Terrible news today: the Land and Environment Court has approved the Waste Transfer Station with Conditions!
At present we do not know what the conditions are, but the council is meeting tonight and will know by then.
More news as it comes to hand…
The Hearing finished on Thursday 5th March and it is hoped the judgement will be given before the end of March.
Attendees on the last hearing day noted that Wollondilly Council now have a list of 100 conditions that should be imposed if the development is approved. The proposed new part of Anthony Road would require a narrow strip of land to be resumed from the adjoining farms in addition to the crown road corridor. The developer offered to build this road and then after 6 months hand ownership and maintenance to Wollondilly Council. A Commissioner apparently remarked along the lines – that even a poorly built road will last that long and the developer should commit to funding maintenance of that road for a much longer period.
Wollondilly Council engaged consultants & lawyers in addition to many hours from their own staff, to defend their rejection of the proposed Waste Transfer Station. So most Bargo residents would like to thank Wollondilly Council for funding a thorough case.
3 days were set aside for the hearing starting Monday 17th Feb. The first day started with a meeting in the Bargo Sportsground Hall presided over by the 2 Commissioners hearing the case (Susan Dixon and Paul Adams) and over 200 residents attended to prove that most Bargo residents are strongly opposed to this development despite the promise of new jobs. Eight Bargo residents were allowed to speak against it and they had done their homework – in particular Chris Barnes and Sue Law pointed out many flaws in the proposals. Afterwards the Commissioners toured the proposed site and access roads.
The 2nd and 3rd days were conducted in courtrooms on Macquarie St, Sydney, with Wollondilly Council represented by their lawyers and about 5 experts in areas such as traffic planning, odour, noise and environmental pollution. The developer had a similar representation. So many points of discussion were had over plans that were passed between the participants.
One of these traffic plans called for a 5m widening of Remembrance Drive at the Wellers Road intersection. In fact a substantial remodelling that includes turning lanes. Quite an expensive proposal when you consider the extensive earthworks and utilities (power poles, etc) that need to be moved. We also noted that the new intersection between Great Southern Rd and the proposed Anthony Road had kerbing and barriers designed to prevent larger trucks (but not smaller vehicles) from entering or exiting from the south ie trucks will only be able to turn northwards and thus forced to use the Wellers Road bridge.
The case did not finish in the allotted time of 3 days. It will be continued at a date to be set but probably in the next 2 to 3 weeks ie by mid-March. Then a written decision will be announced sometime after that. We can only hope that the development is completely rejected, and if not then restrictions are imposed that address most of the residents concerns.
This hearing will start at the site in Bargo on Monday 17th February at 9.30am. Concerned residents are being asked to assemble at the site at 9am. Up to 6 members of the public will be allowed to speak during this part of the hearing. All Bargo residents are asked to attend this hearing and show their opposition to the proposal (eg signs).
After the onsite part of the hearing on the Monday morning – the hearing will continue at courtrooms in Sydney City for another 2 days.
A special meeting of the Bargo Progress Association to plan the protest and other actions is to held on Monday evening 3rd Feb at 7pm in the Bargo Sports Club. All concerned citizens are welcome to attend.
The proposed meeting point for Monday 17th Feb is at 9am 25 Government Road, Bargo. This is not far from the entrance to the existing Bargo Tip ie Bargo Waste Management Centre in Anthony Road.
If there are last minute changes – then bargo.info will show them – so check back here the weekend of 15, 16th Feb.
This summary will update you to the state of play in late 2013.
In 2012 the developer Ironlaw lodged an application with Wollondilly Shire Council for a Waste Transfer Station at 25 Government Road, Bargo. Council rejected this application and Ironlaw then appealed to the Land & Environment Court and then abandoned this appeal during the hearing because of a probable adverse outcome.
But Ironlaw had not given up, and their next move was to lodge a modified application with Council in March/April 2013. During the public comment period, Bargo residents sent Council over 160 submissions against the proposal. Subsequently Council rejected this application in May 2013.
Latest move by Ironlaw is to appeal to the Land and Environment Court and this is unlikely to be scheduled for hearing until mid-2014.
Also over the last few months Ironlaw and associated entities have secured many of the adjoining properties and lodged at least one rezoning application to turn this farmland into 1 to 5 acres residential blocks. We are not sure what their strategy is, but in principle we support this type of development, but without the Waste Transfer Station as a neighbour to these blocks.
The Bargo Progress Association has been instrumental in keeping Bargo residents informed with some members planning to attend the appeal hearing. The Association plans to be in recess over the summer months but if there are developments sooner than expected – then the Association will convene a special meeting to plan action. If you are not a member then we encourage you to join The Bargo Progress Association.
Beware of apathy – don’t assume someone else will solve the problems. Don’t allow developers to blot our town.
Council has received heaps of submissions against the proposed waste transfer station.
There is still time to submit an objection to council if you have not yet done so. You have up to 4.00pm on 12th April.
waste transfer station, Wollondilly shire CouncilURGENT FOR BARGO
Please put your objections to council NOW, via email or personally hand in a wriiten objection (there is no time to post). You must quote the file number: 010.2012.00000336.001 and email your objections to council@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au
For further information please feel free to contact the Bargo Progress Association president Chris Barnes: 0413 999652
The EIS supplied to council by the developer proposes, to divert waste trucks from Great Southern Rd over the bridge near Bargo oval, then travel via Railside Ave to the Wellers Rd Bridge. There is a proposal to remove the recently installed safety islands to allow room for the trucks to turn right over the Wellers Rd Bridge (also some strengthening work to the abutments on the bridge itself). The trucks will then turn right into Great Southern Rd, travel about 100 metres before turning left into a proposed extension of Anthony Rd. The developer envisages from 70 to 100 truck movements per day.
There will be no law enforcing truck to use this route, therefor it is not diffucult to imagine that the drivers will soon start to use the easier option of continuing along Great Southern Rd, past the primary school to the new Anthony Rd extension.
This is one traffic problem which will be caused by 100 very large garbage trucks a day moving through our village. There are many more issues such as odour, noise and property devaluation, to mention just a few.
Flyers will be letterboxed throughout Bargo over the Easter weekend. The flyer contains more detailed information and advice as to how to put your objection in writing to council.
There will also be a petition available to sign. People will be door knocking over the Easter period. It is important to write your objection, as legally, petitions do not have to be considered. It is URGENT that people get their objections in to council BEFORE 4.00pm on the 5th of April.
Please HELP us keep Bargo from becoming Sydney’s waste dumping facility
On 19/2/13 selected “affected” residents have received a letter from the consultants carrying out the EIS, which refers you to an extensive range of EIS documents on their website at www.preciseplanning.com.au
From this website you can download many documents including the architectural plans for the waste transfer station.
Negotiation is continuing between Wollondilly Council with their Barrister and the Developers legal team over many questions about the development. The developer has conceded that it is Designated Development and that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required.
Arguments are continuing on the level of detail required in the EIS. When the EIS is completed it will go on public exhibition and comments will be accepted. During the previous public comment period Council received over 160 comments.
When the public exhibition opens then some members of the Bargo Progress Association will examine the documentation and report to a meeting. From that further action will be decided. This could be anywhere from a month to a year.
The Land & Environment Court will determine on 5 February 2013 if he proposed WTS is a “DESIGNATED DEVELOPMENT” or not.
If it is determined to be a DESIGNATED DEVELOPMENT an environmental impact statement is required: This EIS is likely to cost the developer $300 – $400K & take 18 months to complete.
If the EIS is not required, the normal process will be undertaken. i.e. Council will almost certainly reject the proposal and it will then go to the L & E court, where arguments for and against will be heard.
