Woodlawn Advanced Energy Recovery Centre

I wish to lodge an objection to the proposed Woodlawn Advanced Energy Recovery Centre, Applic No: SSD-21184278 by Veolia Environmental Services Aust Pty Ltd.
Firstly my property is not serviced by town water. I am entirely reliant on rainwater collected from my roof for my water needs. Given my property is approximately 20K due east of Woodlawn by road and the strongest prevailing winds are from the west I will be severely affected by the emissions from this proposed incinerator. I have recently retired and planned to move to the property as my permanent residence but now I feel my health will be endangered if this proposal is approved. I simply do not believe there will be no adverse health impacts on surrounding residents, especially since Veolia is resisting calls for independent monitoring of toxic emissions from this facility. A similar proposal for an incinerator in 2018 at Eastern Creek Sydney was rejected by the NSW Independent Planning Commission as not in the public interest. Reasons included concerns about human health impacts, adverse environmental outcomes & insufficient evidence that the pollution control technologies would be capable of managing emissions.
Secondly, why should the interests of local residents in the region be sacrificed to deal with Sydney's waste issue?
Thirdly, land values will be severely impacted by the proposed incinerator. My property will become unsaleable in the future yet I'm not being offered any compensation of any kind for this by a company that stands to make millions of dollars profit.
It is for the above reasons that I object in the strongest possible way to this proposal.

My name is Tania Hadlow and I live in Collector NSW. I am vehemently opposed to the proposed incinerator being built in Tarago.
It is my belief that this incinerator will pollute the local environment. This pollution will affect the health of residents in the vicinity of the incinerator and impact the quality of life for everyone in the region.
The reasons for my concerns are as follows:
• Burning plastic contributes to climate change – it is not like recycling.
• The incinerator will be running 365 days a year and emitting toxic pollution into the air every day.
• This pollution includes gases and toxic heavy metal particulates which can affect lung and cardo function and possibly lead to premature death. The pollution will also impact soil and waterways and consequently affect livestock and crops.
• Contaminated food can lead to other health concerns such as cancer.
• The environmental damage will have a negative impact on future generations.
• There is insufficient evidence to support the safety of these incinerators.
• A similar proposal was rejected near Sydney as not being in the public interest. If it isn’t considered safe for Sydney, why would it be acceptable for the residents of Tarago and surrounds.

My name is Corinne, I live in the Illawarra and Bungendore is my home town where my parents reside. I strongly object to Veolias proposed incinerater being built in Tarago.
I believe veolias toxic waste incinerator will cause major health problems to people living in the rural area plus those residing in Canberra. It will not only cause health problems for my parents but it will decrease the value of their property and have a major negative effect on the community.
It is terrible for the environment as well as the animals. There is no need for it! There is already enough pollution on this planet and this is creating more. It'll be detrimental on my children's health and prevent us visiting our family and friends in Bungendore.
From Corinne a very concerned citizen

Tarago and District Progress Association has been instructed by the Community members of Tarago to submit an objection to the proposed Veolia Incinerator project. please find our objection attached.
Regards
Wayne Baynham
President
Tarago and District Progress Association.

I am writing to unequivocally object to Veolia’s proposed Tarago incinerator. My name is Sarah Hatcher, I live in Sydney and I am a frequent visitor to the Tarago / Bungendore area. That is why I am aware of this issue and why I am writing today.

The toxic pollution that Veolia’s incinerator will emit will be harmful to the people of the area, visitors, to the livestock and the land. It is unimaginable that in this day of environmental and climate concerns that such a thing would even be considered as a viable “solution” to dealing with waste. All this incinerator would do is pollute the environment, add to CO2 emissions and create a legacy of toxicity to our people for generations to come.

There are other ways to deal with our waste, but this is NOT one of them.
The Veolia incinerator must not go ahead.

