News & Media
Submission and Concluding Submission on behalf of Friends of Skeleton Hill
Please find attached the two outlinning documents
 Submission on behalf of FOSHFile size 4MB |
Concluding Submission on behalf of FOSH File size 613KB |
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Holcim apply to VCAT for a Review of Indigo Shire's decision to refuse their planning application
The Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has advised that Holcim has asked it to review the local Shire's refusal to grant a planning permit for their proposed Skeleton Hill quarry.
What Happens Now?
Essentially the VCAT Tribunal of two persons will take evidence and argument from Holcim, Indigo Shire and other parties such as Friends of Skeleton Hill, individual objectors and statutory authorities e.g. DSE, Vic Roads and make their decision as to whether the planning application should be approved or refused.
The Tribunal's hearing is scheduled to commence in Chiltern at the Senior Citizens hall on May 4. It will continue in Chiltern on May 5 and 6 and resume in Melbourne on May 9, possibly for a further 4 days. The Tribunal will undertake an accompanied site inspection during the hearing at Chiltern, and will also consider the visual impact from particular vantage points in and around Chiltern.
March 2011
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Friends of Skeleton Hill Inc will hold its first Annual General Meeting on Tuesday March 8 at the Chiltern Senior Citizens Hall, commencing at 7.30pm. The AGM will be followed an ordinary general meeting, the major business of which will be a decision on the Friends submission and representation at the VCAT hearing.
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December 2010 - Indigo Shire Council Unanimously Reject Holcim's Planning Application
At the Council meeting held on December 14, 2010, the six Indigo Shire councillors who voted on the matter, unanimously rejected Holcim's planning application for a quarry on Skeleton Hill.
Previously, the Shire's Manager of Planning & Sustainable Communities, Kate Rizzuto had strongly recommended that the Application be refused by Council. She cited the following reasons for her recommendation.
- The proposed extractive industry will have an unreasonable impact on the visual landscape in the Chiltern area.
- The proposal is inconsistent with the State Planning Policy Framework and the Local Planning Policy Framework in relation to heritage and tourism.
- The proposal is inconsistent with the requirements of Clause 52.09 of the Indigo Planning Scheme in that it will adversely affect the environment and amenity of the Chiltern area.
- The proposal would result in an unacceptable impact upon the Chiltern Box-Ironbark (Chiltern-Mt Pilot) National Park heritage place.
- The proposal will have an unreasonable impact upon the Ironbark forest landscape identified by the National Trust of Australia (Vic) contrary to the local policy at Clause 22.03-05 of the Indigo Planning Scheme.
We now wait to see whether Holcim appeal the Council's decision to refuse the application. They have a statutory period of 60 days within which to lodge an appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). As an objector to their planning application, Friends of Skeleton Hill will certainly want to appear at the subsequent VCAT hearing. In the meantime there is just a slim chance that Holcim may finally realise that their choice of Skeleton Hill as a site for their new quarry, was wrong from the outset. In which case they may decide not to take the matter to VCAT and instead commence seriously investigating some of the alternative sites that they have previously identified.
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Indigo councillors will vote on Holcim planning application
Indigo Shire Councillors will vote on the planning application from Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd
at their December 14, 2010 meeting in Chiltern.
Indigo Shire has advised Friends of Skeleton Hill that councillors will be voting on the new Chiltern quarry Planning Application at their December 2010 meeting, which will be held in Chiltern. We hope that all members and supporters of Friends of Skeleton Hill will make sure that we are well represented in the public gallery at that meeting. It is critically important that we continue to demonstrate our position on the planning application right up to the vote being taken. If you need assistance in getting to the meeting, please contact Graeme Charles.
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Councill calls public meeting on Chiltern Quarry
Indigo SHire Council planning staff are assessing a revised Work Plan and application material associated with the propose Chiltern Quarry on Skeleton Hill.
