NEWCASTLE SAY'S 'NO' TO SYDNEY'S TOXIC SLUDGE
At the next City of Newcastle Ordinary Council Meeting, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes will present the following following Lord Mayoral Minute for deabte:
LMM 16/11/2021 - Newcastle says no to Sydney's toxic waste from Northern Beaches Link project
MOTION:
That City of Newcastle:
1. Notes with concern that on 15 November 2021, the NSW Government, through Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), announced plans to ship toxic waste from the construction of the Northern Beaches Link to Newcastle, advising that the material would be stored at the Port of Newcastle, before being trucked to an unnamed Waste Management facility;
2. Notes this announcement was not discussed with City of Newcastle (CN) staff or the elected Council, and was not discussed with the Port of Newcastle;
3. Commends the Port of Newcastle who subsequently advised that they give "no guarantee that the material proposed will be accepted, or is suitable, for unloading at the Port. Furthermore, if it was to be accepted, the Port has specified that the material could not be stored at Port of Newcastle for any period."
4. Notes that there is no agreement for CN to take waste from Sydney with TfNSW, and that only one meeting between CN and TfNSW has occurred, where TfNSW were advised that in order for any waste to be considered for landfill disposal at the Summerhill Waste Management Facility it must meet our strict requirements set under the EPA’s Waste Classification Guideline for General Solid Waste and that CN Officers stressed that any waste would need to be independently tested to confirm that it meet our strict licensing requirements. No further meetings have occurred between CN and TfNSW since this initial meeting;
5. Raises serious concern about the handling of this matter by the NSW Government and the unnecessary distress that has been caused in the community given the complete lack of community consultation, or consultation with City of Newcastle prior to the media announcement;
6. Writes to the Premier, the Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Minister for Transport and Roads, the Hon. Rob Stokes MP, advising that City of Newcastle will not accept toxic sludge from the Northern Beaches Link project at Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
BACKGROUND:
City of Newcastle: Summerhill Waste Management Facility Statement
15 Nov 2021
There is no agreement to take any waste from Sydney with Transport for NSW (TfNSW). TfNSW contacted City of Newcastle (CN) in September requesting a meeting to discuss future waste from the Northern Beaches Link project.
At that meeting we explained that in order for any waste to be considered for landfill disposal at the Summerhill Waste Management Facility it must meet our strict requirements set under the EPA’s Waste Classification Guideline for General Solid Waste.
We also stressed that any waste would need to be independently tested to confirm that it meet our strict licensing requirements.
TfNSW undertook from that meeting to come back to us when they knew with more confidence about the make up of the waste. To date we haven’t heard anything more.
A decision regarding the disposal of any material offshore would be made by the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Statement from the Port of Newcastle:
MEDIA STATEMENT
Transport for NSW Northern Beaches Link
Preferred Infrastructure Report
Port of Newcastle was engaged by Transport for NSW in respect to its submission of its Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR) to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for its Northern Beaches Link Project. Transport for NSW managed all engagement for its PIR submission.
The Transport for NSW Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR) for the project includes a number of potential sites, including Port of Newcastle.
Port of Newcastle has provided no assurances at this time as to the access to, or availability of, any referenced Port site, or the granting of any required approvals.
The use of M4 berth, or any other berth in the Port, is conditional on berth availability, and satisfying the customary operational, commercial, planning, environmental, and safety requirements of the Port of Newcastle and all other relevant regulatory bodies.
As part of its response to the Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR) submission, Port of Newcastle has raised its concerns and advised clearly that the Port gives no guarantee that the material proposed will be accepted, or is suitable, for unloading at the Port. Furthermore, if it was to be accepted, the Port has specified that the material could not be stored at Port of Newcastle for any period.
Port of Newcastle has strong ESG credentials and as Australia’s only port to achieve EcoPort status is committed to driving the principles of sustainability throughout its operations and culture.