Moss Vale Plastics Recycling Facility

MOSS VALE PLASTIC RECYCLING FACILITY SSD - 9409987
SUBJECT: Urgent Objection to Plasrefine Plastics Recycling Facility in Moss Vale
I am writing to express my strong objection to the Plasrefine Plastics Recycling Facility proposed in Moss Vale, primarily due to the grave concerns surrounding water supply, usage and contamination risks. Plasrefine's staggering water demand, estimated at 5.5-15.5 kilolitres daily, raises alarming questions about the sustainability of local water resources. This excessive usage, equivalent to that of 57 to 160 households, not only strains the supply but also threatens the delicate balance of our ecosystem exacerbated by climate change. Furthermore, the proposed facility's location within the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment area is a cause for serious worry. Any potential contamination from the facility, be it microplastics or toxic chemicals, could jeopardise the health and safety of the community. Plasrefine's inability to provide concrete details about managing wastewater, coupled with the lack of transparency regarding the potential release of hazardous substances, is deeply troubling.
I urge the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to priortise the well-being of residents of Moss Vale and adjoining areas and those drinking from Sydney's water supply.. Rejecting this proposal is crucial to safeguarding the water supply, preventing ecological damage and ensuring the prosperity of generations to come.

We are making a submission in opposition to the above-mentioned State Significant Development by Plasrefine Recycling Development Pty Ltd.

As we live very close to the proposed development, we are really concerned as to why this is being built so close to residential homes, schools, towns without any concerns for our welfare, health and the environment. This is a toxic facility and we cannot allow it to be built so close to a residential area. The pollution, noise, traffic, damage to our water ways, environment, animals/wildlife, vegetation and land values, employment structures leave us very concerned.
POLLUTION:
- waste into the Sydney Water catchment area.
- air pollution fall out of fine plastic particles.
-noise pollution.
-fall out of fine plastic particles, breathed in or polluting our waterways then into the sea.
-sea life will be affected along with humans.
-sludge residue being moved to where? Plasrefine not transparent, we need answers now not later on.
NOISE:
-truck /car movements already very congested road conditions, damage to our roads etc.
-24/7 facility operations with 24/7 lighting on.
TRAFFIC:
-already congested roads.
-increased volume of truck and car movements.
-road infrastructure adequate?
-danger to residents as no footpaths for them to walk on and massive trucks and vehicles movements increased.
WATERWAYS:
-ecologically sensitive land.
-run off feeds into the Sydney Water Catchment areas.
- use of water for the facility?
-our local sewage system/treatment plant which is already at full capacity, need more info now not later.
ENVIRONMENT:
-Garvan Australian Bio Resources Institute – too close to this sensitive business.
- our pristine environment will no longer exist.
-prevailing winds covering our towns in plastic dust, chemicals and fumes.
- ruining the rural landscape with massive buildings, increased traffic and polluting our air with fine plastic particles.
- our birds and wildlife will suffer.
-vegetation will suffer.
-land values will drop.
EMPLOYMENT:
-will be robots.
-local people employed?
BUILDINGS:
-buildings will be huge, need to be built to suit the site.
-traffic movements will increase.
FIRES:
-toxic materials.
-availability of personnel to fight a plastic recycling facility, very involved.
- fire fighting extremely involved and residue again polluting the land and air.
HEALTH IMPACTS:
-long term health impacts cancer clusters, respiratory, reproductive, eye and skin condition just to name a few.
-hospitals able to cope in the event of an incident?
GOVERNMENT - COUNCIL:
-local member Wendy Tuckerman is against this proposal.
-WSC are also against this.
-locals are again it in this area.

WE ARE NOT AGAINST THE CONCEPT OF PLASREFINE BUT I AM AGAINST IT IN ANY RESIDENTIAL AREA.
GO OUT AWAY from any residential areas, plenty of land else ware suitable!!!
WHAT PART OF NO DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND!!!!!
SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT and OUR HEALTH, MAKE THE RIGHT RESPONSIBLE CHOICE PLASREFINE!
There has never been fair consultation with the public and all answers should be answered before and not after the submissions.

I wish to raise a STRONG Objection to the Plasrefine project proposed for 74-76 Beaconsfield Road, Moss Vale.

