Page 1950 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2022
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MS BERRY: That is a future consideration for the Suburban Land Agency. Of course, as the minister for suburban land development, ensuring that our future suburbs are sustainable, environmentally friendly and meet the government’s purpose of moving towards zero emissions by 2045 is front of mind. However, those considerations will be made as land is released, particularly with regard to electric vehicle charging stations.
Waste—Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre
MS LAWDER: My question is for the Minister for Transport and City Services. Over the past few weeks my office has received a number of reports of an unpleasant odour emanating from the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre area. One resident was told by Access Canberra on 23 March that there were works underway and that they were expected to be completed by 23 April. Another person, who complained last Friday, was told that there were works underway expected to be completed in early June. Minister, how many times do we have to go through this process of residents complaining, feeling fobbed off, and then finding out that there are works underway with flexible end dates?
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Cheyne.
MS CHEYNE: I think I can speak to the substance of this, if that is all right with members! What is currently occurring at the Mugga Lane tip is different to the previous issues that we have encountered in that there are essential land-fill gas works currently being undertaken which have the potential to generate odour. The EPA, as Ms Lawder flagged, is aware of the activity underway and the strategies that are being used by the contractors to reduce odour where possible. Works were to be completed by the end of April; however, due to the wet weather and then a change in construction methodology, works were delayed. The current round of trenching work commenced on 26 April and works, at the time that I got advice, were on track to be completed by the target completion date of 3 June, and all reasonable steps have been undertaken to minimise the risk of odour transmission, including consideration of meteorological conditions.
The next round of works, which is a lateral well installation, are scheduled to commence on 27 June for completion in the first week of July. But this work is subject to EPA’s approval. I understand that Access Canberra is continuing to engage with community members about this, but if community members are concerned about odour, they need to make that report as soon as possible so that the EPA can investigate the matter while the alleged odour is still present.
MS LAWDER: I have a supplementary question. Minister, how many complaints has Access Canberra received about the odour in the past few weeks?
MS CHEYNE: There have been 40 complaints received in 2022 to date, and 35 complaints have been received on or up to 22 March 2022, meaning that those 35 relate to the essential landfill works that must be undertaken.
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