent raised concerns over the proposed redevelopment of the golf course into more than 1,000 new homes, due to its proximity to an active landfill and proposed waste transfer station site.
Rachel intended to speak on a petition opposing the rezoning of Rossdale Golf Course in Aspendale for housing development. While she did not get a chance to speak in the chamber, Rachel’s speech is published, below.
Harmful carcinogens, neurotoxins, PFAS and ultrafine particles are emitted by the hazardous waste landfill site on Taylor’s Road in Dandenong South, yet these emissions are not monitored by the EPA. Rachel asked for an expansion on the types of emissions which the EPA monitors, to ensure air quality for constituents in the vicinity of this site.
The proposed rezoning of Rossdale Golf Course for residential purposes has caused community unrest due to environmental concerns and a lack of community input. On behalf of a constituent, Rachel asked for assurance that thorough environmental assessments will be completed before greenlighting any development.
Rachel moved a motion requiring the Economy and Infrastructure Committee to inquire into the expansion of waste-to-energy infrastructure in Victoria. After the debate, Rachel concluded her motion, before it was taken to a vote in the Victorian Legislative Council. The motion passed, with a vote count of 18 – 10.
With seven new licenses granted for waste-to-energy plants last week and the government increasing the annual cap on waste burning by 150%, it seems the future of Victoria’s waste management is going up in smoke. But not all waste-to-energy is created equal.
Tuesday the 12th of August was World Elephant Day. This is a day dedicated to the preservation and protection of these beautiful, endangered creatures. Rachel sponsors an Asian elephant named Jokia, who was rescued from cruelty and now resides at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Rubbish is a global problem, and Australians produce more of it than most. Victoria’s dumps are overflowing, and our recycling system has been a debacle. The Victorian Government’s solution is called “Waste to Energy” (WtE), which conjures images of our excessive lifestyles being harnessed to produce power — but it’s greenwashing.
Rachel made a contribution to a tabled petition, advocating against the development of Veolia’s waste transfer station in Hampton Park. With the proposed site located 250 metres from homes and over 500 trucks set to be deployed through the local area, Rachel spoke on the inevitable disruption to the local community.