I am very concerned at the proposal to implement a plastic refining facility at 74-76 Beaconsfield Road, Moss Vale for many reasons including the following:

• I believe it is totally inappropriate to implement such a large facility and a potentially toxic pollution source in a residential zone so close to Moss Vale town centre and the local residential housing and schools (it is only about 3kms from Moss Vale centre)

• The roads around Moss Vale are already congested during business hours and this will only exacerbate a bad situation

• The apparent lack of experience of the proponent in this industry is also a very major concern.

Hoping you acknowledge and consider these issues which I know are causing a lot of concerns for the entire Southern Highlands community.

I am sure this is going to get a lot of adverse attention locally and across state media outlets if it is approved.

I am making a submission in opposition to the proposed Plasrefine Plastics Recycling Facility at 74 - 76 Beaconsfield Rd Moss Vale 2577. SSD Application No: 9409987.
I am a resident of Moss Vale and am extremely concerned about this proposal. Some of the issues which I find disturbing are as follows:
• This site is just totally inappropriate for this type of contaminated waste facility. The size of the proposal – 12 football fields and over 5 stories high and operating 24/7, just 150 mtrs from residential properties is sheer madness. The effect on residents and the effect on the value of properties in this area would be devasting.
• The land is not zoned for this type of business with it being designated a buffer zone for obvious reasons.
• The proposal has no support within the community. WSC has objected to it, the Local MP Wendy Tuckerman has objected to it, the EPA has objected to it and numerous community groups throughout the shire have objected. I am unaware of anyone in the community who thinks it’s a good idea.
• This is ecologically sensitive land, consisitng of a large riparian area and a watercourse which flows directly to the Wingecarribee River and eventually into the Sydney drinking water catchment.
• The material that is intended to be processed at this facility should be treated as contaminated waste and as such should be located in appropriately zoned areas, not next to residential land and close to schools, pre-schools and families.
• The Garvan Institute, which is just 30m from the site and conducts critical medical research utilising mice, will certainly be affected unduly as mice require clean air and are susceptible to vibration and noise levels. Having a facility such as this so close operating 24/7 will have detrimental effects. This institute is also opposed to the proposal.
• The company has no specified plan or destination for 9000 tonnes of dewatered sludge.
• The plant will expel around 2.5 kilolitres of sewage per day into a sewage system that is already struggling to cope with the increase in populaion that is occurring in the shire. How will it cope with that sought of influx?
• This area is subject to prevailing often strong Westerlies which will carry emissions from the emissions stacks and from within the building itself towards Burradoo and Bowral, which has the largest schools in the area.
• Those emissions will more than likely contain microplastics, numerous health impacting chemicals, toxins in the plastic dust and there is also the ever present potential for spills and accidents.
• The proposal to have 100 trucks per day carrying toxic waste, using already poor quality country roads which are struggling to cope with the increase in local traffic is just ludicrous and is guaranteed to end in tragedy.
• The risk of fires in such close proximity to residential premises is totally unacceptable.
• I find it difficult to understand how this project is even being considered for such an obviously inappropriate site. Wendy Tuckerman our local MP has offered to find a more suitable location for this project, but this has been rejected. The company has no social licence to proceed with this project and does not have the support or buy in of the community. IT’S JUST NOT THE RIGHT SITE.

The Southern Highlands is a beautiful area which relies on tourism to support the area.
It is well known and highly regarded for its clean air, beautiful scenery and lack of factories, pollution, noise and smog.
For the residents who live in this beautiful part of the world, the reason we came to live here was for all the above reasons and to contemplate having a plastics recycling plant here with all the trucks, pollution etc is unfathomable.
I am appealing to the government to find a more suitable site for this project in a more remote area which would be more suited to this plant as it would be a very sad day for the Highlands to have to cope with increased traffic, pollution, the terrible stench that this would cause and a loss of our way of life. Australia is a very big country and I am sure a more suitable site could be found.
This is a bad decision for the area and is not supported by the residents.
Regards
Deborah de Reuck

