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State Significant Development

Determination

Eastern Creek Energy from Waste Facility

Blacktown

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Assessment
  6. Recommendation
  7. Determination

The Applicant has appealed the IPC's refusal of the proposal in the L&E Court. The Court has allowed the applicant to amend its application and ordered it be exhibited on the Major Projects planning portal. The exhibition concluded on 21 June 2022.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

Request for SEARs (1)

SEARS (1)

EIS (62)

Engagements (1)

Response to Submissions (139)

Agency Advice (8)

Assessment (7)

Amendments (7)

Recommendation (2)

Determination (3)

Approved Documents

There are no post approval documents available

Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.

Complaints

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Enforcements

There are no enforcements for this project.

Inspections

There are no inspections for this project.

Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.

Submissions

Filters
Showing 21 - 40 of 50 submissions
Name Withheld
Object
ROOTY HILL , New South Wales
Message
I support the submission by Blacktown City Council, which opposes the construction of a large energy from waste incinerator at Eastern Creek.
I don't believe this will be in the best interests of residents living near/around the area, and will potentially introduce additional health issues to residents.
Margaret Buckham
Object
BLAXLAND , New South Wales
Message
I object to allowing mixed waste to be burnt. This will release multiple pollutants into the atmosphere in the centre of a inhabited area.
Name Withheld
Object
RIVERSTONE , New South Wales
Message
I cannot believe we are having to tell you again that we do not want this waste facility at Eastern Creek. We have objected so many times. We do not want any rubbish being burned with pollution to all the surrounding suburbs. It will be close to schools and surrounding suburbs causing more asthma and health issues. It has been shown to be a huge health hazard and pollution, time and time again. Please stop this from going ahead once and for all. It is not a safe way to deal with refuse. I don’t want to be putting submissions in every 6 months. We do not want this project ever.
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I totally object for this incinerator to go ahead and be built
My home is only 800 metres away from this site and I am fearful for what dangetous toxins will come out of this incinerator.
The air we will be breathing would be unsafe for my family, surrounding schools and all of the community.
Studies have shown that it is unsafe and I dont understand why they are still trying to make this happen and why the government has not put a stop on this once and for all
Peoples lives should come before profit.
The community fought hard 5 years ago to stop this from going ahead and we will do everything we can to stop it again.
Name Withheld
Object
WINMALEE , New South Wales
Message
I believe this waste facility will pose a significant health risk to the local population who already experience poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes.
1. The waste facility proposal states "The Proposed facility may release substance to atmosphere, which have the potential to harm human health" confirming this incinerator is dangerous to health.
2. The Incinerator is proposed to burn 1.3 million tonnes of garbage each year on completion. (Stage 1 & 2)
3. The incinerator would emit dangerous emissions such as; Particulate matter (PM), arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, mercury, dioxin, furans, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Fluoride, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, POPs, PAHs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the next 30+ years.
4. There will be two incinerator stacks per stage, on completion this incinerator will have four stacks pumping out emissions.
5. A study completed in November 2017 has found that living near a waste to energy incinerator carries the same health risks as second hand cigarette smoke. Source: https://www.cbf.org/document-library/cbf-reports/thurston-wheelabrator-health-impacts-2017.pdf
6. Family homes are only 800 meters from the incinerator site.
7. Three schools are within 1.8km of the site.
8. Sydney's basin shape means it traps pollution. Adding an incinerator to Western Sydney, where the air quality is already poor, is a human right issue. Families already affected with respiratory issues such as asthma, will be severely impacted by an incinerator, putting an additional impact on the health system.
9. Prospect Reservoir is 5km from the incinerator site, which forms part of the drinking water for 6 million people in Greater Sydney. Putting our drinking water under threat of contamination.
10. The Incinerator will use the bioretention basin to filter waste water, silt and sediment from the incinerator, the EIS states "An outlet from the basin will discharge into the existing Ropes Creek tributary to the south of the site". This practice would put the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system, an important natural asset and one of the largest coastal river catchments along the NSW coastline at risk. Its waters support agricultural and horticultural industries that generate more than $1 billion annually, including $259 million of irrigated agriculture which supplies much of Sydney's fresh food.
11. The incinerator would produce 450,000 tonnes of toxic ash every year that still needs to be landfilled.
Abby Dabit
Object
ST CLAIR , New South Wales
Message
We do not need 24hours, 7 days a week of toxic airflow in our backyards.
Our air is already polluted without adding the extra rubbish and would prefer to keep it “clean” for our future generations.
I would suggest the incinerator be located in regional NSW where it is less populated.
Tamara Tanu
Object
ST CLAIR , New South Wales
Message
Waste incinerators emit high levels of CO2 and pose catastrophic health risks to the surrounding communities who already have some of the highest rates of asthma in the state. The proposed site is too close to residential areas, too close to schools. Incinerator emissions produce dioxins which cause cancer, adverse impacts on the respiratory system, heart disease, immune system effects, increased allergies and congenital abnormalities. They are also hazardous to the environment. Gases from incineration cause air pollution and contribute to acid rain, while the ash from incinerators could contain heavy metals and other toxins. Surely this cannot align with the new government's commitment to climate change! Approving this project is the same as saying that the surrounding communities and the environment are disposable. And we are not. This project is short-sighted, irresponsible and criminal. It was rejected in 2018 for a reason and we need to defer to the community opinion which is to reject it, expert opinion such as EPA who do not support it and NOT corporate greed.
Denny Pinheiro
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I strongly oppose plans to build an Energy from Waste plant at Eastern Creek.

