Veolia’s Advanced Energy Recovery Centre, near Tarago in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Photo: Veolia ANZ.
Goulburn looks set to continue hosting Sydney’s waste in plans proposed by the state government.
The NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan is the first waste infrastructure plan for NSW, according to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website.
It outlines a plan for managing Greater Sydney’s residual waste, predicting that the region’s landfills will reach capacity “within the decade”.
Streamlining planning processes to fast-track the expansion of existing landfills and planning to manage waste from growing populations are discussed, as well as the role of regional communities.
Further chapters of the plan, which will focus on regional waste and recycling infrastructure, are slated for release later this year.
It notes that the Woodlawn Eco-Precinct, near Tarago in the NSW Southern Tablelands, is one of four sites taking much of Greater Sydney’s residual waste (along with sites in Sutherland, Penrith and Blacktown).
According to the report, however, that system can be put at risk through increased waste, or if a natural disaster cuts off access to a landfill.
“Relying on a handful of landfills creates a risk to the ongoing delivery of essential waste services such as the collection of red-lid kerbside bins,” the plan states.
“If access to these sites were disrupted (for example, by flooding or scheduled closure), the rest of the waste management network servicing Greater Sydney would be unable to make up for the loss in residual waste capacity.”
Also, the plan states that the NSW Government is further considering how and where to use what it calls “energy-from-waste”.
It proposes burning waste as part of a transition away from using landfills and towards a system that prioritises the reuse or recycling of items instead (it would be used as a last resort for items that can’t be repurposed).
Currently, it’s banned in the state, unless it’s done at one of four designated sites – Parkes, Richmond, Goulburn, and Lithgow – where an exemption exists.
Veolia ANZ has proposed developing and operating an incinerator, known as the Advanced Energy Recovery Centre (ARC) facility, at Tarago (about 30 minutes from Goulburn).
The project has attracted community backlash for years, with the Goulburn Mulwaree Regional Council previously lodging “total opposition” to the facility.
The Yass Valley and Queanbeyan-Palerang councils have also voiced their concerns, while Tarago residents have called on the ACT to oppose the project.
Communities Against the Tarago Incinerator (CATTI) labelled the proposed incinerator “an unacceptable cumulative impact” to regional health in a recent statement.
“Speaking up and making our voice heard is more important than ever as the NSW Government and Veolia double down on their attempts to sell out our community so that Sydney doesn’t have to deal with the waste they produce,” the group said.
They also argued the draft plan showed a “clear intention to continue pushing waste incineration”, regardless of any community opposition.
In a separate government paper, the Energy from waste – options paper, the Southern Goulburn Mulwaree Precinct is listed as a possible site to burn waste.
It states that the planning process for the ARC was “mature and progressing” as of December last year.
The options paper was open for consultation earlier this year. Feedback submitted on that document is being reviewed.
The draft NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan is available on the NSW EPA website.
To provide feedback, complete an online survey, or email a submission to [email protected] before 5 pm on 25 June.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on Region Canberra.