lMOSS VALE PLASTICS RECYCLING FACILITY SSD- 9409987
I am vehemently opposed to the proposed Plasrefine Plastics Recycling Facility at 74-76 Beaconsfield Rd, Moss Vale. This development poses an imminent threat to the natural beauty of the region. The idyllic charm of Moss Vale and its pristine surroundings would be irreparably marred by the establishment of this facility, tarnishing the landscape with an industrial eyesore. This would thereby affect the tourist industry and the economics of the area.
Plasrefine's plans lack transparency and pose grave risks. The facility's potential to contaminate the air, water, and soil with microplastics and hazardous chemicals is deeply troubling. The proposed relocation of the level crossing and the subsequent congestion of heavy trucks would disrupt the peaceful community and endanger road safety. Moreover, the facility's large-scale water usage raises concerns in the context of climate change and related drought frequency. I am concerned that the Wingicarrabee treatment plant is unable to handle the extra waste water from this development.
Furthermore, the insufficient details provided in the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are alarming. Plasrefine's promises of mitigating measures remain vague and unconvincing, failing to address the genuine fears of residents. The proposed development contradicts the very essence of Moss Vale and the essential tourist industry of the southern highlands, threatening the health, environment, quality of life and economics of the area.
I implore the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to reject this proposal. Preserving the natural beauty of the region should be a priority, safeguarding the community from the irreversible harm this facility would undoubtedly bring. I am of the opinion that this is not the right site for recycling of Sydney’s and Wollongong’s plastic waste.

The site is too close to residential housing and access is extremely difficult due to the rail network and lack of roads to support the listed 200 truck movements per day. The site feeds Sydney Water and the millions of micro plastics that escape treatment will enter the catchment. In the event of a fire the water and residue will all wash into the Sydney water catchment. I am not objecting to the factory, but it is clearly the WRONG SITE for so many reasons, access, heavy vehicle movements , the height ( 5 stories) and the amount of lighting listed to be a continuous distraction to the peace and tranquillity of the Southern Highlands. All roads have been discussed and all options suggested have involved schools and pre schools. There are no roads in suitable repair to withstand the amount of truck movements suggested by Plasrifine.
Moss Vale is already choked to above capacity with traffic and cannot support this Plastic Recycling Factory .
Being born in Moss Vale I can see the town has already overcommitted for the facilities it has available and there is no doubt whatsoever if this were to go ahead it will be the reuineation of our pristine Southern Highlands.
It is a Chinese company and has made it very clear the workers will be sourced from China which will put more pressure on our locals struggling to find housing accommodation.
In simple English “ WHAT PART OF NO DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND”

I cant believe the government will allow a recycling centre so close to town
With all its impact on the local area ,theres vineyards ,and housing in close proximity which will be subject to toxic air
With a large number of trucks polluting our Southern highlands even further
Moss vale is a nightmare to drive through at the best of times
Houses or flats are restricted in height,but not apparently this proposal
I have lived here over 35 years ,but maybe its time to move on
Thankyou
Michael bell

This is the Southern Highlands!
We Do NOT want 120,000 tonnes of plastic waste coming from Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne and trucked into Moss Vale!
You are not keeping within the Southern Highlands beauty
People come to visit this area
They and we do not want the beautiful Southern Highlands to lose its beauty

Also the roads can not handle the extra people that have moved into this area in the last 3months let alone more trucks.
We do not want the noise of a 24hour services in the town of Moss Vale or any other area in the Southern Highlands.
This will be a sound pollution and an I environment I saw to the beautiful Southern Highlands.

I understand that you are taking submissions for objections to the above proposed facility in Moss Vale.

After having viewed the relevant documents, this project poses significant concerns and risks to the Southern Highlands Community and my points of objection are as follows:

