In February, the company began to shred tyres from the nine-million strong tyre stockpile.

News of the works was met with public support as residents believed the long-term hazard would soon be reduced.

The company ceased shredding operations later the same month and recommenced two weeks ago.

UTRC chief executive officer Matthew Starr said the delay was unavoidable and public criticism was unfair.

He said regulation and application processing caused the delay. 

Dr Starr said false information was being spread that the company was involved with previous site owners and received government grants.

He said past companies may have received grants and done little to solve the problem, but this has nothing to to with current operations.

“A very small group of agitators seems to want to spread misinformation, talk we've got government grant is rubbish,” he said. 

“What we’ve heard businesses say is we’ve got this big grant and shot through.

“Whatever happened before us has nothing to do with us.

“A small group of malcontents, I’ve been told, even have a petition against us.”

Dr Starr said the four-month delay was unavoidable.

He said operations had to cease in February after the Country Fire Authority and Environmental Protection Agency said the shred process must be housed in containers.

“The public think we can snap our fingers and it'll happen, we were only slowed down by the normal regulation process,” he said. 

“We’ve never moved as slow as this in previous business but we have to go through the regulation.”

Dr Starr said the company was unable to install the necessary containers on the existing tyre site due to overcrowding.

Instead, he said, they had to establish the operation on the site next door, which required a number of applications, permits and an expected $140,000 spent on re-vegetation. 

Dr Starr said the application reached the environment minister himself.

“We’ve probably only processed a couple of thousand tyres to date,” he said.

“It was slowed because there was nowhere to stick containers.

“What more can we do? We’re not cowboys, we have to follow the legal requirements.”

Dr Starr said work has begun again at the site after they received an initial permit to clear vegetation along the fence.

The company is still in the process to purchase the site where they plan to eventually build a factory.

“Everything is now gung-ho,” he said.

“Our operation will be the first and world-leading.

“I believe it will be as significant for Stawell as the abattoir and I don’t say that lightly.”

Northern Grampians mayor Murray Emerson said he was happy with the company’s progress.

“It’s a slow process,” he said. 

“All along we have understood it’s not going to be fixed overnight.

“Matthew has taken a lot of steps forward that haven’t happened before.

“I’m very hopeful he has the solution. It’s a very dangerous situation everyone knows that.”

Dr Starr said the company would host a community consultation meeting later this year to address rumours and update the public on progress.