COUNCIL planners are recommending conditional approval of a controversial rail hub proposal for Goulburn at a meeting tomorrow.
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The development involves a timber treatment facility and associated infrastructure, including a rail hub at 67 Braidwood Road. Champion of the project, Chicago Freight’s workshop manager Mick Cooper is passionate about the hub and the opportunities it could create for Goulburn.
But the development has sparked concerns among nearby residents, mainly about the use of Methyl bromide to treat pine logs.
Under the proposal, logs would be treated in sealed shipping containers and left for 24 hours. According to the proponent, after this time the amount of Methyl bromide in the container is five parts per million, which will dissipate into the atmosphere upon opening.
The treatment facility will process up to 135,000 tonnes of timber per year and initially one train per week will come into the facility.
The DA attracted 20 submissions from nearby residents, including one petition with 14 signatures. Other concerns included an increase in traffic and noise.
In a submission, nearby resident Alex Fry objected to the way in which Methyl bromide would be released into the atmosphere.
“This is is not consistent with public opinion, which recommends recapture of Methyl Bromide at the end of the treatment process for destruction or recycling,” he wrote.
“It is not consistent with the clean, green image that Goulburn Mulwaree is promoting, as exemplified recently with the Tesla stations. The facility would be an eyesore with large scale cluster of trucks containers logs and handling equipment.”
Mark McEwan said in a submission that the use of Methyl bromide should be banned in Australia.
“It is destructive to ozone layer and a significant health risk to people,” he wrote.
Others claimed Methyl bromide was banned from use in most countries in the world and in parts of Australia, including Newcastle, Burnie, Altona and Bell Bay.
On Friday, Chicago Freight’s workshop manager Mick Cooper was at pains to allay residents’ fears, saying Methyl bromide used in the logs’ treatment been deemed safe by council and the EPA.
“It is safe. After we spray the logs, it stays in a sealed container until it reduces to five parts per million (ppm) before it is released into the air. I would not have my workers around it if it was dangerous,” Mr Cooper said.
“Yes it is ozone depleting, yes we have tried to find alternative substances, but this is the only substance that both China and India will accept and these places are the ultimate destination of the exported logs.”
Mr Cooper said the timber treatment facility is ancillary to the main business the company wants to establish, which is the rail hub and rail maintenance facility.
“The purpose of the development is to open up a rail hub in Goulburn,” he said.
“The fumigation of logs is ancillary to this, but we had to source this business to get the proposal off the ground. The logs are just the start. I have also had interest from a scrap metal business, another timber supplier (not pine).”
He said in terms of traffic, it would actually reduce the volume coming into town.
The trucks will come along Braidwood Road and park at CFCLA’s depot off that road, rather than coming into the city.
“The majority of the logs will be coming via the Braidwood Road. There will only be about 1-2 trucks coming into the city from the ACT via the Hume Highway and Sloane St,” Mr Cooper said.
“In terms of noise, the loudest noise will be that of the shunting of trains, which happens now anyway. So there will be no increase in the current noise. We will limit the shunting to between 7am and 5pm.”
Mr Cooper is passionate about the project and what it could mean for Goulburn.
“If this does not get up here it will go elsewhere,” he said.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for Goulburn; if it gets up Goulburn will boom.”