Copping not the right location for toxic waste

The Southern Beaches Conservation Society (SBCS) is deeply concerned about an application received by Sorell Council from Southern Waste Solutions (SWS) to develop a waste remediation facility at the Copping Landfill Site.

SBCS believes that any development on the landfill site is highly inappropriate, especially given that the zoning of the site is currently under review through the Southern Tasmania Planning Scheme. SBCS is calling on Sorell Council to reject all applications for further development of the site until it can be proven that the site is suitable for such zoning.

“Professional independent reports have been published that clearly identify significant fundamental flaws with the geology of the Copping Landfill Site” said Ms Angela Marsh, President SBCS. “This geology, along with the site’s proximity to the Carlton River Catchment, makes the site completely unsuitable for the treatment of high level toxic waste.

“The entire site requires a completely new geological survey to determine compliance with the Landfill Sustainability Guide, 2004.”

“In addition, it’s my understanding that DIER, along with the community, have already expressed serious concerns about the ability of the Arthur Highway to be able to cope with any increase in traffic, let alone the significant volume of additional trucks that such a development would cause” Ms Marsh said.

The majority of waste trucks would need to traverse the Pittwater causeways and the streets of Sorell before continuing via the Arthur Highway through the Forcett area which has recently been approved for intensive irrigated agriculture. These additional vehicle movements need to be considered against the anticipated growth in conventional waste vehicle movement as the Copping Landfill realises SWS’s plan of turning the site into the only waste site in Southern Tasmania. All this while at the same time mixing with local and tourist traffic on one of the busiest tourist routes in the State.

“These trucks would be travelling beside major waterways, through multiple townships and along the already decrepit Arthur Highway. It’s just not good enough,” says Ms Marsh. “The community has already expressed their anger and opposition on the development of toxic waste facilities through petitions, rallies and public meetings and more, yet SWS is pushing on despite the lack of a social licence. It’s simply not the right place for it.”

SBCS call on Sorell Council to ensure that the application conforms with all current statutes, regulations and standards under the planning scheme and Commonwealth waste management acts, including a call to ensure a full and comprehensive Environmental and Traffic Impact Study considering a substantial departure from the previous ‘C-Cell’ approval.

SBCS entreat the community to ensure they fully understand the impact of this development and to make representations to Sorell Council on this important issue before the deadline of the 16th December 2013.