Page 440 - Week 02 - Thursday, 11 February 2021
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referral mechanism. The assessment then relies on EPA pollution regulations to ensure that the proposal is not polluting excessively. However, it is not clear that TCCS, the EPA or EPSDD are currently able to consider the overall cumulative waste or pollution impacts and outcomes; nor can they ensure consistency with the government’s waste policy goals through the planning process.
The Greens believe that the best way for new waste technologies, processes and proposals to be assessed is with full life cycle analysis, which takes into account the long-term impacts of a facility and the broader waste, emissions and recycling outcomes. We believe that this analysis should be undertaken by an ACT government agency with waste analysis expertise. This assessment should be done separately from the planning analysis. This waste life cycle analysis should probably be done by a referral mechanism in the planning legislation.
Another mechanism would be a requirement for waste facility proposals to be evaluated by waste experts for their alignment with ACT government waste policy goals and life cycle impacts, and for that evaluation to be approved prior to applying for planning approval.
As well as the process for assessing and approving waste proposals, the Greens are also concerned about industrial zones in Canberra, and whether they are appropriate for the needs of our growing city, today and into the future. Canberra has changed considerably since our industrial and commercial zones were designated many decades ago. Fyshwick has long been one of Canberra’s key light industrial hubs, but it is located near environmentally sensitive areas like the Jerrabomberra wetlands.
As well, our population growth, residential suburbs and social and work patterns have changed drastically, and our industrial areas, particularly Fyshwick, are facing new development pressures. As well as the waste industry proposals we have discussed today, there is also the residential development proposed for Dairy Flat Road in Fyshwick, and we do not believe that growth in both higher industrial use and higher residential use are simultaneously compatible directions for the area.
We understand that there is a limited supply of alternative sites suitable for larger waste processing facilities in the ACT, which should also be addressed if we are going to grow our recycling industries in the ACT towards a circular economy. Members here today all understand that this current situation has already created considerable disagreement between local businesses, waste proponents and residents’ groups.
The Greens believe that the competing visions of our industrial areas need to be reconciled. We understand that the government is already undertaking a review of industrial zones, and we look forward to broader community consultation and a planning committee inquiry to garner further views about the direction and siting of industrial zones across Canberra.
Opening up the issue even wider, I want to express some frustration with our state government colleagues across the border in New South Wales, as well as flagging a hope that we can ultimately bring an even larger and more integrated vision for this issue than the one I have just outlined.
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