As reported by the Williamstown Advertiser last week, Innova Soil Technology has proposed a soil-remediation centre for the former Dow Chemical complex to "clean" earth transported from industrial, manufacturing and chemical sites across the state.

If allowed, the Kororoit Creek Road plant would be bounded by the residential areas of Altona, Altona Meadows, Laverton, Altona North, Newport and Williamstown.

Hobsons Bay Residents' Association co-convener Colin Palmer said the lobby group opposed plans to bring Victoria's polluted soil to Altona. "Why should we accept the state's contaminated soil here in Hobsons Bay, and why do the western suburbs continue to be treated as the dumping ground and toxic waste facility for Victoria?"

Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek president Geoff Mitchelmore, formerly the chief chemist for Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria, said friends groups and residents were dead against the proposal.

"These soils are to come from petrol stations, old gas works sites and other contaminated sites and are likely to contain heavy metals, especially lead used as antiknock in petrol, polychlorinated biphenols (PCPs) from transformer leakages, and toxic/carcinogenic materials including dioxins from old gas works sites to name a few possible contaminants," Mr Mitchelmore said.

"I'm happy enough for them to come into the city to treat the Dow Chemical site - and then go away."

EPA spokeswoman Ruth Ward said Innova would be required to submit a works approval application for its proposal.

"The works approval process is a public one and the application, once received, will be advertised and submissions will be called for."

As reported by Advertiser last week, Innova operations manager Nick Ebrill said the soil would be transported in covered EPA-registered trucks and unloaded in an airlock building before the treatment process was undertaken in closed sheds with dust and odour filters.

He said the emissions were harmless, without odour, and mostly comprised salty water that was reused in the process.

An Innova spokesman said a public forum would be held at Hobsons Bay Civic Centre in Altona late this month and an interactive website would be up by week's end.