There are still significant information shortfalls in the EIS, including the source of the waste and the inability of the applicant to guarantee procedures and processes that satisfactorily demonstrate how all industrial waste will be appropriately sorted.

They are still to guarantee that their predictions of low emissions are valid and achievable.

The incinerator proposal fails to comply with the area's zoning requirements and is therefore prohibited.

It will have a significant impact on critically endangered ecological communities.

Furthermore the location and design of the Energy from Waste plant fails to encourage a high standard of development.
Trevor Govender
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
This is a major heath risk and a total disregard of human rights for the Western Sydney Residents. We have previously successfully objected to this development with substantial evidence showing this project will adversely affect the health of residents. Why is the application being entertained.
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project because I’m fearful of the unknown health risks this Energy from waste facility will cause.
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
Build it somewhere else away from people
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I have previously objected to this proposal and I continue to object to it.

This proposal has previously been through the authorities and was not permitted to due a number of reasons, including; feedstock, pollution, health risks and noise.

The NSW government have misled the communities affected by this proposal by saying that incinerators for EFW cannot be build in metropolitan Sydney. The fact is these buildings should not be built anywhere. They pose extraordinary risks to the communities where they are built. This is seen in statistics from overseas locations.

I continue to oppose the operation and development of this structure. It is in close proximity to schools, businesses and homes. It is also in close proximity to Sydney’s water supply (prospect reservoir), outdoor venues (Sydney zoo, western Sydney parklands, Sydney Motorsport park etc). These venues are meant to attract usage due to their outdoor and environmental enjoyment, how can they be enjoyed with the health risks associated with a EFW incinerator?

Residents of surrounding suburbs of incinerators overseas have been exposed and show increased cancer rates. As a parent of 3 young children I don’t feel that this building is the right thing for western Sydney. We already have such poor air quality and my children and I experience asthma as it is. This will only exacerbate our illness.

The proponent and their associated businesses (bingo waste) have a proven track record of non compliance and neglect. Most recently (even while they’re trying to push through this application) they’ve been identified as being responsible for an abhorrent stench which has plagued surrounding suburbs for months. They had to spend $1M to “rectify” the issue, which has reappeared and is again being investigated by the EPA. This is just their most recent issue, they’ve had many previous WHS/EPA issues.
How can the community and government trust and expect them to maintain their “standards” in accordance with what is required?

Residents of western Sydney work hard to provide for their families. Personally my wife and I have worked tirelessly to purchase our house in Minchinbury and provide for our family. We’re finally in a financial position which is positive. Building these kinds or structures will diminish the value of our property and our quality of living. It will affect future generations, in that what we’re providing for our children will be affected. It will mean our children won’t be able to enjoy their backyard, parks and playgrounds.

