NSW Labor has introduced a private member’s bill into State Parliament to prevent an energy-from-waste incinerator being built at Eastern Creek.

The bill, from Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali, places a moratorium on any other waste-from-energy proposals until further research can be conducted and technology is better regulated within the planning system.

Residents in Western Sydney will be exposed to potentially deadly pollution from this plant if the proposal by Dial-A-Dump is allowed to go ahead. The controversial proposal by a Liberal party donor is currently going through the NSW Planning system. If approved, the incinerator will burn through 552,000 tonnes of waste per year which could be doubled to over 1 million tonnes per year if all stages are approved.

The Environmental Protection Authority and NSW Health do not support the current proposal.

The bill will amend the Environment and Planning Assessment Act 1979 to establish:

• A no-go zone for energy-from-waste sites within the Sydney Basin
• A moratorium for the rest of NSW until further research is conducted on appropriate exclusion zones
• A Standing Expert Panel on energy-from-waste technology to advise the Minister on technology before any moratorium can be lifted, including a role for the Chief Scientist to provide advice and recommendations on a range of issues

NSW Labor has already tabled to State Parliament a petition of more than 12,000 signatures of residents in Western Sydney whose homes, schools and businesses will be directly affected by the incinerator. The petition will force a debate in NSW Parliament.

Quotes attributable to NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley 

“NSW Labor shares the concerns of people in Western Sydney who will be directly affected by this overwhelmingly unpopular incinerator. This bill would protect them. 

“Why should people be forced to endure toxic pollution from this potentially deadly plant because of their post code? This government would never enforce it on the homes, schools and shops across the North Shore.” 

Quotes attributable to Shadow Environment Minister Penny Sharpe 

‘The energy from waste proposal has no support to proceed except from the Berejiklian Government. 

“Given the Berejiklian Government’s refusal to stop this proposal to go ahead, Labor’s bill will stop this proposal in its tracks.” 

Quotes attributable to Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali 

“It is time the NSW Government listens to the concerns people who will have to breathe in these toxic fumes on a daily basis- this bill along with the petition should be enough indication for them to dump it.”