Sarah Hatcher

I strongly object to the Woodlawn Advanced Energy Recovery Centre Proposal, Application No SSD-21184278, for the following reasons:
1. I own a rural property at Windellama which is approximately 22K from the proposed incinerator. Given my close proximity to the proposed incinerator and the strong prevailing westerly winds I will be directly affected by toxic fall-out from the incinerator. I completely rely on rainwater collected in a tank for my drinking water & therefore my health will be endangered by the toxic air emissions from the applicant's incinerator. I am not reassured at all by Veolia's claims that the air quality impacts will be 'negligible'. It seems they have no confidences in their assurances about the risk as they are not committing to air monitoring stations around the facility, such as local schools, homes and farms. This is unbelievable when we're dealing with such dangerous long term chemical residues. It seems Veolia is more than willing to compromise public health over many decades in their pursuit of company profits.
2. I've just spent 10 years and great resources rehabilitating my property. It's a long-term project for which I have received funding from South East Local Land Services funded by the NSW Govt. I've planted thousands of trees, and have worked very hard to improve the water quality of the creek as well as the health of the degraded soil on the property. The proposed incinerator will compromise all this work. It's heartbreaking.
3. On a financial note, the proximity of the proposed incinerator will severely devalue the market value of the property. Nobody will want to purchase a property which has been affected by toxic fall-out. How is this fair? There is absolutely no compensation being offered to local property owners by the applicants.

I regularly travel to Tarago where it is a second home. I am shocked to learn of this devastating, toxic and lethal proposal. I strongly object to Veolia’s proposed incinerator being built in Tarago. Further I understand the facts that this toxic incinerator poses a risk to my own health and wellbeing, my families, friends and communities which is greatly distressing that the NSW Government would even consider allowing such horrific risk and damage to us all - their people.

I believe that Veolia’s toxic industrial waste incinerator will not only greatly impact the environment, but also contaminate food sources, and make the people that vote for you and their children become sick - causing long-term illness which could lead to death. this proposed incinerator will see a downfall and destruction in the community’s economy, agriculture and real-estate. Further, there are existing mechanisms already in place that work effectively and do not harm the land, food, and people, so, there is no need at all to resort to a toxic, destructive and potentially lethal incinerator.

By approving this incinerator, the local government is sentencing its own community to a terrible and unrecoverable downturn, one that is catastrophic and could lead to killing its people.
There are many reasons for my objection:

Studies have proven incinerators are not proven to be safe at all and would not only have catastrophic impacts to nearby residents, but also distant residents. Further, with studies showing that there are 'significant' risk pathways for residents from this proposed lethal incinerator - why is the local government considering permitting such poison to impact its people and its children, particularly when there is no benefit at all to the community?

Veolia’s incinerator proposal will emit toxic air pollution 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for 25 years, which will permeate throughout the region from Canberra to Goulburn, Braidwood, Bungendore, Murrumbateman, Gunning, Marulan, Yass and more.

The NSW Government are aware and acknowledges in its own Energy from Waste Infrastructure Plan that waste incinerators effect human health stating “Populations can still experience health impacts when emissions are below the national standards, and for some common air pollutants, there is no safe threshold of impact”. It is outrageous that the NSW Government would consider permitting such a toxic proposal when they have full knowledge that it is toxic and lethal to its people, land and food.

The current landfill is sufficient in doing the job required and can continue to do so for many years – there is no reason at all to permit a toxic and lethal incinerator.

Further, the current landfill is not harming its people or land, rather it is supporting their way of life. There is absolutely no beneficial reason for the community to have a toxic and lethal incinerator, especially as the community is objecting to this.

This incinerator is in direct conflict with alternative development and growth in the local area. The incinerator will cease the development and growth of, local businesses, schools, agriculture, real-estate, economy, as well as destroying all the existing and thriving developments, and agriculture, and most importantly, it will begin to make the people and children severely ill and eventually could lead them to their death due to the toxins that it emits.
It is a known fact that Veolia’s incinerator proposal will release toxic air pollution 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for 25 years, spreading throughout the region from Canberra to Goulburn, Braidwood, Bungendore, Murrumbateman, Gunning, Marulan, Yass and more – this incinerator is a death sentence to the region and surrounding areas in every way.

