Nowra Bioenergy Project

I object to the project due to the chance that when the wind blows from the nth east and east their would be a bad smell from the energy plant. This would effect our property in Nowra and also other businesses in Nowra.Also I believe heavy trucks on local road would damage these roads and be a risk to the public.

1. TRAFFIC
I have already complained to Shoalhaven City Council on several occasions regarding the number and size of the vehicles using Terara Road every day from as early as 3.04am. An additional aprox 65 vehicles per day is not acceptable. The current number of vehicles using the road is already causing ongoing damage to the country road and discomfort to residents.
2. FLOODING
Any additional development in the flood plain will have significant efffect on the water flow and water height in a flood event.Council has done nothing for years to maintain or improve the the drainage within the flood plain. Wash down drainage for at least 65 vehicles per day needs addressing to improve present drainage.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Thorough research re odour and impact on residents, Terara School, Nowra High School, Terara Caravan Park as well as several reception/wedding venues.
4. COST TO FARMERS
Farmers knowledge of on going costs to them regarding installing and operating the project.

There are a number of aspects of the development that i am opposed to
1. Increased heavy vehicle traffic and suitability of the existing road
Terara road is used by milk trucks and sand trucks (Terara Sand) . The sand trucks in particular are heavily laden.
On passing by our house, due to their size, speed and the poor condition of the road, these ruck cause the windows in our house to rattle, the house vibrates. Truck movement has a huge impact on residents of Terara Rd. Whilst 50 additional truck each movements a day compared to total vehicle movements might be small percentage increase, compared to truck movements it is significant.
The proposal does not seem to consider this. The road does not seem suitable for the present heavy truck traffic, as evidenced by its condition. The Council do not seem to be committed to its maintenance, as its poor condition has persisted for many years.
The additional traffic can only make its condition worse and the proposal assumes it is suitable when it it not.
The proposed need to demonstrate how it sustainable in its use of existing infrastructure - the road .
The proposal needs independent control of the quantity and speed of truck movements. Fixed speed cameras.
2. Noise
Whilst the proposal states the environment noise impact will be negligible, i don't have faith that this will be the reality or that this will be independently monitored for compliance. Whilst the operator may monitor, it will be in their interests to undertake that at times when they expect noise from the plant will be low. This is the case with the noise emitted from Manildra (Shoalhaven Starches).
Again, independent noise monitoring needs to be conducted and the process must be transparent to the community.

3. Odour
Again, whilst the proposal states that odours will be negligible, the fact is that dairies smell do to cow faeces smell. Transporting cows faeces from some 20 diaries to one location must present a risk of unacceptable odours.

4. Lighting
Industrial facilities tend to be illuminated all through the night. There is much that can be done with lighting systems to reduce the wider environmental effect of that whist still providing the lighting needs of the facility for safe operation.
Again, Manildra is an example where the lighting of an industrial facility has a massive effect on the local environment.
Where lighting is active at night, it needs to be low level, task orientated and screened with plants around the perimeter of the plant. Not flood lighting on poles

The Biogas Facility, to my mind, is not an environmentally innovative sustainable development.
The Biogas is highly toxic and can contaminate and pollute the air and water sources.

Terara Road has not been compatible with the ever increasing amount of large trucks. The road requires constant repair, especially after the smallest amount of rain. An extra 80-152 heavy vehicle movements daily through our small village on a dodgy road is significant. An extra 80-152 heavy vehicle movements does not seem like an innovative sustainable development.

There has been an intensification of development on the floodplain, an assessment of the the cumulative impacts of the development on the effects of flood behaviour and those risks needs to be done.

thanks and appreciation
sue

Objection Nowra Bio- Energy Project

Nowra Bioenergy Project has a lot of merit & the GHD EIS is very comprehensive & very detailed & appreciated.
I support the project.
Submission attached.
David Tate.

1. No evidence provided of air pollution ie. smell.
2. No mention of elevation plans showing height of plant.
3. No evidence of controls imposed, regarding future expansion of plant and equipment.
4. No evidence of visual effect on the landscape.
5. This development is on a flood plain that regularly floods ie. last year my property was ordered to evacuate.
6. Local authorities have recently abandoned plans for a bypass road to be constructed as no suitable base was found for same.
7. Without more information this project would be like storing garbage on the riverbank.
8. Check out Shoalhaven City Councils lower Shoalhaven river flood study, council reference 56554E (D22/223658).
In conclusion it is my opinion that this development could expand out of all proportions similar to Manildra.

