Site of the planned Copping C Cell … Image: here
Southern Waste Solutions (SWS) is calling on members of the community with an interest in sustainable waste management and solutions to join its Community Reference Group (CRG).
The objectives of the CRG are to:
• Facilitate community awareness of the operations, environmental performance and any short, medium and long term development of the Copping landfill;
• Provide community members with the opportunity to engage in dialogue with SWS regarding any issues of concern related to the landfill;
• Provide community members with an opportunity, wherever practicable, to provide input into SWS decision making processes regarding the landfill; and
• Foster understanding and cooperation between community members and SWS staff in minimising the impact of the landfill on the local community.
SWS CEO Christine Bell said the organisation was dedicated to maintaining regular communication with the community and values the ongoing support and feedback provided by all members of the public.
“Our Community Reference Group allows the opportunity to become a community representative for SWS – a role responsible for maintaining public awareness as well as providing us with community feedback that can help shape our operations,” Ms Bell said.
CRG members are appointed for a period of two years. Membership selection is based on principles of cross-sectional representation to ensure the full spectrum of community stakeholder concerns and interests are included and balanced from social, environmental and economic perspectives.
The CRG meets approximately every 12 weeks for up to three hours, depending on current and planned activity at the landfill. Participation in the CRG is voluntary and application for membership is open to the following:
• Any interested person who lives, works or has an interest in the vicinity of the Copping landfill; and
• Any interested locally-based community group representing those who have an interest in the vicinity of the Copping landfill.
If you are interested in joining the CRG, Expressions of Interest can be sent to SWS CEO Christine Bell via email at [email protected], or mail to Southern Waste Solutions, PO Box 216, New Town TAS 7008.
• Shane Humphreys, in Comments: It would be of interest to anyone reading this media release by SWS to note that a current member of the CRG and former President of local community group, Southern Beaches Conservation Society (SBCS) is currently facing a SLAPP suit in the Supreme Court brought on by SWS in response to that person raising community concerns. The statement contained within the above Media Release, ‘ SWS CEO Christine Bell said the organisation was dedicated to maintaining regular communication with the community and values the ongoing support and feedback provided by all members of the public’, should be seen for what it is- a shameless PR stunt. Actions speak loader than words!
• Angela Marsh, in Comments: As a current member of the Community Reference (CRG) Group, who has not attended the last two meetings because there is currently a writ against me and my community group for daring to voice concerns to hazardous waste producers, regarding a proposed hazardous waste cell for the Copping refuse site,I whole-heartedly endorse the concept of the CRG. However, I believe there is some more work required to make this group truly representational of community without bias, to permit open discussion, particularly regarding current and future management of hazardous materials. My concern is that Southern Waste Solutions is a very small entity that is trying to grow exponentially. This Authority, owned by four Councils, is not equipped to handle the logistics of accepting all hazardous waste from Tasmania, and from Antarctica,neither should it be. The Tasmanian government must intervene and provide a waste management strategy that encourages minimisation of landfill, similar to that which is currently in use in other states and overseas. If landfill is to dominate all other methods of dealing with waste in Tasmania this state will once again be the backward state. Definitely sullying our clean, green image.
• Angela Marsh, in Comments: As a current member of the Community Reference (CRG) Group, who has not attended the last two meetings because there is currently a writ against me and my community group for daring to voice concerns to hazardous waste producers, regarding a proposed hazardous waste cell for the Copping refuse site,I whole-heartedly endorse the concept of the CRG. However, I believe there is some more work required to make this group truly representational of community without bias, to permit open discussion, particularly regarding current and future management of hazardous materials. My concern is that Southern Waste Solutions is a very small entity that is trying to grow exponentially. This Authority, owned by four Councils, is not equipped to handle the logistics of accepting all hazardous waste from Tasmania, and from Antarctica,neither should it be. The Tasmanian government must intervene and provide a waste management strategy that encourages minimisation of landfill, similar to that which is currently in use in other states and overseas. If landfill is to dominate all other methods of dealing with waste in Tasmania this state will once again be the backward state. Definitely sullying our clean, green image.