And the NSW Government has full knowledge of all of these facts, including that the incinerator will emit pollution which includes, acid gases, toxic heavy metal particulates (mercury, lead cadmium) and persistent organic particulates (dioxins, furans, PCBs, PFAS).

Further, the NSW Government has full knowledge of the scientific facts that such toxic pollution can lead to decreased lung function, cardiac disease and death. In addition to polluting the air, dioxins and furans will accumulate in the surrounding environment over time in soil and water and are absorbed by plants, crops and animals. Further, food contaminated by incinerator toxins can cause cancer, miscarriage, infant deaths, developmental delays, reproductive issues, heart disease and respiratory impairment – and the NSW Government has full knowledge of all of these facts including that there is no benefit whatsoever to the people, the community or the land to have this toxic incinerator, rather it is simply a destructive machine where its toxic waste will be dumped and reach the Sydney water catchment – having catastrophic impact to millions, including to myself, my family, friends, neighbours and community - why would the NSW Government be willing to risk our lives ad livelihood?

The toxic waste and pollution will cause intergenerational and irreparable damage to the surrounding environment and the innocent people across the communities – this horrific and lethal legacy cannot be allowed to go ahead.
This toxic and deadly proposal has already caused significant damage to the surrounding communities mental health, as they experience increasing anxiety and depression. It is known that their health will only continue to decline if this toxic incinerator is approved by the NSW Government and where the community will continue to stress about when their health will begin to decline as a result of the toxicity emitted from the incinerator. The people will also be forced to cease their work, business and way of life as they barricade themselves indoors to try to shield themselves from the toxic and lethal pollution, essentially, destroying the surrounding communities.

There is no argument needed here, there is no lack of evidence either. It is logic and common sense - the facts are clear, and known to the NSW Government and the people and they are undisputed - there is no benefit to this toxic and lethal incinerator to the community, local economy, agriculture, environment, and real-estate – all that will result from this Incinerator is irreparable and catastrophic destruction to all that is in its path for generations to come – and with this full knowledge, the NSW Government, having been elected by the people, have a legal and moral duty to its people to put an immediate stop to this toxic and lethal proposal and protect its people lives and land immediately. The NSW Government also have to begin to provide services and support to the communities already impacted by such a horrific toxic and lethal proposal – the peoples mental health needs to be aided immediately.

I Will be following this urgent and imperative matter and am assured the NSW Government will prioritise the people’s health, safety and livelihood above a toxic and lethal incinerator that has no positive purpose, and where they will put a stop to this catastrophic proposal immediately.

This project should not go ahead due to the multiple negative impacts to not just the immediate area around the site but the extensive reach that this incinerator will have and the detrimental affects it will have on health, environment and property values in a massive area around it.
The incinerator will be burning (majority of the time) waste from Sydney. We let Sydney deal with the other affects it will have and if it’s so important, build the incinerator in Sydney instead and not in a beautiful, prime farming land of Goulburn and Queanbeyan Palerang areas. It will also have impact on as far as the ACT. This should not be occurring and it would be disgusting if it goes ahead.

My name is Matt Spackman and I live in Mount Fairy. I strongly object to Veolia’s proposed incinerator being built in Tarago.

I believe Veolia’s toxic industrial waste incinerator will pollute my area unnecessarily.
It is amazing and quite mind boggling to think in these modern times and with the highly researched and well know facts of environmental impacts of incineration the Government are allowing this project to go ahead.
This money should be put into developing a new environmentally and sustainable product to reduce rubbish and materials which are not required to be incinerated.
I feel if this project goes ahead it has the potential to set a precedent to allowing future projects to be established in a other regional areas throughout Australia, hence, creating a "dumping the big cities rubbish in the regional areas" practice, and this is just not good enough.
This is an opportunity for the NSW Government to lead the way in to trying look for environmentally friendly solutions going into future.
In addition to this issue, it also has the potential to effect property value in the area.

