Brownport’s $63 million Hattah almond plant gets go-ahead

A RAFT of changes made to a disputed planning application to build an almond hulling plant at Hattah will allow the $63 million project to go ahead.

The challenge was heading to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for adjudication before proponents Brownport Almonds and neighbouring landholder Neth Hinton agreed to terms for the development.

The rift centred largely on the potential fire risk posed by the processing plant and the threat posed to the biodiversity values of native vegetation and habitat on the objector’s adjoining land.

Mildura Rural City Council had approved the permit for the almond hulling plant as well as the construction of a proposed access road through native vegetation and extraction of limestone for onsite use to support the development.

However, the tribunal was notified that the parties had reached agreement on the matters in dispute and that agreement involved amendments to the permit conditions.

The tribunal said the amendments principally required the preparation and implementation of a fire risk assessment and fire management plan.

The tribunal found the parties had considered and agreed to the amendments or made further suggestions, which had been found acceptable by all.

“Having the benefit of hearing from the parties, including the CFA, along with the written advice of the EPA and the consent of other referral authorities, we are satisfied that it is appropriate to grant the request for a consent order,” the tribunal found.

Last September The Nationals leader Peter Walsh called on the Victorian Government to intervene in the planning application, saying the development was expected to create an additional 30 full-time and 100 casual jobs when completed.

Mr Walsh said that despite approval from Mildura Council, VicRoads, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the CFA, the objection by a resident living almost 6km from the plant was holding up the process.

He said said any delay would push out the project’s completion date and could affect next year’s harvest.

Brownport must abide by 48 permit amendments covering landscaping, fire risk and management, environmental, noise, lighting and access.