Blaxland Waste Management Facility Upgrade - Blue Mountains City ...

2. Material presentedKent Gillman of Blue Mountains City Council and David Gamble of GHD Pty Ltd madea presentation about the proposal to the entire group. This covered the following:BackgroundTwo waste management facilities are currently operating within the Blue Mountains(Blaxland and Katoomba) The landfill has been operating at Blaxland since the 1950’sIt is reaching the end of its life (18 months capacity)An extension to the Blaxland landfill is urgently requiredIn 4-5 years time, some wastes may be transferred from Katoomba WMF (when thislandfill is full)No wastes will be received from outside the Mountains (future landfill capacity isreserved for residents/businesses from the Blue Mountains)Proposed Upgrade WorksThere are three distinct stages to the upgrade of the site.Stage 1 – Landfill construction (covered by EIS)Extending the landfill area into an existing former quarry area on siteRelocating the Cripple Creek stormwater diversion pipe, which currently runsbeneath the existing landfill, and may not be structurally sound in the long termStage 2 – New facilities (separate approvals required)A new entrance/weighbridge, small vehicles recyclables and re-usables and wastedrop off area remote from the landfill are envisaged – to reduce the amount ofwaste sent to the landfill and provide better facilities for local residents (and keepcars on the bitumen)Stage 3 – Future long term outlook (4-5 years on)Transfer of some wastes from Katoomba WMF may be necessary when theKatoomba landfill closesAn alternative Waste Technology (AWT) plant may be built at the Blaxland site totreat the wasteReason for proposalThe proposal to extend the landfill is part of the overall waste strategy for BlueMountainsComplements existing programs – kerbside recycling, chipping, spring cleanup,household chemicals etc21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops3

Provides “breathing space” to investigate & implement alternative wastetechnologies (AWT)No upgrade means transporting wastes out of the region at very high cost toresidents (could be up to $150/tonne and rising)The proposal enables Blue Mountains waste to be managed within the MountainsImpacts of current operations Some leachate from existing landfill is entering Cripple Creek via stormwater pipe -action agreed with EPA under Pollution Reduction programPrivet and exotic species in the Melaleuca forest and surrounding bushlandThe landfill/old quarry are visible to some nearby residentsThe EIS community consultation thus far indicates odour, noise and traffic impactson nearby residentsLandfill operationsWaste is emptied from vehicles at the tipping face and a compactor drives over thewaste to compress itThe landfill is filled in layers with soil between them - at the end of each day, soil isput on top of the wasteRain falls on the landfill and drains to the bottom of the landfill. Leachate iscollected and treated so it doesn’t affect groundwater qualitySome of the waste biodegrades to form landfill gas. This gas can be managed byventing to atmosphere, “flared” or used to produce electricity (if sufficient gasavailable)SummaryLandfill space at Blaxland is almost exhausted - need to dispose of waste from theMountainsDisposal outside of the region is very expensiveStage 1 only involves extending the landfill into an existing quarryActions planned for Stage 2 and 3 will minimise the amount of waste being put intolandfill/reduce impacts from site/ improve facilities for local residentsOnly waste from the Mountains can go into the upgraded landfill (existing Councilpolicy)EPA licence conditions are strict - ensuring that landfilling operations are carefullymanaged (now and future)21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops4

3. Workshop OutcomesAfter the introductory presentation, participants broke into four groups to talk about theproposal. A facilitator from either BMCC or GHD assisted each group to segregate theissues into the five broad topic areas listed below:Air quality and odour;Traffic;Noise;Ecology; andOther issues.The issues raised by each of the groups in each area were then consolidated by thegroup facilitator (Margaret Harvie) and presented back to the whole workshop group.Word for word transcripts of the information provided by participants were put ontosummary sheets that have been reproduced below, for the morning and afternoonsessions. People attending the workshop confirmed the various list of issues asaccurate.During each workshop session, an exercise was carried out where each person wasgiven five stick-on dots and allowed to place these against the issues on the summarysheets that they felt most strongly about. It was explained to each group that all of thedots could be put against one issue or one or more dots could be put against a numberof different issues.It was also explained that the more dots put against an issue, the higher would be theperceived importance of that issue. This did not mean that issues without dots or withless dots were unimportant, but rather that those with more dots needed to be giventhe highest priority..Once all the dots had been placed, they were added up and the issues were ranked(first, second, third etc), the workshop facilitator summarised those issues with thehighest ranking in front of the entire group.The issues and the scores obtained are discussed below.3.1 Morning workshop 10.00 am – 12.00 pm3.1.1 Consolidated issuesConsolidated issues from each of the four working groups were arranged under thefive broad topic areas mentioned above.21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops5