I am based in Canberra, ACT but I have a farm in Lake Bathurst, NSW where I spend at least 50% of my time.
I strongly object to Veolia’s proposed incinerator being built in Tarago.
I believe that Veolia’s toxic industrial waste incinerator will poison the local area and destroy my ability to farm here and my property values.
I also believe that it will contribute to climate change by emitting greenhouse gasses and that it is false for Veiola to claim that incineration is better for the environment than landfill when landfill is done properly the way they already do it.

I live in Goulburn. I strongly object to Veolia’s proposed incinerator being built in Tarago.

I believe that Veolia’s toxic industrial waste incinerator will destroy the quality of not only my life, but my entire family who live within the local vicinity of this proposed incinerator. 230
If this proposal goes ahead we will be subjected to the emission of toxic air pollution throughout our region from our nations capital Canberra, though to Yass, Goulburn, Braidwood, Gunning, Marulan, Murrumbateman and Bungendore, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the next 25 years.
There are many reasons for my objection, such as
The incinerator toxins will lead to food contamination known to cause a multitude of health concerns like cancer, respiratory impairment, infant death, heart disease, reproductive issues and miscarriage. These are not minor issues, they have a devasting impact on the person suffering the conditions caused by the incinerator toxins, as well as their extended families.
In these days of changing rules and obligations to reverse climate change it beggars belief that such an incinerator would even receive consideration. The emission of 140,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each and every year, for the next 25 years is a complete contradiction of the NSW government commitment to Net 0 emissions by 2030.

Please find my objection to this proposal attached

See attached submission.

My name is AJ and I live in Queanbeyan. I strongly object to Veolia’s proposed incinerator being built in Tarago.

I believe that Veolia’s toxic industrial waste incinerator will be detrimental to the health of not only the local people but also the native flora and fauna as well as the agricultural industry. Burning unknown materials and allowing the emissions out into the atmosphere is simply disgusting.

Why should a rural region take on the waste and health impacts of a large city. Sydney should look after its own waste. If it was too problematic for Sydney, then moving the problem to a rural community with a smaller population able to voice their concerns is unethical. But most importantly, in this day and age with advancements in technology and scientific knowledge, why are we burning waste in this manner at all? We can do better for our planet.

I object to the continued approach of the NSW Government to an "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" approach to the management of Sydney's waste problems and the dumping of these issues onto rural communities such as Tarago. This isn't just vacant land that no one lives on, this is our community and we moved here for a reason. How about Sydney managing Sydney's waste streams just like we do, currently there is no incentive for Sydney to do anything to reduce waste.
Come for a drive down to Tarago and look at the state of our roads. I have already had one vehicle damaged by potholes caused by trucks. This project will increase the already dangerous numbers of trucks on Tarago's narrow and poorly maintained rural roads. I saw nothing in the project submission that suggested an approach to address road maintenance.
Already Tarago experiences odours from the current Veolia operations and this project will simply increase the amount of garbage arriving in Tarago, and intensify the odour problems.
I came to Tarago for the country lifestyle and the project will likely pollute the surrounding air, waterways and land with dangerous toxins such as mercury, lead and persistent environmental pollutants such as dioxins. This will likely pose serious health risks for nearby residents, myself and anyone drinking water from the surrounding water catchment or food produced nearby putting dangerous toxins into the human food chain (See source 3). Tarago and the surrounding region is a big agricultural producer of lamb, beef, chicken, wine, and other human food and livestock feed and in particular I came here to be abler to grow my own fresh produce. Reduce waste at the source do not pollute where I live.

My name is Susan Harrison and I live in Canberra. I am a tax payer and individual that wants reform on pollution. I object to Veolia’s proposed incinerator being built in Tarago.
The reasons for my objection are:
- the region is a 'clean air' region and does not need additional pollution
- people chose to live in the region (not in Sydney) because of they can breath clean air
- pollution into the air is a global issue and current trends are to avoid/reduce the impact of this type of pollution
- burning large amounts of waste produces masses of air pollution
- proactive prevention is the answer to reducing/avoiding pollution - not burning to create more
- spend your money on reducing waste - not burning it

This is not for the better of the community.