Ipswich City Council Mayor, Teresa Harding says the city will not be forced to build another landfill after the Wanless Recycling Park development application Queensland Government call-in today reiterated Council’s finding from almost two years ago.
“That is, that the resource recovery facility and waste transfer station be approved and the landfill and void rehabilitation components of the development application be refused,” the Mayor said.
“This will come as a huge relief to residents across the city, and it’s a shame we had to defend our decision and go through a lengthy and costly judicial review process to get this outcome.”
The proposal anticipated 1,000,000 tonnes of waste would be processed at the facility, with 550,000 tonnes ending up as landfill.
The Government today refused part of the Ministerial Call In for a development application for the controversial project.
Following advice from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning, Steven Miles, approved the resource recovery facility and waste transfer station and refused the landfill and void rehabilitation components of the development application.
“The Department assessed this application and considered a range of factors to inform expert advice to me,” Mr Miles said in a statement.
“The proposed resource recovery facility and waste transfer station facility supports the Government’s vision for a zero-waste society, supports jobs, and contributes to the local economy.”
The Deputy Premier said key reasons cited by the Department to recommend the refusal of the landfill and void rehabilitation components include no demonstrated requirement for additional landfill capacity, insufficient economic benefit, non compliance with applicable planning instruments and significant community concern and opposition.
“Today I have accepted the expert advice provided by the Department,” he said.
Mayor Harding decribed today’s decision as a “fabulous result” that could be attributed to “people power”.
“I am very pleased to see the Deputy Premier Steven Miles MP has undertaken a through process assessing this application and considering how this would impact our community.”
“I would like to thank the many community members, Willowbank Area Residents Group, local state member Jon Krause MP, who, along with Council, put their concerns in writing and made their voices heard. It is clear the Deputy Premier was listening and we certainly thank him for supporting our call for no more landfills in Ipswich,” she said.
