OBJECTIONS to a sawmill operating in Upper Plenty are unfounded, according to the operator.

Last week, Star published a story about several residents who have complained about a sawmill, which was refused a permit by Mitchell Shire Council but is still operating.

Director of the mill Robert Knott said he was unavailable for comment last week but contacted Star this week to give his side of the story.

Mr Knott denied claims that his operation posed a fire hazard, caused excessive traffic, upset the landscape and threatened to pollute Merri Creek.

“We’re not harming anybody, we’re not doing any damage to anything, we’re not creating any further problems, we’re just recycling our own waste,” he said.

Mr Knott runs Star Tree Services, a tree planting and removal company. Tree waste is a by-product of this primary operation, and the mill is used to process and re-use it.

He said that running a sawmill had not brought one additional truck to Mahadys Rd.

“We’re not running a mill for the sake of running a mill where we buy in logs to mill them. All we’re doing is recycling my waste products,” he said.

Mr Knott said the mill posed no threat to Merri Creek.

“The only by-product is sawdust. It’s in a pile, it’s recycled and we give it away to local horse stables or recycle it into the mulch.”

He also hit back at claims that the mill compromised the amenity to nearby residents.

“We’ve all been burnt out in the fire. The amenity’s been shot to bits everywhere. There’s no amenity until we get some trees growing again.”

Mr Knott said he had planted 250 trees since Black Saturday.

“It’s creating a better product, it’s helping me stay afloat, it’s creating a couple more jobs. We’re not creating any adverse reaction to the environment.”

Mr Knott is challenging council’s decision to refuse the permit through VCAT.

“I’ll take it to the highest court in the land if I have to,” he said.