Moss Vale Plastics Recycling Facility

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Having been brought up in Moss Vale and Canyonleigh and completing 7 years of schooling at Chevalier and Sutton Forest and a very regular visitor to Beaconsfield Rd, Moss Vale to visit my mother I feel I have the insight and awareness of the impacts a business such as Plasrefine will have on the local area and likely beyond into the wider community.
On reading the proposal I acknowledge that some attempt has been made by Plasrefine to address a few of the many concerns raised regarding the suitability of this business to exist on the current site. Whilst the revised access to the site may be considered by some as an improvement and the declared reduction in water use and height of buildings are welcome there are many concerns that have either been ignored or insufficient evidence provided to produce a satisfactory solution.
In the age of awareness around micro plastics it seems that at a minimum a business of this nature should be located remotely from residential areas to mitigate some of the hazards associated with this by-product. Wind and water ways will serve to carry this hazard easily to nearby communities. The local food chain will carry this threat much further afield than just this site. This is NOT THE RIGHT SITE.
Water usage. Evidence is needed to support the reduction of water usage. If recycling and capture form the basis of this reduction then the expected El Niño weather pattern will likely prevent these targets being achieved, if anything, the outcome is more likely it will be an increase on town supplied water not a decrease. This is NOT THE RIGHT SITE.
The obvious increase of heavy traffic (trucks) to and from the site will have its own impact on the local area. Noise, road damage, pollution and traffic jams all will increase as a function of running this business. This is NOT THE RIGHT SITE.
Aesthetics and the environment. A large factory so close to the local community generating noise, excessive light, significant increase in traffic and thus destroying the natural beauty, should never be allowed in this area. This is NOT THE RIGHT SITE.
If the Federal Government is considering supporting this business with tax payers money so as to meet their green objectives then they too will be complicit in facilitating a business not suited to this area. This is NOT THE RIGHT SITE.
Please reject this proposal and seek to place this business in a location where there is no adverse impact to local communities, water ways, animal life and significant risk of micro plastics can be managed. Thankyou

This proposed plastics recycling factory will have major negative impacts on water availability and quality (including to the Sydney water catchment), air quality (air borne microplastics into local towns), and the massive daily truckloads in and out of the facility will hugely congest both national freeways and local roads, regardless of any changes to haulage routes. There is also the very real risk of massive fire outbreak at the site, a fact borne out by the several fires reported recently at plastics recycling facilities both here in Australia and overseas.
This sort of facility should not be sited within a township, on riparian land and close to a river, as is the case with the proposed Plasrefine project. To do so is to imperil hundreds of thousands of people within the Southern Highlands and Sydney (one of its major water catchments being polluted with microplastics).

Plasrefine Moss Vale site unsuitable.

Plastic recycling is vitally important to our future, but it needs to be located in a suitable area. Where the proposed site is located defies logic.
There are several points which impacts the general livability of the surrounding areas and the southern highlands as a whole.
• Proximity to residential area ( processing plant within 100’s of metres of peoples homes). This plant will produce industrial outputs which will blow over nearby family homes and surrounding areas. As shown in the wind direction study. Being a 24/7 production plant means relentless noise, pollution and disturbance to nearby residents. This along with the increased traffic concerns will contribute to the physical and mental stress (wellbeing) of the surrounding neighbourhood and greater area.
• Major increase in heavy traffic movements in an area that already has high level traffic congestion on already damaged roads. Safety concerns, increased noise and traffic pollution, increased damage to roads due to increased heavy vehicle movements are all direct consequences of this proposed plant.
•Tourism and a major plastic recycling plant do not go hand in hand. The southern highlands area is a major destination for tourists and thus creates and supports many jobs in our area. To risk all these jobs by introducing more heavy industry to the area is not acceptable to the people who live and work here. The plant needs to be located away from peoples homes, work, schools, recreation spaces, tourist areas, wild spaces, etc. Acknowledgement must be made that the plant would create some new jobs but the highlands area employment as a whole relies heavily on tourism and related sectors.

Yes, we need recycling and we need recycling plants to deal with our insatiable appetite for plastic. But I would ask that you strongly consider that this recycling plant would be better suited to a more removed, isolated, less impactful location and not in residential Moss Vale.
Thank you for your time.

I reckon the project will create more employment within the Wingecarribee Shire Council, especially the new access through the industry area i don't think it will affect the local residence as much.

