People power influenced rejection of Tomerong tip proposal
1 Nov 10
In a decision which is favourable to Kangaroo Valley and other small towns in the Shoalhaven the Joint Regional Planning Panel has rejected the Tomerong tip proposal after many months of uncertainty about the development application for a tip at Tomerong. Councillor Gareth Ward spoke on behalf of all of Shoalhaven City’s Councillors in relation to the community attitude and staff reports backing the decision to refuse the application.
It was explained to the JRPP that the Council unanimously supports the SHUT group who had worked tirelessly to ensure the Bay and Basin area is left in its pristine and unique state.
The panel heard the Councillors agreement with the staff report which outlined the reasons that this development should not go ahead.
Those reasons included:
A lack of compliance with the requirements of the SEPP 33 in relation to insufficient determination of whether hazardous and offensive components of the development pose a adverse impact on the environment.
Non-compliance with the Jervis Bay Regional Environmental Plan.
Insufficient detail on the effect the development would have on surface and ground water
Insufficient assessment on impact of threatened species and habitats
Lack of employment opportunities and unwanted increased traffic movement
Shoalhaven City Mayor Clr Paul Green said “This is the right thing at the right time with the right result.
I am inspired by the work of the community and the support of council expertise to get the message out that we want the natural beauty of the Shoalhaven to be protected and valued.”
Council’s staff completed their assessment of the Development Application for a non-putrescible waste facility at Tomerong and the assessment report was forwarded to the Joint Regional Planning Panel to be considered at the meeting on the 21st October.
Councillors met on Monday, 11th October, 2010, to consider the staff report to the JRPP and determine whether they wished to make separate and additional submissions and representations on this significant DA proposal.
The staff report has recommended that the proposed non-putrescible waste facility be refused for numerous reasons including –
The proposal does not comply with the requirements of SEPP 33, as there is insufficient information to determine whether the hazardous and offensive components of the development have the potential to pose a significant risk and adverse impact in the environmentally sensitive locality
The application is considered to be unacceptable and does not comply with some sections of the Jervis Bay Regional Environmental Plan.
The application is unacceptable, as there is insufficient detail to determine impact on surface and ground water and the possibility it could pose a significant and adverse impact on the sensitive environs of St Georges Basin and the Jervis Bay Marine Park.
There is insufficient assessment on how threatened species, their populations, ecological communities and/or habitats will be impacted.
The applicant has failed to submit any information detailing how the proponent expects to avoid or mitigate the threat from bush fire.
There will be an unacceptable impact from the intensification of additional truck movements on Gumden Lane and Council’s road network.
It is not considered that the proposal is in the public interest.
Director Development & Environmental Services, Tim Fletcher, said that “there were over 700 submissions in respect of this application.
There were two large public meetings held at Vincentia and Tomerong, with more than 500 people attending and there was very strong objection about the proposal from the community at large”.
The proposal would receive up to 100,000 tonnes of non-putrescible waste each year and it was anticipated that the biggest majority of that waste would come from outside the Shoalhaven area.
Council was unanimous in acceptance of the staff report