MEDIA RELEASE 9th September 2012

Dump the Toxic Dump

P.O. Box 92, Dodges Ferry, TASMANIA, 7177

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release                      Sunday9th September2012

Southern Waste Solutions’ (SWS) offer to re-consult with community is all smoke and mirrors.

Organisers of Dump the Toxic Dump, a community group established to fight the development of a Category C toxic waste cell in the Carlton River Catchment, say the process offered by SWS is fake and pointless because they already hold a permit to construct and operate it.

“This process is fundamentally flawed and a waste of time because SWS have already told us they will construct and operate this cell regardless of issues raised by the community,” said Paul Reardon of Dump the Toxic Dump.

“The E nvironmental Protection Authority has acknowledged that any consultation post-approval is a matter entirely for SWS and the EPA has no input into this. The EPA will not be a party to this consultation.”

SWS is under no legal obligation to answer questions from the community and will only answer them if, when and how they see fit. There are no statutory requirements here – it’s all at the discretion of SWS.

“If they are serious about addressing community concerns in a meaningf ul and transparent manner, they need to voluntarily revoke the permit they have been granted by the EPA and start the whole process again.”

“If they are 100% confident of the Category C Cell’s design, the location’s suitability and they are certain of their ability to address all community concerns, then they’ve got nothing to lose by starting this process afresh” concluded Mr Reardon.

--MEDIA RELEASE ENDS--

For further information, please contact Dump the Toxic Dump:
dumpthetoxicdump@gmail.com