1.Creating more works for all the local people and local business
2. The Business stating that they will be using Solar Power to power their major operation, which is good for the environment.
3. Better for the environment, we can recycle our local plastic waste instead of hauling it else where to reduce carbon foot print
4. Bringing manufacture back in Australia.

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As a resident of Moss Vale, I strongly object to the development of the Plasrefine Recycling Pty. Ltd facility (the proponent).
The reasons are numerous but most important are the potential hazards resulting from the recycling plastics at this facility. There are many scholarly studies that show how the resulting micro plastics would pollute our environment. The emissions of toxic forever chemicals could damage the environment and health of our citizens forever. These factors alone should prevent this facility from progressing.
Then there is the disruption to the lives of Southern Highlands residents by the constant truck movements involved in moving the plastics and removal of sludge and solid waste. The roads round Moss Vale are already chaotic and is a state of disrepair so the added impact of these additional trucks would make life miserable for locals. There would be other negative impacts such as noise, lighting, negative health impacts on the workers and increased fire hazards.

I strongly object to the Plasrefine Recycling Pty Ltd (the proponent) facility proposed for development in the Moss Vale community. Having read the proponent's initial and amended applications for state significant development, as well as numerous submissions on the proposal from a wide variety of interested parties, I find a complete lack of concern on the part of the proponent for the health and safety of our Moss Vale, Southern Highlands, and potentially state-wide communities. Air and water quality issues resulting from the infiltration of microplastics," forever" chemicals, and other compounds only recently being identified have the potential to adversely affect the lives of current and future generations. The proponent's own Social Impact Assessment states: "There is evidence that plastic processing facilities such as recycling plants can contribute to microplastic pollution." The proponent's response to this significant concern: "It is understood that the Plasrefine plastics recycling facility aims to treat its own wastewater and continuously extract microplastics, and Council's Wastewater Treatment Plant will also capture remaining microplastics (even before being upgraded)." Such "understanding" and lack of an appropriate technical response by the proponent to the pollution problem does nothing to allay my fears.
The health and safety issues related to air and water quality affected by microplastics should be sufficient on their own to keep this project from progressing. I am also very concerned about road safety issues. Yes, the proponent amended the proposed access route to the facility, but the currently proposed route still uses Berrima Road where heavy trucks continue to degrade the quality of the road faster than Council can make repairs (that often don't last more than a month). The number of trucks traveling to and from the proposed facility (a number that I believe has been underestimated by the proponent) will create traffic problems all along the route. There are issues with other facility emissions containing VOCs and POPs, with noise, with lighting, with removal of waste, with protection of facility employees from dangerous work hazards, with a higher risk of catastrophic fires and associated toxic smoke, the list goes on.
I cannot fathom circumstances where the Plasrefine Recycling Facility in Moss Vale should be approved. Yes, plastics are a real problem that needs to be addressed. But not with technology that lacks scientific certainty and specificity, and that actually contributes to microplastic pollution. And considering a variety of other objections to the project, only a few mentioned above, that clearly cry out: "Not the right location!", I urgently recommend that the application for the Moss Vale Plastics Recycling Facility development be disapproved.

This project proposed is NOT The Right site - too close to residential areas in Moss Vale. No additional infrastructure to roads with already increased domestic housing growth. Our roads can only just cope with residential traffic (and that doesn't include cars for the over 1,000 homes currently being build in Ashbourne estate in Moss Vale. Then add a 100 truck movements per day through the roads in Moss Vale still used by local residents. The State Gov has to realise they can’t have it all - housing, tourism which is a major business in the Southern Highlands & then a Plastic recycling industry within the community & village of Moss Vale.
Then the most major alarming possibility is FIRES - There have been 70 such fires in plastic facilities globally since 2019. 🔥🔥The Plasrefine site is just metres away from the Garvan Biomedical Research Institute - the only source of mice in Australia which are used for world renowned research into rare cancers and other diseases. Plasrefine would be 200 metres from residents, 2km from the centre of Moss Vale and situated on a riparian zone which feeds into Sydney’s Water Catchment. A fire would be catastrophic with toxins spread over homes, schools and into the water catchment. The nearest Hazmat teams are at least 45minutes away. Apart from this fire risk, plastic factories of this type are a threat to the health and safety of our community with the documented risk of emissions of micro plastics into air, soil and water. Our community should not be asked to carry these risks. We need Plasrefine to find a site more suitable for their factory further away from residents and fragile environments. I support the need for NSW to deal with plastic waste of course but this Is Not the Right Site.
Water usage also in question Plasrefine have now amended their daily use down from 40.5 kilolitres to 15.5 kilolitres - may tick their BOX on paper but I don't trust them and who is going to monitor their water usage? I expect the Council will with their water use levy however once they are in operation how on earth do we stop them using town water especially as we face yet another drought this 2023/2024 summer?
My morning walk with dogs for both my health and to support local businesses will be impacted by excess daily trucks - I don't believe Plaserefine saying that their drivers will have to stay on a set route. They say we can report them but HOW if the trucks to not carry a logo for Plasrefine. YOU don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that truck drives will find the easiest not congested route to and from the site.
This Plasrefine industry will most definitely impact the value of my property In Lytton Rd Moss Vale and of course 100's of other local residents too.
NOT THE RIGHT SITE!
NOT THE RIGHT SITE!
NOT THE RIGHT SITE!