Public Meeting on Chiltern Quarry
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AFL hero joins quarry battle
Brad Worrall
30 Dec, 2009 01:00am
THREE-time AFL premiership player and hometown hero Nigel Lappin has been recruited in the fight to protect Chiltern’s Skeleton Hill from becoming a quarry.
International cement maker Holcim is looking to create a 150ha quarry on the landmark hill overlooking the historic gold town after the lease on its 11ha nearby quarry ceased at the end of last month.
But yesterday the former Brisbane Lion joined others in opposing the development on Skeleton Hill.
Read more from the Border Mail...
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Holcim Australia lodge their planning application for a quarry on Skeleton Hill with the Indigo Shire Council
On Monday November 9 Holcim lodged their planning application with Indigo Shire. Indigo Shire Manager Sustainable Development, Susan Cheetham, has advised FofSH that Council will accept written submissions on the application until January 14, 2010. Obviously, FofSH will be lodging a written submission by the due date. Any individual, whether a member of FofSH or not, is encouraged to make their opinion known by lodging their submission with Indigo Shire.
In addition to written submissions, Council intends to allow verbal submissions from the public. At this stage we understand that that will take place on January 28, 2010.
The planning application and associated documentation can be viewed in a number of ways. Hard copies can be viewed at Indigo Shire offices in Yackandandah, Chiltern (WAW Credit Union) and it is also available on the Indigo Shire website - www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au. A lot of the associated documentation can also be viewed on Holcim Australia's website www.holcim.com.au click on Community Links. Both hard and disk copies of the application can be obtained from Shire offices in Chiltern (WAW Credit Union).
Many of the supporting documents associated with the planning application are specialist in nature e.g. The report on alternative sites to the Skeleton Hill site, outlining reasons why they haven't been preferred to Skeleton Hill at this stage.
If anyone with appropriate skills is interested in assisting Fof SH prepare our submission to Indigo Shire Council, please contact Graeme Charles by emailing gcharles@communityaction.coop. Your help will be greatly appreciated by many people who are concerned at the detrimental effect this quarry proposal will have on Skeleton Hill (half of which is actually classified as Significant Landscape by the National Trust).
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Application received for a quarry at Chiltern
Indigo Shire Council has received an application from Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd for a new quarry at Skeleton Hill, Chiltern.
Application received for a quarry at Chiltern
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Friends of Skeleton Hill Inc. will fight Quarry Proposal All the Way
A group of Chiltern residents has come together under the banner Friends of Skeleton Hill Inc., to oppose Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd current proposal to commence a new quarry on Skeleton Hill...
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The Border Mail - Press Release
In response to Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd proposed new quarry site located on the top of a prominent landmark in Chiltern, a growing number of concerned Chiltern residents have been joined by people from all around Australia and formed the “Friends of Skeleton Hill Inc.” (FofSH)...
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Victorian Shadow Minister for Planning visits Skeleton Hill, Chiltern
Local member for Benambra, Bill Tilley MLA, recently arranged for the Victorian Shadow Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy MLC, to visit Skeleton Hill and meet with representatives of Friends of Skeleton Hill Inc., who are opposing a proposal by Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd...
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Meanwhile - the New Chiltern Quarry Proposal Gathers Momentum
Readers may have noticed that Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd, the operators of the present Chiltern quarry, is preparing to apply to the Indigo Shire for a planning permit...
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Delay in Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd quarry plans
The multinational cement company planning a new quarry at Chiltern admits it won't mmet its November deadline.
But Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd Australia says the delays won't threaten the project.
By Brad Worrall : Published August 25 2009
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Holcim Buys Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd Australia
By Haig Simonian in Zurich : Published June 16 2009
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Concern over damage to rock art sites
The investigation into alleged destruction and damage to Aboriginal rock art by global cement company Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd has extedned to three sties in Western Australia and could be more extensive than first thought.
By Tom Arup, Canberra : Published May 28 2009
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SEEN ANY? Members of the public are needed to help look for Regent Honeyeaters neat Chiltern.
By Zoe Rudder : Published May 13 2009
File size 593KB
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