IssueNumber of dotsMetal skip bins – empty / drop offOverall traffic noise in Attunga Road and Railway Parade 16 (1 st )Industrial area – noiseNoise from processing on site – changes monthly/types of rocks, etc 1Load thumping noiseMovement of equipment in early morning 1Ecology (morning session)IssueNumber of dotsConcerns with existing creek impact above and below tip 5 (equal 6 th )Downstream impacts on endangered speciesConcerns with feral animals 3Litter/plastic bags in bush and on streets from tip and passing trucks 3Affect on wildlife corridors and habitats 1Billabong above tip is full of sandVisual impact of facility – tip and quarry are visible to residents 3Birds seem not to comeLess fauna?Flannel flowers not presentOther (morning session)IssueNumber of dotsProperty values affected 14 (3 rd )Free tipping for local people (affected residents) 2Close the tip 10 (4 th )Other parts of the mountains should recycle more / treat waste 3Bush fire readiness needs improvement 5 (equal 6 th )Incentives for recycling / higher charges for not recycling 1Alternative sites inside mountains (ie coal mine) 6 (equal 5 th )No food/veg waste to be put in Blaxland tip – remove and treat (wormfarms, etc)Relocate proposed drop-off area 121/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops7

Installation of speed cameras at bottom end of Attunga Rd.Widening of Railway Parade, as there is no area for passing / parking etc.Use signage to ensure vehicles are in the correct gear for the hills (prevent stallingetc)Issue 3.Property values affectedThere was some discussion on the expectation that property values would decreasedue to the landfill remaining / being upgraded. Some residents said that they had beenadvised, at the time of purchase, that the landfill would be closed in a few years andthat this expectation was in their minds when they made a decision to buy their housesin the area.Mitigation measures suggested;Compare property values in the general area to the value of the properties in KoalaRoad, Attunga Road etc.Creation of buffer zones.Carry out property improvements.Provide rebates to owners.Issue 4Close the TipThere was a general discussion on “why should we (as local residents) be responsiblefor everybody’s rubbish”.Mitigation measures suggested; Look for alternative sites elsewhere within the Mountains area. Mine shafts aroundMt Victoria suggested, Barry McMahon of BMCC outlined potential obstaclesassociated with this proposition, such as that the underground mines would havecollapsed with no available void space remaining after the coal had been removed, dueto the mining technique employed. .Issues 5Alternative sites inside the mountainsThis discussion was mainly covered by the earlier discussion about the closure of theBlaxland site. It was explained to residents that hefty rises in waste disposal feeswould be required to transport waste to Sydney, due to the landfill levy (currently $20and rising by $1 each year) and the costs of transport and disposal. Overall costswould be of the order of $150 per tonne based upon work already done by Council tolook at alternatives.Issue 6Better technology to reduce wasteKent Gillman of BMCC provided a general overview of alternative waste technology(AWT). He pointed out that there have been some successes and also some notablefailures, such as the SWERF plant, with which Wollongong Council has a long termcontract.21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops9

