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New waste and recycling plants will be banned in Fyshwick under an ACT government bill that sounds the death knell on two controversial projects. Planning Minister Mick Gentleman introduced the bill to the ACT Legislative Assembly on Wednesday morning, declaring large-scale waste developments were “not suitable for operating in Fyshwick”. The local business association has welcomed the looming ban, saying it recognised the “overwhelming tide of opposition” to the major waste projects earmarked for the suburb. The proposed laws – which are all but guaranteed to pass – would prohibit the ACT Planning and Land Authority from accepting applications to build new waste management developments in the suburb, including recycling plants, landfill sites and hazardous waste facilities. The authority would also be required to reject already lodged applications. Existing plants would be allowed to keep operating, but they would not be able to expand. Mr Gentleman’s bill dooms two major, highly controversial proposals: Capital Recycling Solutions’ plan to build a waste processing development on Ipswich Street and Hi Quality Group’s resource recovery plant on Tennant Street. The bill is not a surprise. Prior to October’s ACT election, Labor declared it would oppose Capital Recycling Solutions’ plan if it was returned to government. The Liberals also signaled their opposition to the project, while the ACT Greens called for a moratorium on all waste facility approvals in Fyshwick. Labor and Greens formalised their stance in their parliamentary agreement struck after the October 17 poll, confirming the government’s intention to have new waste facilities built in Hume. Mr Gentleman told the chamber on Wednesday morning that there would be some exemptions, or “carve outs”, to the ban, with the government to look at what types of waste projects might be allowed in Fyshwick in the future. In the wake of Labor’s pre-election declaration that it would seek to block Capital Recycling Solutions’ project, which had been in the works for three years, the company accused the Barr government of an “utter contempt for due process”. Company director Adam Perry said the politicisation of its project would “frighten developers and investors” looking to do business in the nation’s capital. In his speech, Mr Gentleman said the move by the ACT government was not “anti-business”. “We consider this decision one about protecting the existing business in Fyshwick, many of which have been undergoing a transformation in recent years,” Mr Gentleman said. “While it is still appropriate for many industrial uses to continue In Fyshwick, I do note that Fyshwick continues to evolve with many retail and light commercial businesses establishing there with strong customer followings. “The move to ban waste facilities will protect these businesses and the surrounding residential suburbs from the negative impacts which could be realised from such large facilities.” Fyshwick Business Association president Rob Evans, whose group has strongly opposed the projects, welcomed Mr Gentleman’s bill. “The decision to ban the development of new waste facilities and the expansion of existing waste facilities in Fyshwick, recognises the overwhelming tide of opposition to large scale waste facilities which had been proposed for Fyshwick,” he said. “This threat has been hanging over us for years and this is a commonsense decision which explicitly acknowledges the evolution of Fyshwick as a light industrial, commercial and retail precinct.” Mr Evans said it was incumbent on the ACT government to now support proponents to find a different site to build their waste plants. “We have said all along that they [waste projects] have the right idea but the wrong location,” he said. The Canberra Times has contacted Mr Perry for comment.
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New waste and recycling plants will be banned in Fyshwick under an ACT government bill that sounds the death knell on two controversial projects.
Planning Minister Mick Gentleman introduced the bill to the ACT Legislative Assembly on Wednesday morning, declaring large-scale waste developments were “not suitable for operating in Fyshwick”.
The local business association has welcomed the looming ban, saying it recognised the “overwhelming tide of opposition” to the major waste projects earmarked for the suburb.
The proposed laws – which are all but guaranteed to pass – would prohibit the ACT Planning and Land Authority from accepting applications to build new waste management developments in the suburb, including recycling plants, landfill sites and hazardous waste facilities.
The authority would also be required to reject already lodged applications. Existing plants would be allowed to keep operating, but they would not be able to expand.
Mr Gentleman’s bill dooms two major, highly controversial proposals: Capital Recycling Solutions’ plan to build a waste processing development on Ipswich Street and Hi Quality Group’s resource recovery plant on Tennant Street.
The bill is not a surprise.
Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has introduced laws to ban waste projects in Fyshwick. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Labor and Greens formalised their stance in their parliamentary agreement struck after the October 17 poll, confirming the government’s intention to have new waste facilities built in Hume.
Mr Gentleman told the chamber on Wednesday morning that there would be some exemptions, or “carve outs”, to the ban, with the government to look at what types of waste projects might be allowed in Fyshwick in the future.
Company director Adam Perry said the politicisation of its project would “frighten developers and investors” looking to do business in the nation’s capital.
In his speech, Mr Gentleman said the move by the ACT government was not “anti-business”.
“We consider this decision one about protecting the existing business in Fyshwick, many of which have been undergoing a transformation in recent years,” Mr Gentleman said.
“While it is still appropriate for many industrial uses to continue In Fyshwick, I do note that Fyshwick continues to evolve with many retail and light commercial businesses establishing there with strong customer followings.
“The move to ban waste facilities will protect these businesses and the surrounding residential suburbs from the negative impacts which could be realised from such large facilities.”
Fyshwick Business Association president Rob Evans has been leading opposition to the two proposed waste projects. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
Fyshwick Business Association president Rob Evans, whose group has strongly opposed the projects, welcomed Mr Gentleman’s bill.
“The decision to ban the development of new waste facilities and the expansion of existing waste facilities in Fyshwick, recognises the overwhelming tide of opposition to large scale waste facilities which had been proposed for Fyshwick,” he said.
“This threat has been hanging over us for years and this is a commonsense decision which explicitly acknowledges the evolution of Fyshwick as a light industrial, commercial and retail precinct.”
Mr Evans said it was incumbent on the ACT government to now support proponents to find a different site to build their waste plants.
“We have said all along that they [waste projects] have the right idea but the wrong location,” he said.
The Canberra Times has contacted Mr Perry for comment.
