VCAT affirms EPA decision to deny Veolia’s application
Published 14/04/2026
I welcome VCAT’s decision to affirm the EPA’s right to not grant the development licence to Veolia to operate the Waste Transfer Station in Hampton Park.
I am very happy that VCAT has upheld the EPA’s findings against the Waste Transfer Station. The EPA is an independent statutory body empowered by State Government legislation and they have done their work and enforced the legislative requirements.
The decision by VCAT is a win for the community, due process, and State Government law being enforced, unlike in other jurisdictions where their democracy is currently under threat.
This decision can only now be set aside by Veolia, but only on appeal to the Victorian Supreme Court on a point of law.
I have always encouraged individuals and the community to raise their issues and objections throughout the planning process.
I congratulate our local community who worked so hard to achieve this outcome.
Find more information about the outcome here.
Update on Veolia
Published 20/11/2025
Veolia Recycling & Recovery Pty Ltd (Veolia) will pay $1 million into a restorative justice project account administered by EPA Victoria, due to failures to comply with its operating licence and the general environmental duty and associated odour impacts to the surrounding community.
The $1 million will be used to fund a project, or a series of projects, benefitting the community in the vicinity of the Hallam Road Landfill located at 274-310 Hallam Road in Hampton Park.
Veolia has admitted it breached its licence and failed to manage the risks of environmental harm occurring so far as reasonably practicable. Veolia has since made, and continues to make, further improvements to leachate management and landfill gas extraction infrastructure at the Hallam Road Landfill.
The Supreme Court ordered the company to publish the details of its offences and the penalty on their website, in addition to a media release on the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association.
In addition to the payment of $1 million into a restorative justice project account, the company agreed to contribute $75,000 towards EPA’s legal costs of the Supreme Court proceeding and to undertake certain activities to improve regulatory compliance at the Hallam Road Landfill.
More information available here.
Hallam Road Landfill & Waste Transfer Station
Published 9/04/2025
The decision made in April 2025 to refuse the application from Veolia to build a Waste Transfer Station in Hampton Park was made by the EPA as the State’s independent environmental regulator. Of course, Veolia has a right to appeal – it’s how our democracy in a Westminster system of government operates. Government advice is that it remains the EPA’s view that Veolia’s proposal does not meet the legislative requirements for a Waste Transfer Station.
The EPA made its decision based on the requirements of our environment protection laws and using the best available science. In this instance the decision was also made following consideration of more than 700 community submissions on the proposal.
It is my understanding that the EPA will represent its decision to refuse the application by Veolia at VCAT. On a few occasions now, I have publicly encouraged Veolia to continue to engage with the EPA to identify another location for its proposed Waste Transfer Station. I believe that this is the best way forward.
Read the full statement from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on Veolia's Development Licence to build a Waste Transfer Station here.
You can watch my video response to the EPA's decision on Veolia's Development Licence here.