3.2 Afternoon workshop 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm3.2.1 Consolidated issuesConsolidated issues from each of the four working groups were arranged under fivebroad topics.Air Quality and Odour (afternoon session)IssueNumber of dotsOdour management system is needed for old and new landfillOdour is irregular (changes monthly with the wind and in the mornings) 1Potential odour from extension 1Vehicle emissionsOdour from landfill noticed in Spurwood and bushland off SpurwoodDust in Railway Parade (some from landfill) 2Occasional odours in Koala RoadTraffic (afternoon session)IssueWilson Way railway bridge is too narrow – it will be worse with moretrucks/trafficRailway Parade is too narrow – it will be worse with more trucks/traffic,need cycle laneNumber of dots7 (equal 4 th )7 (equal 4 th )People do left turns off bridge into Railway Parade which is dangerous 5 (equal 6 th )Inadequate parking in Attunga Road for residentsBetter signage needed at roundabout and Attunga Road 1Concerns with size of trucks using roadsConcern with down hill curve east of Spurwood Road 2Attunga road traffic doesn’t give way – they pull out into Railway Paradetraffic1Speeding of vehicles in Railway parade 3 (equal 8 th )Location of bus stop in Railway Parade near Attunga Road isdangerousNeed an alternative, direct access to the tip 1Upgrade Koala Road for use as alternative accessEnsure Koala Road is not used as an access 221/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops10

Noise (afternoon session)IssueNumber of dotsReversing alarms 2Mulching equipment – mixed response 1Construction noise ????Operational noise – plant equipment 6 (5 th )“thumping noise” at different timesPumping noise at night (? No pumps)Phone bell ringing at night (?)Increase in traffic could lead to an increase in noise 1Ecology (afternoon session)IssueNumber of dotsFlora and fauna protection 4 (7 th )Billabong waterfall is silted up – can it be cleaned out? 3(equal 8 th )Infestation of exotic plants upstream of landfill 2Environmental side effectsFliesMonitoring of water quality downstream 1Need for independent monitoring of the tip 3(equal 7 th )Other (afternoon session)IssueNumber of dotsSize of the landfill 1Stop resident access to the tipAccess via fire trails 2Recycling incentive programs 15 (1 st )Visual amenity (able to see the tip) 3(equal 8 th )Property values will decrease 2Lack of trust that Council will keep their promises 5 (equal 6 th )Need for more landscaping on site 3(equal 8 th )More operations lower down (reduce noise)Consider alternatives (review those looked at previously 10 years ago)21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops11

IssueNumber of dotsExpanded recycling at kerbside and landfill 11 (3 rd )Close the Blaxland tip 14 (2 nd )Lighting from tip – impact on Railway ParadeClose off old area and rehabilitate before new area starts 3Increase dumping costs to reduce traffic3.2.2 Ranking of the issuesThe ranking of issue were as follows. Note there are more than 10 issues as therewere several with the same number of dots;Priority order of the top 10 issuesRankingIssue1 Recycling incentive programs (15 dots)2 Close the Blaxland tip (14 dots)3 Expanded recycling at kerbside and landfill (11 dots)4 – equal Wilson Way railway bridge is too narrow – it will be worse with moretrucks/traffic (7 dots)4 – equal Railway Parade is too narrow – it will be worse with more trucks/traffic,need cycle lane (7 dots)5 Operational noise – plant equipment (6 dots)6 – equal People do left turns off bridge into Railway Parade which is dangerous(5 dots)6 – equal Lack of trust that Council will keep their promises (5 dots)7 Flora and fauna protection (4 dots)8 – equal Speeding of vehicles in railway parade (3 dots)8 – equal Billabong waterfall is silted up – can it be cleaned out? (3 dots)8 – equal Need for independent monitoring of the tip (3 dots)8 – equal Visual amenity (able to see the tip) (3 dots)8 – equal Need for more landscaping on site (3 dots)8 – equal Close off old area and rehabilitate before new area starts (3 dots)21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops12

