A controversial proposal for a waste management centre to be developed at a former wool combing facility in Bomen will be decided on in coming days, with locals nervously anticipating the outcome.
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The development submitted by developer Riverina Warehousing Solutions hopes to transform effluent evaporation ponds on the former industrial site, formerly used for wool scouring, into landfill holdings for non-odorous waste from Visy in Tumut.
First proposed in 2017, the Bomen development has met with resistance from landowners and community members in the adjacent Eunony Valley who fear runoff from the site could potentially contaminate downstream waterways including the Murrumbidgee River, or two aquifers that sit beneath the site.
Following extensive public consultation and planning, a final report from Wagga City Council has recommended the development be approved, finding it is suitable for the site and is in the public interest.
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The report will be presented to a public determination meeting held by the Southern Regional Planning Committee on October 19 at 11am.
Members of the Eunony Valley Association will speak at the teleconference next week, and said they can't believe the proposal is being seriously considered after years of protest.
Peter Fawcett is a landowner on Windmill Lane in Bomen. He said the community is "extremely nervous" about the upcoming determination, and remain concerned about potential contamination of their land.
"Our concerns with the development is contamination with the aquifers that flow under the development," he said. "Quite a few of us [also] have domestic bores for stock feed, gardens and domestic purposes downstream from this development and we're very concerned about contamination of those. There's no guarantee it won't happen and it's just not good enough."
The former facility on the site, the wool combing factory, was reportedly flooded and prompted toxic runoff in the 1990s.
Riverina Water raised concerns in initial planning stages about the site's upstream location to the catchment area, but acting CEO Bede Spannagle said they were happy with the water management proposed in subsequent planning documents.
"We [initially] made comments along the lines that certain protections need to be put in place to ensure the surface water and groundwater are protected from any spillage offsite from the facility," Mr Spannagle said. "We understand the applicant has addressed that with the EPA and we are comfortable with what they have put forward."
In response to contamination concerns, the Environmental Protection Agency have determined the site must be a nil runoff site, with storm water management systems to be put in place by the applicant required to prevent any runoff from the site.
Residents are not convinced, however. During the planning process, two public exhibition periods saw a total of 63 unique submissions made to council opposing the development.
While the final report found the concerns were addressed in the final planning proposal, president of the Eunony Valley Association Bill Schulz said he didn't feel their questions had been answered.
"We don't believe there is anywhere near enough detailed information for the planning panel to approve this at this stage," Mr Schulz said. "Well be arguing n there needs to be much more independent due diligence done to approve something as delicate as a rubbish tip."
Mr Schulz said the proposal must be considered carefully by all residents of Wagga and surrounds, saying it could have "multi generational repercussions".
"The members of the Eunony Valley Committee live adjacent to it and so we are close to it emotionally as well as physically, but should the underground aquifer or the Murrumbidgee River get contaminated then the wider community will become very aware of it," Mr Schulz warned.
"The Murrumbidgee area is the food bowl of Australia. What are the chances of there being an impact and are we prepared to take that risk?"
Riverina Warehousing Solutions declined to comment ahead of the determination.
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