Planning Minister Tony Kelly yesterday announced new regulations had been introduced to change the way tip applications were assessed.

Importantly, he said the new provisions took effect immediately, including assessment of existing landfill proposals.

That was “fantastic news”, according to John Levett, the spokesperson for the group fighting to stop the tip proposal at the Tomerong Quarry, ShUT.

“It looks like the government’s trying to find a way for the tip to be rejected,” Mr Levett said.

Mr Kelly said the Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy applying to tips had been amended to ensure a wider range of issues including waste minimisation, best practice design and site location were considered as part of the application process.

“The new criteria included in the SEPP allows the relevant consent authority to consider whether a proposed facility will adopt important principles such as waste minimisation,” Mr Kelly said.

New clauses added to regulations include examining transport links to the landfill, and the social impacts of transporting waste to a proposed tip.

Opponents of the proposed Tomerong tip claimed the proposal would place a major burden on local roads, particularly the troubled Princes Highway.

Peace breaks out

in waste conflict

BITTER divisions over future garbage collections in the Shoalhaven appear to be settling down, with Shoalhaven councillors coming together during the most recent vote on the issue.

In fact councillors unanimously supported a call for waste services staff to examine ways of improving green and bulky waste pick-up services, allowing more residents to take advantage of the home collection.

Only Crs Andrew Guile and Bohdan Brumerskyj voted against the most recent attempts to move the issue forward.

During an extraordinary meeting, councillors decided to provide a new focus on people aged under 40, who had provided little input during community consultation on future waste services.

In other decisions on the future of waste services, council decided not to subsidise backyard mulchers but is instead looking at a putting in a shredder at tips, that could process mulch for local residents.

Community education on the cost of managing green waste, possible expansion of the home composting trial, and processes to monitor green waste in bins were also included in council’s plans.

With council set to call new tenders to continue the current two-bin system, it decided to consider a number of factors in assessing any tenders submitted.

However the prospects of existing staff being offered jobs if another company wins the tender may have taken a dive, with offering continued employment to existing staff given only a five per cent weighting in the decision.

A 50 per cent weighting will be given to price, 20 per cent to method and proposal, 20 per cent to capability and experience, and five per cent to management systems.

Council also decided to retain the system of two free tipping vouchers each year for ratepayers, and existing bin sizes.