The state government has disbanded an independent committee formed to identify precincts for hazardous waste treatment facilities in WA, following the release of the committee’s recommendations for four proposed sites.
The state government has disbanded an independent committee formed to identify precincts for hazardous waste treatment facilities in WA, following the release of the committee’s recommendations for four proposed sites.
Environment minister Mark McGowan dismissed the multi-stakeholder group Core Consultative Committee on Waste (3C), following the group’s announcement of four proposed locations for treatment facilities in the Goldfields, Pilbara, Northam and the South-West.
Mr McGowan said that dedicated single-use precincts for hazardous waste treatment may not be required.
“It’s now up to the government to decide whether these are necessary in light of the obvious improvements in hazardous waste management that have been put in place over the last three or four years,” Mr McGowan said.
“There are significant cost implications for hazardous waste precincts, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars, and there is also some debate over whether they are necessary in light of all the improvements that have been put in place.”
The minister’s comments are in accordance with those of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, which stated in a submission to 3C that the upgrade and consolidation of existing waste treatment facilities since 2000, including a $14 million capital investment by the industry, had resulted in improvements which fulfilled the committee’s original purpose.
CCIWA manager, industry policy Trevor Lovelle, said the arguments for most of the precincts the committee had recommended were not persuasive.
“The minister is only being honest in saying he is not convinced there is a need for the precincts the committee recommended,” he said.
“Given that CCI’s own preference was for a site at Kwinana, the chamber concurs with his observation.”
A Kwinana site was discounted by the committee, primarily because of its location within 3 kilometres of sensitive land uses; however, it would enable hazardous waste to be treated where it is produced, eliminating the need for replication of facilities and reducing transport risks.
The 3C report proposes three hazardous waste treatment precincts be established at Mungari Industrial Estate in the Goldfields, at a site 15km south-west of Karratha in the Pilbara, and another at either Avon Industrial Park near Northam or at Mt Marshall near Bencubbin.
Mr McGowan said he had met with a number of community groups concerned about the location of proposed sites.
“It must be remembered that the 3C committee has recommended sites that will raise very significant community objection, and the interests of those communities also need to be considered,” he said.
Mr McGowan said the government was considering the committee’s recommendations and would be expected to make a decision during the next few months.
The 3C was established in late 2002 by former environment minister Judy Edwards and was tasked with establishing new and better hazardous waste treatment facilities in WA, in the aftermath of the fire at the Bellevue waste facility and the decommissioning of the Brookdale facility.
The group issued a statement this week saying it had expected to continue work for another 12-18 months, based on cabinet’s commitment to the group’s work program.
In an open letter to Mr McGowan by three of the committee members, the 3C suggested the minister was making a unilateral decision in terminating the committee.
“All of the cabinet-endorsed programs have indicated clearly an ongoing role for the 3C beyond providing siting recommendations to government,” it said.
