The announcement today that the Department of Planning has recommended to the Planning Assessment Commission that the Dial a Dump proposal for a giant 1.3 million tonne per year waste burning incinerator at Eastern Creek should be rejected is a welcome but not final step to kill off this unwanted, unwelcome and dangerous proposal for Western Sydney.

Labor Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali will introduce a bill into the Legislative Assembly that will ban the development of energy from waste projects anywhere in the Sydney Basin and place a moratorium on any future developments without further scientific examination and oversight.

There are still substantial gaps in planning and regulation when it comes to solving the human and environmental health impacts associated with the emissions produced by potential energy from waste incinerator facilities in NSW.

Labor’s legislation is the only way to ensure that another rebadged proposal does not come forward again for the Sydney basin and that the science of this technology is properly assessed before being introduced anywhere in NSW.

The Government has spent more than two years dragging its heels about the proposal while the community fought tooth and nail to stop it. The campaign against the incinerator generated a community-led petition against the project from 12,000 residents. The Legislative Council established an inquiry into energy from waste proposals and recommended that this proposal not go ahead.

Labor MPs from across Western Sydney campaigned strongly arm-in-arm with the community at rallies, writing submissions, holding street stalls and sharing vigils out the front of the NSW Parliament to have this proposal rejected.

The Berejiklian Government should never have allowed the incinerator proposal to reach this stage, especially when it did not have the support of the NSW Environment Protection Authority or NSW Health.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Environment Minister Penny Sharpe MLC 

“This recommendation to the Planning Assessment Commission is welcome, but without legislation it is not enough to stop these types of facilities being built in the wholly unsuitable Sydney Basin. 

“Labor will move to give reassurance to the people of New South Wales with a guarantee that the community will not have to fight off another proposal in the future.” 

Quotes attributable to Shadow Assistant Minister for Western Sydney & Member for Londonderry Prue Car 

“We don’t want any weasel words in Western Sydney – the Premier must stand up and unequivocally guarantee that this incinerator will not go ahead. 

“It has been a long and hard campaign to force the Government to see the light. Let this be a warning to them that the Western Sydney community will not be ignored or taken for granted.” 

Quotes attributable to the Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali

“Our community has had to fight tooth and nail to get this far to stop this project. 

“Labor’s bill will ensure that this toxic incinerator is stopped now and for the future.”