I wish to express my formal concerns regarding the proposed site. My objections are outlined as follows:

Transportation Infrastructure:

• Insufficient road and rail networks, contributing to local congestion.

Environmental Concerns:

• Proximity to riparian lands within the Sydney Water Catchment.
• Airborne microplastics risk, affecting local residential and educational areas.

Impact on Child Care Facilities:

• The close location to daycare centres, including the one attended by my child, raises particular concern for our youngest residents.

Community Impact:

• Estimated 100 extra daily truck movements negatively impacting New Berrima residents.
• Strain on existing local roads and level crossings.

Fire Safety:

• Significant fire risk, compounded by limited local firefighting resources. This is particularly alarming given the proximity to daycare centres and educational institutions.

Public Health:

• Emergent health risks associated with microplastics.

Alternative Sites:

• Availability of more suitable locations in the state that would lessen adverse community and environmental impacts.

I strongly urge you to reconsider the site proposed for Plasrefine. The overriding community message is straightforward: "This is Not the Right Site.”

While I support recycling, the area chosen is too close to homes and water catchment area.
The environment is a rural area with unsuitable roads for the number of trucks etc that would use the site. The Southern Highlands is a very desirable area to live as well as a tourist destination. It’s not the right environment to have a recycling plant as proposed.
Very negative feedback and reports about the non Australian company.

I am extremely concerned that none of the concerns expressed by residents of the Southern Highlands about the unsuitability of this site for the proposed Plastics recycling factory have been adequately addressed and strongly support the submission made by Moss Vale Matters. Having a chronic lung condition means that I am extremely concerned about the impact on air quality driven home by the comments by The Garvan Institute of Medical Reseach "During plastics recycling there is the potential for both particulate and noxious gas emissions ... so any noxious gases have the potential to impact the respiratory tract of mice". This proposed factory is alongside suburban housing and would undoubtedly have the same impact on residents such as myself. Who will indemnify us if this project proceeds, in agreeing to approve this project will the NSW State government take this responsibiliity as given our current experiences it is unlikely the company will do this or be able to find an insurance company prepared to take on this risk.
I recognise the necessity of plastic recycling but this site is totally unsuitable for this proposed development,

We wholeheartedly support the inception of Plasrefine Recycling Pty Ltd's plastic recycling facility in Moss Vale, anticipating substantial local benefits. Paramount among these is job creation, vitalizing our community's economy and providing essential employment opportunities in these challenging times.
Furthermore, we are confident in the project's commitment to uphold the highest environmental standards. The innovative technologies promised by the facility ensure a virtually silent operation, negating noise pollution concerns that often accompany industrial endeavours. This consideration for local tranquillity is not just commendable; it's indicative of the project's broader respect for community welfare.
Equally important is the pledge that no waste emissions will pollute our air. This assurance, backed by cutting-edge recycling methods, not only alleviates environmental concerns but also reinforces the facility's role as a protector of local health and the natural beauty that defines Moss Vale.
In conclusion, Plasrefine's facility is more than an industrial project; it's a community enrichment initiative. We stand with them in their pursuit of a greener future, better opportunities, and a healthier community.

This is a great project, which helps NSW recycle the mixed plastic waste, turning trash to treasure.
It would be the largest plastic reprocessing facility in southern hemisphere and it's a significant step that NSW has been made for processing their own waste instead of transport overseas or go to landfill.
Plasrefine listen to the feedback of stakeholders and is trying hard to reduce the impact on environment and community by using the most advanced technology.
The final proposed haulage route is the ideal access option, which has the minimal impact on local community.
I am happy to know that there is more and more people support this project, in WCS and NSW.
Wish Plasrefine could get the approval and start to serve our society ASAP!