As residents of Terara Village which is a Designated Conservation Area we are extremely concerned about the number of truck movements that will be required to facilitate this project. We are already subjected to massive heavy B double truck movements associated with the marina development at Comerong and the road surfaces are being torn to shreds on a regular basis because they were never constructed to tolerate that type of vehicle. Drainage from the roads is inadequate because the ditches that once facilitated it have been neglected and obliterated over time. These roads are regularly impacted by flooding and although passable for a truck the damage they do at that time is significant and a recurring burden for Shoalhaven Council's budget. There is a 50 k speed limit through the village that is seldom observed by any vehicle on the road. The vibration from these heavy vehicles also has a detrimental effect on heritage listed properties in and around the village. Using Terara Rd as the access to this project from 7am-7pm 7 days a week will make living in some properties almost insupportable. If most of the farms contributing waste to the project lie to the southwest of the proposed plant as stated in the proposal is it not possible to include an access road from the south constructed to a level of tolerance for the heavy vehicles and alleviating the village from much of the heavy traffic?
Your consideration of these comments would be appreciated.

Considering that Shoalhaven doesn't have a FOGO Green bin, I don't see how this would work, unless FOGO is imported from other councils, but it should come from Shoalhaven council itself, too

Reasons for objection:
1. Too close to Nowra CBD
2. Smell
3. Too many truck movements

Reasons for objecting to this includes a serious lack of detail and the number of unanswered questions and concerns

• Why – what are the reasons for this – what benefit will this bring?
• What impact will it have on air quality and smells across the area
• Why in this location and not where the tip is
• Where is the waste coming from
• How are they going to transport the waste on small local roads
• What about the impact on local businesses such as wedding venues and schools and amenities in the area

Reasons for objecting to this includes a serious lack of detail and the number of unanswered questions and concerns

• What impact will it have on air quality and smells across the area
• Why in this location and not where the tip is
• Where is the waste coming from
• How are they going to transport the waste on small local roads
• What about the impact on local businesses such as wedding venues and schools and amenities in the area

I am 82 years old and in poor health and unable to submit. Sorry.

Proposed site is too close to major shopping center of Nowra and Nowra CBD and surrounding residential area. The operating noise and smell will have significant adverse impact on Nowra, especially the neighborhoods around east of A1 highway.

As much as I believe the intention to create a bioenergy facility in the Shoalhaven shows initiative and future planning, I strongly believe that the location is poor decision. The reasons include;
1. Proximity to the Shoalhaven River and potential pollution that this could cause
2 The infrastructure surrounding 54 Terara Rd is poor, it is a on way each direction rd , and with an increase in traffic on a rapidly deteriorating rd this will continue to be worse and make access for local residents more difficult.
3. The effects that this site will have on surrounding businesses such as Terara riverside gardens, the effects including the noise and smell of the site. Terara Riverside Gardens is a successful wedding venue that provides a beautiful site for people to marry and brings people to the area, This business alone increases the Nowra economy just from people coming to the area , including accomodation, eating, everyday expenses, tourism ect. The economic benefits that a location like Terara riverside Gardens has on other local businesses such as Florists, catrering, Entertainment etc. There is a flow on affect of having a business such as this suffer.
4. effect of neighboring residents. The smell that a facility like this would generate would affect so many local residents.
5. The esthetics of the area would be affected. I would encourage the applicants of this development to consider the street appeal, Terara is the original township of Nowra and has a lot of heritage and cultural significance to the community, and maintaining this is of strong importance.
6. Terara is a high level flood location, the pollution that could be caused from waste being lost in a flood would be enormous and the ecological effects could be disaster.
Thank you for reading my submission, I strongly agree that it would be important to consider another location for this development.

I would like you to submit my concerns as an objection, with the following additions.
Terara is prime agriculture ground and should not be wasted on such a project, there are many acres of crown land West of Nowra that would be a more sensible site.
This site is within 500 mtrs of Nowra High School , K.Mart and the CBD.
Terara is now used as a bypass of the freeway through Nowra because of constant congestion. This already involves heavy vehicles, cars and caravans, residents from the new housing estates at Worrigee, the traffic is constant and consequently the road is in disrepair.
This area is all dairy and agriculture land and should be retained for which it is best suited, not trashed with such a badly thought through plan.
Obviously there is something in it for the local NSW council, as it is on council land.
I can not believe that any Planner would consider such a project so close to the CBD of Nowra, and heavy traffic congestion it is beyond common sense.
There are many more suitable sites within the Shoalhaven Shire, our town is already dying a slow death due to poor planning and administration by Local Council, they don’t need any help from you.
Please let common sense prevail.