These projects have no place in NSW, metropolitan or regional. To build these structures in the regions is erroneous also, because this is where our food bowl is. The pollutants are proven to be absorbed by animals and crops. To allow these buildings anywhere is ridiculous and future generations will hold the current authorities to task for their failings when they have to deal with the adverse health risks, waste that takes concrete encasing and pollution that you’ve allowed and caused.
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I oppose the application for an incinerator in western Sydney. This plan, if approved, is bound to have negative impacts on the general health and wellbeing of the local residents, and especially our children. I trust the authorities will exercise their duty of care to all residents and deny the application once and for all.
Name Withheld
Object
Minchinbury , New South Wales
Message
The company behind this cannot currently provide a safe environment for their current facilities ( the smell is unbearable and you are unable to go outside) and yet they want to build an incinerator right on top of our suburb.
Money talks and as usual the western suburbs are sacrificed so the big end of town gets what they want.
How about we put it in the eastern suburbs or the northern beaches and see if it gets the go ahead then - it won’t.
Stop dumping all of your rubbish on our doorsteps, stop polluting our air. We are all human beings who work hard, pay taxes and deserve a nice community to live in.
So how about Bingo and The Next Generation Incinerator ( also Bingo) go shove their incinerator stack where the sun doesn’t shine and fuck right off and let us live our lives in air that we can actually breathe without gagging constantly.
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I live in minchinbury and the smell from the current garbage removal is intolerable. It penetrates the house keeping us locked inside when we are at home. We have to drive to other suburbs to exercise- this is ludicrous that we can’t exercise in our otherwise beautiful neighborhood . Our health is worth far more!
Vasim KARKUN
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
We just bought our first home here in Minchinbury area about 6months ago with our hard earned money to live in lovely Neibourhood in wonderful community. Suddenly after few days of moving in house every night and early morning we smelled like we are in leaking toilets around us. Of course we deserve to live in fresh environment without pollutions around us. Myself with my wife and my two young kids (6yrs & 2yrs) strongly against this project development. Please give us pollution Free environment to live here in beautiful Minchinbury. We are really much worried about our kids health and wellbeing.
Name Withheld
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
Studies in the past have proven that it will be unsafe for incinerators to be built close to residential homes. I fear that the toxic fumes will be harmful for my family and the community .
The people of Minchinbury and surrounding areas do NOT want this and have been fighting against this proposal for years.
We do not understand why after being rejected so many times they are still allowed to try and have this incinerator built.
They are just thinking of dollars and not the health and safety of the community.
We need the Government to finally hear us and stop this proposal once and for all.
Jeney Mark Aiyathurai
Object
ERSKINE PARK , New South Wales
Message
we are living very close to the Eastern creek energy waste facility. this project will cause harm to our house hold and future generations. i have 2 young children i completely object to this project as its will pollute the air, soil and waterway.
Peter Cleveland
Object
MINCHINBURY , New South Wales
Message
I am disgusted that this is back on the table. We live with the constant smell and noise from the existing facility and now need to fight for our Family and neighbour's to keep this killing machine out of our backyard
We already deal with pollution from the M4 motorway and Great Western Highway, Sydney Motorsport Raceway and soon from Badgerys Creek airport, enough is enough. Why are we subjected to all of this and why are our Neighbors in Minchinbury crying about this when we meet them at the local shops or park.
Our water supply at Prospect is one of the biggest threats. This catchment will be directly affected by any emissions from this Eastern Creek facility and this alone should see the project rejected immediately. Details regarding the Companies operations do not satisfy me at all and once approved, we will have a constant fight, as we currently do, for them to keep to the promises and regulations. We do this daily now and denials and ignorance is exhausting to live with. The worst is that they accept a reported issue and pay a pittance in fines which allows them to continue to break the law and get away with it. This is an enormous slap in the face.
Please consider us. Yes, we live in Western Sydney but why does that give this Company the right to treat us as second class citizens.
Name Withheld
Object
ERSKINE PARK , New South Wales
Message
The waste management is poor, when driving through Eastern Creek there is a disgusting stink, I can also smell it from my home in Erskine Pk, I object to any increase of refuse to the Eastern Creek location, my family and I suffer from asthma, when the stink lingers around Erskine Park my family and I have to increase our asthma medication,
If possible I would like the Eastern Creek Waste Facility to close and relocate somewhere else, driving past the Facility heading south there is a strong stink, once I have driven past the stink goes away, I don't see why in this day and age people have to put-up with this stink, I don't know what I'm breathing in, is the stink toxic? Is the stink cancerous? I worry about my family getting sick because of this, I worry if this is approved my house value will decrease,

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-6236
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Waste collection, treatment and disposal
Local Government Areas
Blacktown
Decision
Refused
Determination Date
Decider
LEC

Contact Planner

Name
Sally Munk