Greens MLC Sylvia Hale Raises Tomerong Tip Questions in Parliament

Following is a press release from Sylvia Hales office in regards to the Tomerong Tip proposal.
I have also included the question MLC Hale will put to the minister on behalf of the community.

The parliamentry support on this issue is no doubt appreciated by the community

Media Release




From Sylvia Hale MP, Greens spokesperson for Planning

23 April 2010   - For immediate use      
           
Greens say tip at Tomerong too dangerous to tolerate

The Greens have added their voice to concerns about a proposed major
new tip at Tomerong. Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson for
Planning, has put questions about the tip to the Ministers for Planning
and the Environment.

“Locating an enormous tip in the Shoalhaven area at Tomerong simply
doesn’t make sense,” said Ms Hale.

“Using an old quarry site that has been the subject of blasting, and
fracturing of the rocks over many years must surely call into question
whether a proposed dam to control leachate could operate safely.

“Added to that, there are concerns about the effect of a tip on local
bushland and fauna and the impact of a massive increase in heavy truck
movements along the Princes Highway.

"The development of a major tip in the catchment of Jervis Bay is
hardly likely to improve the image of the South Coast.

“One of the region's greatest attractions is its clean, green image,
its temperate rainforests, tall trees, clean rivers and streams, and
pristine white sandy beaches. That asset must be protected both for its
own natural values and for the economic benefit and quality of life it
brings to residents of the Shoalhaven.

“Everyone should be disturbed that the Minister for Planning has
taken the decision on this major proposal out of the hands of the local
council and given to a Joint Regional Planning Panel. The majority of
the Panel's members, including chair Pam Allen, a former Labor
Government Minister, are the Minister for Planning's appointees.

“Elected local councillors, who are answerable to their community,
should make decisions that will impact on the local community. Those
decisions should be governed by strong planning laws that protect the
local environment and ensure that any development actually improves the
quality of life for the community into the future.

"Unfortunately, current planning laws and decision-making processes
simply give open slather to developers.

“While there is always a need to generate employment in the area,
this proposal may have the opposite effect with job losses due to
concerns about the leaching of toxic substances into creeks running into
Jervis Bay," said Ms Hale.



Questions on notice

 Ms Hale to the Minister for Planning, Minister for Infrastructure,
Minister for Lands—


1.      Is the Minister aware of an application for a Non- Putrescible
Waste Facility lodged with Shoalhaven City Council, which is to be
determined by Southern Region Joint Planning Panel chaired by Ms Pam
Allen, former State Minister for the Environment?
2.       
a.       Has there been a full environmental assessment of the area
prepared that examines the impact of the proposed development on local
flora and fauna, including the powerful owl?
b.      If so, what does that assessment suggest?
c.       If no report has been prepared, why not?
3.      The proposal suggests that a sediment dam on Duck Creek, 150
metres from Tomerong Creek, which feeds into Jervis Bay, will be built
to protect the waterways from leachate from the waste facility.
a.       What reports have been prepared that examine the potential for
a breach of the dam wall in extreme weather events?
b.      If so, what are the findings of those reports?
c.       If no reports have been prepared, why not?
4.      Has any report been prepared that examines the effect of
blasting on the site over the last 35 years, and whether or not blasting
on the old quarry site has fragmented the ground to the extent that it
may not be able to prevent material leaching from the proposed facility?

a.       If so, what are the findings of the report?
b.      If no report has been prepared, why not?
5.       
a.       Has an a
ssessment been made of the impact of a breach of the
proposed leachate dam on the catchment of the Jervis Bay Marine Park and
on the catchment of the environmentally sensitive weed beds and fish
breeding grounds of St George's Basin?
b.      What plans have been made to contain toxic leachate in the
event of the failure of the proposed dam?
c.       What action has been proposed to ensure that there will be no
pollution incidents during the construction, operation or during the
long-term life of this facility?
6.       
a.       What is the current amount of non-putrescible waste in
percentage terms generated by the Shoalhaven local government area in
relation to the production of non-putrescible waste across New South
Wales?
b.      Would this facility take non- putrescible waste from outside
the Shoalhaven local Government area?
7.      The EIS indicates that road haulage to the proposed waste site
will generate a very heavy ` truck movement every 4 minutes.
a.       What measures are proposed to ameliorate the additional burden
of heavy traffic on the South Coast arterial road system?
b.      When compared to transporting waste to existing waste
facilities, what are the likely additional CO2 emissions created by
transporting waste from metropolitan areas to this location by road
given there is no rail access ?
8.      Has there been any modelling carried out on the impact this
type of facility will have on the tourist industry of the Shoalhaven
region, an industry that generates $640 million per annum for the local
area, is a key employer, and is the number one tourist destination in
NSW?
a.       If so, what is that impact?
b.      If no research has been carried out, why not? Which areas of
New South Wales have been identified as requiring a large
non-putrescible tip in the medium to long term?