State Member for Hastings, Neale Burgess, has slammed the State Government’s decision to allow a bitumen storage facility to be built at Crib Point.

 

In a rally at the proposed development site on Saturday, Mr Burgess condemned the decision made by Planning Minister, Justin Madden as “an absolute disgrace”.

 

Mr Burgess was joined by Shadow Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, and around 150 members of the local community to voice their opposition to the proposal.

 

Mr Burgess addressed the crowd, stating:

 

“This decision is wrong in so many ways and is another good reason why Victoria urgently needs an anti-corruption commission.

 

·        Just before the last state election, the State Government sent every resident a written promise that it would not let a bitumen storage facility be built in Crib Point.

·        The local council unanimously rejected the Bitumen plant proposal

·        In a door to door survey, more than 97% of Crib Point residents opposed it

·        Justin Madden’s own hand-picked and appointed committee unanimously rejected it

 

And yet, this government overruled everyone and gave it the go ahead.

 

Even the reasons given by the Brumby government for approving it were deliberately misleading.

 

John Brumby’s claim that this project will create jobs is a furphy; even Boral has now admitted that there will be no more than 1 or 2 ongoing positions. John Brumby also claimed there is a national shortage of bitumen; a claim dismissed as ridiculous by manufacturers in the industry.

The only conclusion that can be drawn is that another grubby backroom deal has been done by the Brumby government. Victoria needs an anti-corruption commission to inquire into just what that deal was.

 

Very few people realise that Victoria is the only state that does not have an anti-corruption body that can look at the government itself. In other words; John Brumby and his government are the only people in Victoria that cannot be investigated!

 

“Allowing this bitumen plant will mean potentially toxic fumes, bring bdouble and btriple trucks onto local roads that are already overstressed and destroy the very promising, ecotourism industry that is developing in the area.”.

 

This community has a right to ask, if everyone is opposed to it, and it is bad for our community and economy, why has the Brumby Government approved it?

 

“It is now more important than ever that we as a community continue to pressure the Brumby Government and convey in the strongest terms our absolute opposition to this disgraceful project.