Community leaders in the Eunony Valley have amped up their campaign against ongoing proposals for a waste facility and entertainment complex in Bomen, saying developers will be at liberty to dump “almost anything”.
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Following an impassioned plea from a local winemaker, Eunony Valley Association president Bill Schulz has made it his mission to put both facilities under the microscope.
Mr Schulz says he has sought professional advice and now believes certain promises made by the developers are impossible.
“They’ve got a licence for non-putrescible waste but that includes bricks, lead paint, metal and basically anything other than asbestos and food-based waste,” Mr Schulz said.
“That beautiful warm fuzzy non-odorous and no dust scenario just isn’t possible when you’re putting in stuff like that.”
Mr Schulz also took a swipe at plans for the entertainment facility, arguing the allocated space would be ill-suited to large crowds.
“If they were to get that entertainment facility in the current zone, it would have to be on seven hectares,” he said.
“Suggestions they’re going to have an outdoor music festival for 35,000 would mean every person gets around one square metre.
“By the time you’ve put toilets and eating facilities in, people will be shoulder to shoulder.”
Eunony Valley Association treasurer Graeme Obst said the community felt “encroached upon” by development plans.
“This is a really nice part of the world and we’re just trying to protect our community,” he said.
“We’re not experts and we don’t fully understand but we sense there’s a problem with these proposals.”
Mr Schulz claimed developers had made no effort to meet with them since their initial community consultation.
However site developer Chris Egan strongly refuted the claim.
“We received positive feedback from our community consultations and anyone is at liberty to provide feedback in writing,” Mr Egan said.
“We have made an offer to Bill Schulz to meet with our team and we want people to understand that project will be done in accordance with the EPA.”
Mr Egan rubbished claims the Eunony Valley would be affected by runoff water, saying the development plans were “entirely safe” and “world class”, and voiced his frustration over the response.
“I think these criticisms are somewhat unfair, especially seeing as though most residents were positive during our community consultation,” he said.
“For starters, our plans incorporate a complete sub-landfill drainage system and water is captured on-site and dealt with there.
“The cost is extraordinary and this project will be done at a world class standard.”