3.2.3 Discussion of the top 5 priority issuesIssue 1. Recycling incentive programsMitigation measures suggested;Increase cost of tips/garbage as incentive to recycle.Collect more products at the kerbside.Improve the kerbside recycling service/ information – items thrown back, not alwaysexplained as to why.Have kerbside recycling /collection for bigger items, for example scrap metal etc.Issue 2.Close the Blaxland tipThere was general discussion on this option and the upgrade of Blaxland being aforgone conclusion.Mitigation measures suggested;Close the existing tip now and get on with a whole new option/site.The cost of building the new facility should be spent on other, “better” solutions tothe waste issue.This option is only a “band-aid” solution. Compare the cost of taking the rubbish somewhere else with the cost of building /upgrading Blaxland.Kent Gillman of BMCC explained that BMCC had investigated a number of futuredisposal options including transferring waste to Sydney and other potential local sitesand had concluded that upgrading the Blaxland landfill was the preferred option for thenext 15-20 years, on the basis of cost and environmental considerations.He noted that it was not the “easy” option, as one of the residents had implied in theircomments. Kent also said that upgrading the landfill was not a band aid option butprovided a solution to a current problem, and the means to implement other measuresto reduce the reliance on landfill for the future.Issue 3Expanded recycling at kerbside and landfillGeneral discussion that this was similar to Issue 1 above. It was suggested that thereshould be more focus on the availability of facilities and incentives to increase recyclingat the landfill itself.Issue 4 Wilson Way railway bridge is too narrow – it will be worse with moretrucks/trafficThere was general consensus that the whole access route to the existing facility is toonarrow (refer to Issue 5 below also).Mitigation measures suggested;Build an alternative, direct access route from the Great Western Highway to thelandfill (an alternative route under the powerlines was suggested by one resident21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops13

ut private ownership of land along the route was one issue that becameimmediately obvious to another resident as a major barrier to this solution)Issue 5. Railway Parade is too narrow – it will be worse with moretrucks/traffic, need cycle laneThere was general discussion that the whole access route to the existing facility is toonarrow (refer to Issue 4 above also).Mitigation measures suggested;Use Council owned frontages along Railway Parade to widen the road.3.3 Summary of Actions arising / Reports back to the communityfrom the workshopA number of issues were raised by residents that have been investigated andaddressed could not be answered on the day, as they required more investigation.These issues and the responses from the investigations are reported below.Ringing telephone bell at night - No external telephone bell/ ringer etc is fitted onany of the Waste Management Facility buildings. It is assumed that the ringingnoise reported is from the industrial area.Reversing alarms on equipment - By mid March all permanent equipment on sitewill have "Smart Alarms" (designed to measure background noise and adjust thealarm output accordingly) fitted to replace the existing alarms.Sedimentation of billabong upstream from the Waste Management Facility – Aninspection has been arranged within the next 2 weeks with Council's Environmentalscientist to review options for clearing sediment from the billabong.Heavy equipment & equipment movements into/out of the Waste ManagementFacility – BMCC is actively investigating ways of reducing the occasional impacts ofmoving heavy plant to and from the site. The time when these movements canoccur are restricted by the RTA due to the size of the vehicles that carry themachinery. Various options to the current early morning movements are beinglooked at.21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops14

4. SummaryOn the whole the project team felt that the workshop provided a genuine avenue ofexchange between Blue Mountain City Council and the people that are most likely tobe directly affected by the proposed upgrade of the landfill. A number of participantsexpressed their gratitude that Council had taken the time to hold these workshops anddiscuss issues with the neighbours of the Blaxland Waste Management Facility.A number of issues not previously identified were highlighted by the workshop andthese will be directly addressed within the EIS. The proposal will be modified ormitigation measures included that will address as many issues of those raised aspossible. Financial and engineering constraints along with the differing ideas ofvarious stakeholders make it difficult to implement all suggestions raised. Council hashowever undertaken to work through each of the community’s suggestions.21/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops15

GHD Pty Ltd ABN 39 008 488 37310 Bond Street Sydney NSW 2000-T: 2 9239 7100 F: 2 9239 7199 E: sydmail@ghd.com.au© GHD Pty Ltd 2004This document is and shall remain the property of GHD Pty Ltd. The document may only be used for thepurposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for thecommission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited.Document StatusRevNo.AuthorReviewerApproved for IssueName Signature Name Signature Date01 M Harvie D Gamble Draft 19/2/0402 M Harvie D Gamble D Gamble 20/2/0421/12282/100563 Blaxland Waste Management Facility UpgradeCommunity Workshops