The Labor Member for Lismore has raised serious concerns about the current NSW Government policy on ‘Energy from Waste’ and has called for it to be banned in New South Wales.
There are currently no operational waste incinerators in NSW, however they are allowed in four regional locations throughout the state. Several proposals to construct and operate waste incinerators are awaiting decisions by Minns Labor Government.
Labor Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin MP revealed in NSW Parliament that “a waste incinerator would be pumping out significant levels of carbon pollution. The chimney stack releases not only carbon dioxide but also a toxic soup of gas, including dioxins, oxides of nitrogen, carbon, sulphur, and chlorine. The remaining ash contains—among other things—lead, chrome, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lithium et cetera.”
She went on to say, “One has to ask why an incinerator is okay for a regional area and not for the city,” and essentially called for a ban on Waste to Energy facilities, “If it is not okay for the people of the Australian Capital Territory, then it is not okay for the people of regional New South Wales.”
In 2018 the then Shadow Environment Minister Penny Sharpe had this to say about a waste incineration project, “Time for talk is over,” and “This project shouldn’t be going ahead, and the government should stop it now.”
Given her fellow Labor MP has asked for a ban on waste incinerators in Parliament this week, the Minister should be responding as quickly and clearly as she was able to back in 2018.
Some residents in potentially affected communities are unable to even secure a meeting with the Minister. According to Dr Liz Stops a spokesperson for Residents Against the Valley Incinerator (RARVI), the Minister for the Environment won’t even meet with concerned residents. “To date, our requests for meetings with Penny Sharpe, have been refused. It’s a bad sign,’ said Dr Stops.
The existing NSW Government policy for Energy to Waste facilities sets out that “any proposal must comply with strict environmental controls and…these standards ensure the environment and human health are protected.”
The Labor Member for Lismore has made clear that the proposed waste incinerator in her area poses serious potential health risks, and this is likely the same for proposed sites in Goulburn, Parkes, and West Lithgow.
Wendy Tuckerman, Shadow Minister for Local Government said “The Government must listen to the local councils who have opposed these projects for good reason – if it’s not acceptable for Sydney it shouldn’t be acceptable for the regions.
The Energy from Waste Infrastructure plan is documented to be reviewed by 2025.
WENDY TUCKERMAN 