1. No mention of what treatments of emissions are regarding air pollution control, nor whether proposed treatments have been tested in Australia
2. No indication of where emission stacks will be positioned on buildings
3. Possible lightning conductor as no mention of construction material for the stack 4. No defined height of emission stack
5. Emissions would carry towards other areas of the Highlands, eg. Bowral & Burradoo, as the areas are subject to prevailing westerlies & emission dispersal could be prevented due to heavy fog which is common during the winter months.
6. There are 24 windows on the plan “for light & ventilation” - but document states all processes which may generate emissions would be located within "fully enclosed” buildings
7. No surveyor the site in any documents 8. How will Plasrefine source the 140 workers when local agencies can’t fill job vacancies?
9. If most of the factory is automated, what will the employment be for those workers?
10.Further job losses may result as a consequence of an exodus of local residents due to an undesirable & highly contentious huge factory operating in their community
11.Tourist numbers would decline & tourist industry would suffer, resulting in even more job losses 12.Emissions would cause contamination of surrounding farms, vineyards & businesses- 13.We will be the dumping ground for the plastic waste disposal from NSW & other states & territories - Up to 120,000 tonnes of plastic waste will be trucked into Moss Vale from Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra & Melbourne - and none from Wingecarribee region.
14.Degradation of local roads due to excessive heavy haulage vehicle usage, 24/7 at considerable cost to taxpayers.
15.Risks to millions through contamination of Sydney's drinking water 16.Exposure of employees to microplastics & contaminated waste 17.No specified plan for safe removal of 9,000 tonnes of dewatered sludge & no destination 18. A massive drain on town’s daily water supply - especially during droughts & bushfires 19.Transfer of huge quantities of wastewater to our sewer system not upgraded as yet to cope with the influx
20.No details of a maintenance program 21.Many of the chemicals used to make plastic have potential to cause serious environmental harm if not managed properly.Plasrefine will be accepting this type of plastic waste from our big cities. The owner, with a proven track record of fines for environmental pollution & building code breaches , cannot be trusted.
22.A high risk of fire within the facility with resultant carcinogenic emissions being released into the environment
23.No local fire brigades are sufficiently equipped to fight a huge chemical fire in a recycling facility.
24.Odour related issues not adequately addressed
25.Far too many details to be left out of documents until after approval 26.Decline in living standards and health impacts for our Highlands community
27.Ongoing health problems for residents particularly those with pre-existing conditions 28.An ever-increasing impact of mental health issues for all those closest to the site 29.Open to virtual opportunity for a class action given by an offer of counselling services to ‘those residents with medically diagnosed significant levels of distress and or anxiety demonstrated by a medical practitioner to be directly related to the project”
30.Unreliable system for community consultation, advice & complaints.

Please update me on the progress of the above proposal via my email address listed above.

Yours sincerely,
Wendy Robinson

To Whom it May Concern,

My husband, Campbell McGlynn and I, Leyla Oxley, are very concerned about the Plastics Recycling Facility that is proposed to be built in Moss Vale. We are very against this development for a number of reasons.
1. Many people have moved to this region to get out of an industrial, city lifestyle. We have moved to this area as it provides clean air and a beautiful healthy way of life. This region is costly to live in and the reason people are willing to pay a premium is because we don't live in an industrial landscape. We prioritise clean air, a decrease in traffic, clean water ways and a natural existence.
2. We are very worried about the contamination of the air and water from microplastics that will affect people and animals health, surrounding waterways and farms. There are many children living the region.
3. We don't want to be the dumping ground for plastic waste from regional and other cities such as Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong and Melbourne - the increased numbers of trucks coming in and out of the area will be shocking.
4. There will be a decrease in the number of tourists that this area relies on for jobs and income.
5. There will be health impacts from the microplastic contamination and increased truck emissions.
6. There will be emotional impacts on families and other people in the region - due to health and wellbeing impacts.
7. What is going to happen to the safe removal of all the sludge from this factory?? This is a huge concern for GROUNDWATER!!!
8. We don't want heavy industry in our backyard.
9. Many residents, ourselves included would absolutely leave the area, as we see air quality as a particular issue for our growing children.
We are very upset with the thought that council could possibly entertain this project. The community has not been consulted properly and this is something that NO-ONE wants.

Yours sincerely, Leyla Oxley. [phone number redacted]
Campbell McGlynn. [phone number redacted]

I strongly object to the proposed Plasrefine Plastic Recycling Facility in Moss Vale.

Please see below why I think this proposed development should be rejected:

1. The proposed recycling facility is a potentially hazardous and offensive industry. The residents of Moss Vale and the Wingecarribee Council does not support the proposal. This is just not the right location for it.

2 The EIS prepared by GHD is inadequate and full of inconsistencies. Many statements in the EIS’s are incorrect and misleading. Issues and concerns regarding environmental, social and economic impact of the proposed development are not being addressed. The EIS do not provide any assessment of micro plastics generated by the proposal and its impact on human health, air, drinking water, groundwater, soil and wildlife.

3 There is extensive scientific research available that micro plastics and toxic fumes from plastic recycling plants cause serious health issues like infertility, hormonal changes, heart health issues, cancer etc. This facility will be close to many local schools. How many children will be exp to these toxins? There is no technology available to filter micro plastics from the plastic recycling facilities. Micro plastic in wastewater will be released into our sewerage, no levels provided, and Wingecarribee Council sewerage system does not have the capacity to deal with this issue.

4 The proposed development is situated in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment area and all toxic chemicals and micro plastics will end up in our water system, which will impact drinking water.