I believe that this project will negatively affect the area and surroundings by increasing road usage to heavy vehicles and associated vehicles, directly impacting on the immediate area and surrounds. This will increase noise pollution and other types of unwanted side effects like emissions and waste disposal.
The associated infrastructure required would be an eyesore to this beautiful part of the landscape, which would also cause residents and tourists to not frequent the area.
The area proposed is in close proximity to residential areas, schools and tourist areas that will, in turn, have a negative effect on living standards and desirability of residents and tourists to dwell in the surroundings.
I believe that the proximity to residential areas is a primary reason to relocate this development or abandon it.
I also believe that this project is cost prohibitive and another source of renewable energy be more beneficial in the long term.

The information we have read about such plants being so close to residents are not favourable. Oue objection is fold.
Firstly the Health aspect:
we bought in the area for better living as i have breathing problems . The plant will use anaerobic means to break down the food and manure masses.The process will emit gases such as Co2 and CH4 plus smaller amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide and Hydrogen gas. The smell would be very unpleasant. We already have unpleasant smell coming from the Diary near by, where we need to close off windows to avoid smelling it, this in addition will make it worse and unbearable. I'm sure studies would show it would impact Flora and local Fauna.
Second fold:
the value of our properties will decrease, no one to wants to live near a smelly site.
We have invested our life savings to live in an area with fresh breathable air,open our homes to the beautiful breeze coming form the Ocean and Mountains.
This is a short snap shot of what the main objectives the residence would be submitting.
In short shoalHaven Shire is vast, there are many more areas where the Plant can be build that is more remote to residents, not right next door to us.
We hope these things will be considered when final decisons is made.

I am worried about where it will be close to the cbd schools and homes and the air quality. What will that do to the people that breathing problems what about the farming land maybe more in the bush away from. Homes and farms then it will be ok it already stinks with the water plant we have

As a local resident who received notification regarding this DA, I, along with the residents of Tee Close Worrigee, am concerned about the air quality and potential for harmful and hazardous odours. I have located the 135 page document Appendix 05 1. Air Quality Impact Assessment but feel that this document does not assist in easing the minds of local residents.
1. It is written in a complex and lengthy manner that does not assist in giving residents a clear answer on how safe this project really is.
2. What assurances do we have that the report content and "data" is not bias and has not been collated in a way to support the project. How do we know that the data is a true representation of what will occur should the development proceed?
3. Our estate which is located on the corner of Millbank and Greenwell point rd is NOT represented in any of the visuals. We are an estate of 19 lots with an estimated population of approximately 65 residents, ages ranging from infant to elderly.
4. Any wind from the direction of the proposed development will carry air contaminants in our direction. We do occasionally smell the sewerage plant and also manure from the local dairies so the emissions disclosed in your document are of great concern to us.
- CO carbon monoxide although no smell is highly toxic. Are we supposed to just trust we are going to be safe?
-SO2 sulfur dioxide omits a rotten egg odour and not to mention it can adversely affect a persons respiratory system and can harm plants and trees and reduce crop productivity.
- NO2 Nitorgen Dioxide smells like bleach and adversely affects a persons respiratory system
- Formaldehyde is highly toxic, even in low quantities causing eye, nose and throat irritation.
Further consultation with the local community surrounding this proposed development is required. Especially in regards to how ommissions will be measured and how residents can raise concerns with the site (if it goes ahead) when air quality is poor. I do not think it is fair for a project like this to be considered without making the time to address these concerns. The potential risk to the immediate area is far too high.
Please note that this is not an outright objection to the proposed development but may become one if the residents concerns regarding their own health and safety are not addressed in a clear and non bias manner. Might I suggest a community meeting to assist locals in understanding all of the data collected.
Awaiting a reply regarding this, preferably prior to the submission closing date so further responses can be made.
many thanks in advance for allowing residents to be heard and their concerns alleviated
regards