This kind of development is completely inappropriate for the edge of our town.
1. Environmental Impact: Plastics are notorious for their adverse effects on the ecosystem. The manufacturing process of plastics, as well as their improper disposal, contribute to the pollution of air, water, and soil. A plastic refinery would only exacerbate this issue by bringing additional potential hazards to our area. The release of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, such as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide, would be an inevitable consequence, intensifying global warming and climate change.
2. Extra traffic caused by trucks is a major concern and cannot be overlooked. These vehicles are essential for transporting goods and materials across long distances, but their presence in urban areas brings about numerous adverse effects. From environmental pollution to increased congestion, trucks pose significant challenges for towns. Caongestion caused by trucks in towns is a major concern. With their size and slower speeds, trucks often cause traffic jams and reduce the overall flow of traffic. This leads to longer commuting times for residents and generates frustration and stress. The increased congestion may also result in road accidents, as maneuvering around large trucks can be challenging for other drivers, especially in narrow urban streets. Additionally, the presence of trucks in towns creates noise pollution. The incessant sound emitted by truck engines and their frequent starting and stopping can disrupt the peace and quiet that towns usually offer. Noise pollution has been linked to various health issues, including insomnia, stress, and hypertension, making it crucial to address its sources, including trucks, in urban areas. Furthermore, the wear and tear caused by heavy trucks add to the deterioration of roads in towns. The load carried by trucks exceeds what roads are generally designed to bear. This leads to accelerated road deterioration, potholes, and cracks, which not only contribute to an unpleasant driving experience but also increase maintenance costs for the municipality. Repairing these damages represents a significant financial burden and diverts resources away from other crucial infrastructure projects.
3. Health Concerns: Plastics contain chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which are known to have adverse health effects. Inhalation, ingestion, or absorption of these chemicals can disrupt hormonal balance, impair the reproductive system, and lead to potential long-term health issues. By locating a plastic refinery in our vicinity, there is a heightened risk of exposure to these hazardous substances, particularly for the workers employed in the refinery and nearby communities.
4. Negative Impact on Tourism and Local Economy: Communities often rely on natural attractions, cultural heritage, and a pristine environment to attract tourists, grow local businesses, and uplift their economies. The presence of a plastic refinery would inevitably tarnish these assets, discouraging tourists and potentially deterring new investments. Visitors seek appealing environments and sustainable practices, making it necessary to safeguard the natural beauty and integrity of the region while exploring sustainable development avenues that do not compromise the environment.
5. Sustainability and Long-term Viability: Investing in a plastic refinery contradicts the global effort towards achieving sustainable development and green technologies. The world is gradually shifting its focus towards renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources. Instead of investing in outdated and polluting industries, it is crucial to promote modern, sustainable sectors, like renewable energy, organic agriculture, or biodegradable alternatives to plastic. A plastic refinery would lock us into an unsustainable and obsolete industrial model, compromising the long-term viability of our local area.
Conclusion: Preventing the establishment of a plastic refinery in my local area is of paramount importance for the environment, public health, and sustainable development. The risks posed by the release of noxious pollutants, health hazards, negative economic impacts, and hindrance to long-term sustainability reaffirm the need to reject such a project. The negative impact of trucks in towns is evident through the pollution they emit, congestion they cause, noise pollution, and road deterioration they contribute to.

Moss Vale and New Berrima are small towns within the Shire of Wingecarribee. The Southern Highlands is an area of outstanding natural beauty, farming land, family businesses, wine growing, a tourist destination, high standard schooling, water catchment area for Sydney and very significantly, an environmental area. The centre now for Koalas and preservation of same. Add to the Koalas, the platypus that lives in the Wingecarribee River. These creatures face extinction. This area is made up of small towns. It is not made up of industry. We have very small amounts of industry and quite rightly so. This is a mining free shire. Hume Coal finally conceded due to the need for the “gold” of Australia, Water. The country is once again going into drought, with 30% of NSW already in Drought. We live in a major bush fire zone, having lost many houses 2019/20 in both northern and southern villages. Given the fact that plastic plants are large fire hazards, exploding and polluting the area around, this has been well documented in the news recently, surely it is very foolish to put an already dangerous fire hazard, slap bang in the middle of this fire prone area. Traffic - Our towns already struggle to cope with traffic, the pollution and noise that accompanies a small town, would be further exacerbated by the continuous movement 24/7. 365 days a year of B doubles - we simply could not cope. A dedicated industrial site is the only answer for such an enterprise, not a small rural town with schools, homes and families along the various proposed routes. To conclude, this is madness.