5 The proposed facility will require a high demand for town water, which will put stress on the Southern Highlands water supply. The Wingecarribee Council has already stated that they do not support this.

6 There is a high risk of fire in plastic processing plants and we have seen many examples of these fires Country and worldwide recently. The proposed development is surrounded by residential and general industrial of Moss Vale. The fire protection plan provided for this facility is unsatisfactory and inadequate.

7 The Plasrefine development proposal will detrimentally impact the health of residents and tourism. The Southern Highlands has been known for its clean country air, beautiful scenery, wineries and has been a popular venue for weddings, concerts etc.

8 The site size isn’t adequate for the proposed development and does not allow adequate facility for movement and parking for delivery trucks, for large fire engines. There’s not enough water storage for fire emergency space for landscaping or screening is inadequate.

9 The development will affect the operation of trains of the nearby cement factory and will adversely affect the traffic on M4 and other access points. Any disruption caused by trucks will cause chaos to the traffic as seen recently when there was a train stuck on the railway track, that blocked the crossing of the proposed Plasrefine truck route.

10 Another notable issue would noise pollution. GHD has not been able to supply adequate information regarding noise emissions.

11 Excessive lightning will affect nocturnal wildlife and nearby residents.

Conclusion:
The Plasrefine development proposal site is surrounded by rural, residential and general industrial areas. The recycling plant will pose a huge health and fire hazard to residents of the Southern Highlands. Due to its proximity to residential properties, this site should never have been approved for this kind of toxic industrial activity. Toxic fumes in the air, micro plastics and other waste into our water system, the threat to wildlife and nature…just not acceptable. The beautiful Southern Highlands should not be allowed to become the dumping ground for smelly, toxic waste from all over the country. Please stop this development now!
Thank you for accepting my objection to the Plasrefine development proposal.

To whom it may concern,
Our property directly borders this proposed development site.
After spending 4 years seeking the perfect rural lifestyle property in the southern highlands, we bought our property (54-56 Bulwer Road, Moss Vale) in 2016. As a family we have been enjoying the amazing rural landscape, bird life and general environment to raise our 2 young sons. We also have planted a vineyard (2 acres of Pinot Noir) and have wishes for this to be a multi-generational project to enhance to quality of fine wine being produced in the southern highlands region. My 7 and 5 year old sons are already spending most weekends with me in the vineyard; learning work ethic, enjoying the fresh outdoor environment and building a connection to a long-held family tradition. To say that this proposed development will significantly impact all aspects of the above is an understatement. The nature of the wind pattern which occurs daily on our property and surrounding areas of the proposed development site will see air pollution carried into far reaching areas of the Southern Highlands and towards the eastern coast.
I would not allow my children to spend time outside - within a few hundred metres of the proposed plastic recycling facility; given the significant impacts to the air and water environments. There have been dozens of studies surrounding micro plastics and the impact on human health and by nature of the proposed transport of waste plastic into this micro environment multiple times daily (let alone the pollution impacts from the proposed recycling facility itself) the environment for humans and wildlife will be severely impacted. Additionally, in growing grapes for wine production - with the porous nature of the grapes; the risks associated with any form of altered Air quality, in the proximity we are in, are severe. All vineyards and wine businesses (as well as many other primary producers) in the wider Southern Highlands region will be affected.
Everything about this proposal just does t make any sense in the proposed location.
We have rare bird species (red tailed and yellow tailed cockatoos as a few examples) visit our property regularly; in addition to a number of other wildlife species.
The data provided for this proposed developments’ water usage and subsequent pressures on the local sewer systems are also of major concern.
It is simply not the right site for the nature of this proposed development; The Southern Highlands is a tourism destination; There are many established industrial regions in NSW that would better serve this type of development; away from populated communities . Best regards, Michael Kean

2 separate submissions (objections) attached

I object to the proposed Plasrefine Recycling Facility at Moss Vale and I believe the development should be refused because of:

1. Ongoing health problems associated with air pollution, soil pollution with toxic and hazardous and micro plastics.

2. The quality of groundwater will affect local farming and businesses through air and soil contamination. We all know the best air and water filters fail at times.

3. A massive drain on our towns water supply especially during drought and bushfires.

4. Our roads connected to the freeway which are already in bad condition will deteriorate further. The area is developing rapidly and this can only add to more degradation with 100 trucks per day. Our council is unable to stay abreast of the repairs as it is.