Bega Valley Shire Council have deferred the decision on the SEFE Pellet Factory development application, which was back before council today.
This application has been the focus of much public opposition to the DA.
The first application in June last year was deemed unlawful in the Land and Environment Court.
In the unprecedented court case the conservation group South East Forest Rescue took action against Bega Valley Shire Council and South East Fibre Exports for building the factory that makes wood pellets from native forest trees. Wood pellets are commonly used to fuel wood-fired power plants, specialised combustion heaters or make kitty litter.
SEFE is a joint venture between Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd and Itochu Corporation. SEFE operates the woodchip mill near Eden and exports of woodchips which come from native forests from Nowra out to Tumut down to East Gippsland in Victoria.
In the first court case it was found that Council did not consider the public submissions, the principles of ecologically sustainable development or the zoning of the land.
The pellet factory has been operating for three months. It was promised to council that SEFE would provide a full report on noise and emissions which is now before the Office of Environment and Heritage. Council has deferred the decision awaiting the outcome of the report.
“The Court’s original decision revealed an arrogant approach by BVSC which was revealed to be unlawful. It was shown that any decision maker must take the public wishes and the principles of ESD into account,” said Ms Stone. “This it seems they have done. There still hangs the question of who will pay the considerable court costs and any decision made would give the impression to the public that council has a pecuniary interest. Council should not have made a decision until that question had been resolved.”
South East Forest Rescue served BVSC a ‘Statement of Guarantee’ which asked council to take responsibility should this decision that the decision we make on the SEFE Pellet Factory DA proposal will not significantly or adversely impact the environment on behalf of present and future generations. SEFR requested council to impose a requirement that no native forest be used as feed stock.
“Burning native forests for electricity or using them for wood pellets to burn in power stations is one of the greatest threats to the forests of the world,” said Ms Stone. “The protection of our native forests is of urgent national and international importance in these times of global climate crisis. The time has come to follow New Zealand’s lead, honour Australia’s international obligations and end native forest logging altogether for us and our children’s future.”
South East Forest Rescue [email protected]
