Mercury online survey reveals support for Copping C-cell

An online survey conducted by the Mercury newspaper has revealed significant community support for the Category C waste disposal cell proposed for the existing landfill facility at Copping.

When survey participants were asked if they supported the construction of a C-cell in Tasmania given we are the only state without one, 70 per cent of respondents voted ‘yes’. Further, when asked simply if they supported the construction of a C-cell in Tasmania, the majority of respondents (54 per cent) still said ‘yes’.

The results were revealed at the conclusion of a live forum with Southern Waste Solutions CEO Christine Bell, who was online to answer questions from the community about the project.

Ms Bell said the forum was a great way to talk to the community directly and provide immediate answers to their questions and concerns.

“Among the issues raised there was plenty of support and positive feedback about the proposal,” Ms Bell said.

“The survey results are particularly positive, as they show the progress we have made in allaying some of the initial community concerns during our extended community engagement period.

“Tasmania is currently the only state in Australia without such a facility and if we are serious about our ‘clean, green’ image and environmental credentials, we all need to take responsibility for the waste we produce.

“It is vital for all Tasmanians that we have the proper infrastructure to protect public health and our environment at world’s best practice level as well as support industry, businesses and jobs.

“This is not just a matter of what Tasmania stands to lose if we don’t have such a facility, but it’s equally about what we stand to gain by having a world class engineered controlled waste cell.”

• Christine Bell: Air quality monitoring and remediation facility set for Copping

Southern Waste Solutions (SWS) will implement a voluntary air quality monitoring program and
construct a remediation facility at the Copping landfill site, in response to community feedback
received on the C cell.

SWS Chief Executive Officer Christine Bell said after discussions with the Environment Protection
Authority (EPA), the company would install a depositional monitoring system to assess air quality
in a number of locations around the site.

“The depositional system will allow us to monitor for wind blown dust. Dust collected in the
deposition units will be tested by an independent laboratory, with a focus on contaminants
present in waste deposited during the monitoring period,” Ms Bell said.

“Frequency of monitoring will initially be monthly, but will be dependant on the timing and type of
waste delivered.

“The exact numbers and locations of the monitors will be subject to expert advice after
considering prevailing wind direction and other factors, including localised wind patterns and the
proximity to site boundaries.

“In addition to air quality monitoring, we are also exploring partnership programs in conjunction
with Natural Resource Management (NRM) to add value to existing programs, and to potentially
extend the scope of existing work in the area.”

Ms Bell said SWS was also preparing relevant documents to support an application to construct a
waste remediation facility on site, which would reduce the quantity of waste deposited in the C
cell and provide a valuable community resource for the municipality, and for southern Tasmania.

“The remediation facility will allow solid waste to be temporarily stored until it reaches a volume
that is economical to process, before it is treated and (following independent anaysis and EPA
approval) disposed of into the curent B cell at the Copping landfill,” she said.

“The facility will result in better environmental outcomes by removing this waste from more
sensitive or vulnerable areas and reducing the level of leachable contaminants.

“It will also provide better economic outcomes for industry and businesses by allowing waste to
be treated in larger and more economically viable batches.

“There is currently no central facility available in the south of Tasmania for the temporary storage
and treatment of level 3 waste, which is often located near residential, commercial and industrial
areas.”

Ms Bell said the new initiatives were part of a Community Response Plan, drafted by SWS
following an extended community engagement period carried out in September.

“On Saturday we advertised for expressions of interest to join a new Community Reference Group,
which will keep the community informed on the operation and activities surrounding the Copping
landfill, including progress on the C cell,” she said.

“The CRG will meet regularly, taking feedback and input from the community on the day-to-day
operations of the existing landfill and the C cell, addressing any issues raised and exploring the
feasibility of ideas submitted to SWS.

“This week we will also be inviting the public to an Open Day to be held at the Copping facility on
Saturday, 24 November, allowing the community to come and see the site for themselves.”