Huge community and industry opposition to megatips

Monday, 12 June 2000 10:00

"The Carr Government is faced with a crucial decision on whether to allow the Woodlawn megadump near Goulburn to take Sydney's waste for the next 50 years. Another superdump is proposed near Singleton, in the Hunter Valley.

But the Government has just received a major waste inquiry report * that labels landfills as the second worst method (incineration is last) of 14 waste technologies available," said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

"The wide range of opposition to megadumps reflects the extent of concern with Government policies, " he said.

"Business and industry's alternative plans to landfilling will be crippled if a megatip is approved. Industry groups have viable and financially backed alternative technologies and practices ready to be applied to our waste," said Kathy Ridge, Executive Officer of the Nature Conservation Council.

"Northern Sydney Waste Board and Collex's scatterbrain and short sighted proposal to dump Sydney's rubbish into an ex-mine site will employ only 30 people. The Ravensworth dump scheme is also a job killer. In comparison alternative technologies and practices have the potential to create hundreds of jobs, new businesses and conserve our resources across the state," she said.