Two council meetings next week are expected to draw strong community interest.
Councillors will resume their deliberations over Wakefield Park Raceway's development application on Tuesday, July 13. It follows the adjournment of a six-hour meeting on June 22 about the raceway's plans for more infrastructure, recreational events and to formalise the terms of an earlier noise prevention notice.
The council adjourned the June meeting for more information on 18 points, including investigation of Phillip Island racetrack noise, pre-race activities and start-times, changes to the operational regime and compliance conditions.
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The controversial DA drew 18 speakers on both sides of the debate at that forum. However Mayor Bob Kirk said there would be no public forum next Tuesday.
Two days later, councillors will discuss Jerrara Power's request to the state government to issue Secretary's Environmental Requirements (SEARS) for its proposal. The company wants to build a $600 million waste to energy plant at 974 Jerrara Road, Bungonia to accept up to 330,000 tonnes per year of Sydney's residual municipal, commercial and industrial waste.
That plan has struck strong community resistance and the council has taken a stance against the number of such facilities proposed for the area. Veolia Environmental Services has also applied for a $600m waste to energy plant at Woodlawn, near Tarago. Cr Kirk previously said Goulburn Mulwaree should not be "the dumping ground" for Sydney's waste.
He and general manager Warwick Bennett met with a Department of Planning, Industry and Environment representative on Thursday to request that no further SEARS be issued for such facilities until the state government formed a firm policy. This was in line with a June 15 council resolution.
However the department advised late last week that agencies, including the council, would have until July 15 to lodge their response to the company's request for SEARS.
"Our request hasn't been implemented," Cr Kirk said.
"We can wish it was otherwise but that won't change anything."
Cr Kirk said a report would go to the Thursday, July 15 meeting outlining all the issues the council wants considered. These include water, transport, human, animal and biodiversity health impacts, the site's suitability and the effect of a 30 to 40 metre easement for a 66 kilovolt transmission line, and the waste source, among other factors.
The Mayor has written to residents requesting their feedback as well. They and Jerrara Power will have the opportunity to address Thursday's meeting during open forum but must register first.
Both meetings start at 6pm and will be webcast. They will be followed by the council's ordinary meeting on July 20 which is expected to be voluminous given it is the last gathering before the caretaker period and September elections.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
