WeFo & Kingsville Community Fund - Fight Paintback

Who are we?

We are a community group of residents in West Footscray and Kingsville, who are concerned about Paintback's proposal to operate a paint recycling plant in our neighbourhood.

What is the problem?

Paintback want to operate a paint recovery and recycling facility in West Footscray, just 32 metres from the nearest house, 100 metres from our local cafe and childcare centre, and just 400 metres from our local sports grounds, playgrounds and dog walking park (see map in picture). This facility will truck in used paint containers from all over Australia. It will use noisy machinery to crush paint containers to extract water from water based paints, and separate solvent based paints from their tins. Then it will shred the plastic and metal containers.

We believe the proposed use of the land is inappropriate so close to residential and recreational areas. The increase in noise, fumes and odours and extra polluting trucks in the vicinity, will exacerbate the issues we are already struggling with.

Paintback will be processing in excess of 10 truck loads of solvent and water based paint recycling each day with proposed operating hours of 7am - 11pm Monday to Saturday.

More information about this proposal can be found on the Maribyrnong City Council website here.

There has already been strong community opposition.

With community support, over 110 objections by concerned residents was received by the Maribyrnong City Council and a 310 signatory petition. Counsellors agreed with our position and rejected the planning permit application, to which Paintback appealed to VCAT. We have engaged in compulsory conferences with Paintback without a resolution being reached and we now must fight this at a VCAT hearing in early May.

What are the funds for?

We are raising funds to be able to hire an expert to help solidify our VCAT case, to give us the best chance at the hearing, which is booked for the start of May 2024. Paintback have an extensive team of lawyers (solicitors and barristers, experts and engineers backing their cause).

We are seeking funds ($7,000 target) to support engaging both a planning consultant and odour expert, to assist in the preparation of our VCAT submission. If money will stretch, we would also like to engage them to present as expert witnesses at the hearing.

Deadline

We need to confirm these funds by Wednesday 10th April, to allow us to engage experts with enough time to prepare evidence and submission for the VCAT Hearing in early May . We cannot engage any support until we know how much money we have to afford these services.

The inner west deserves better!

Residents of the inner west are sick and tired of being the dumping ground for toxic operations and this proposed operations will add to the current health emergency declared by the Maribyrnong City Council.

Please help our case by donating to this cause. Every little bit will help to get us that little more support we feel we need.

Residents Against Paintback (RAP) Group

Aimee, Amy, Kelami and Brigette