Funding Failure for Toxic Waste Dump a Victory for Southern Beaches Residents and the Carlton River Catchment.
The failure of Southern Waste Solutions (SWS) to attract Commonwealth funding, via the Regional Development Fund (RDAF), for its proposed Toxic Waste Dump is a victory for residents of the Southern Beaches and the future of the Carlton River Catchment. It is clear the RDAF selection panel has listened to the local community and questioned the social licence for this project, a prerequisite for successful funding.
‘The fact that officially, Tasman Council has failed to attract funding for a hazardous materials landfill development adjacent to the Carlton River and within the Sorrel Municipality for a proposed development by a proxy, SWS, is both symbolic and symptomatic of a proposed landfill development that has lacked probity and transparency from the outset.’ said Shane Humpherys from Environment Tasmania.
The business case for SWS hazardous waste dump is tenuous and relies on Tasmania taking international hazardous waste via Antarctica. The bulk of Tasmania’s own category C waste is contaminated soils ,liquid oils and emulsions. This material can and should be dealt with through alternate means to dumping in landfill. ‘This project is a retrograde step for Tasmania’s waste management and this decision should act as an impetus to exploring the alternate waste management technologies and investments that the rest of the nation is moving ahead with’, continued Shane Humpherys, ‘alternatives that view waste as a resource and not something to be wilfully discarded into landfill ‘.
The Carlton River commences in the Weilangta forests before journeying through the beautiful districts of Kellevie, Bream Creek and Copping before terminating into Frederick Henry Bay at the popular Carlton Beach. It is the home of many agricultural pursuits, Swift Parrots, Tasmanian Devils, Wedge Tailed Eagles, Angasi oysters and adjacent to the mouth of the river, is the last known breeding colony of the critically endangered RED Handfish. It is also home to one of the fastest growing coastal communities in Tasmania. This is no place for a toxic waste dump.
Shane Humpherys, Environment Tasmania
