Southern Beaches Conservation Society Inc. is a non-political group that has no affiliation with any political party.
The following is an itemised statement from Southern Beaches Conservation Society Inc. (SBCS), to all our Facebook friends, defining the support SBCS has received over the past 18 months from each of the political parties, individual MPs and candidates in this coming state election, regarding our issues with the Copping hazardous/controlled waste C cell or toxic dump.
- From one of our early community meetings, Federal, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, pledged support and raised questions of inadequate community consultation with regard to granting of the C cell permit with appropriate Ministers and with the Prime Minister. Andrew has continued his support from that time.
- From our very earliest meetings, Tony Mulder, Member Legislative Council, asked questions in the Legislative Council regarding the C cell and lack of community consultation. Also has assisted SBCS on numerous occasions with advice and with postage.
- Following one of our first community meetings, Tim Morris arranged a meeting with SBCS to determine our issues regarding the Copping C cell.
- Tim Morris raised questions on several occasions, in state Parliament, on lack of community consultation prior to granting of the C cell permit.
- Rebecca White, Labor MP for Lyons has assisted SBCS with printing on many occasions. But has not met with us as a group.
- Tim Morris, has called for the release of a report on state legacy, hazardous waste, through Parliamentary privilege, on numerous occasions. Succeeding, through the Ombudsman in gaining a letter from Southern Waste Solutions (SWS), stating the amount of waste and number of entities throughout the state. This letter enable SBCS to define the quantity of waste around the state with which to build a case for non-warranty of a C cell in Tasmania.
- Tim Morris has been available for many meetings with SBCS regarding alternative solutions to hazardous waste management, resulting in a meeting with him and the – then - Minister Cassy O’Connor MP, to gain the interest of the Greens party.
- Tim Morris took SBCS information to the Greens Party Room for agreement to call for a Moratorium on the C cell until there is a state based waste management strategy in place that looks at alternative solutions for hazardous waste. This has been accepted by the Greens.
- At the recent SBCS, The Waste of Tasmania pub debate Tim Morris announced the Greens Moratorium on hazardous waste to landfill.
- State election candidates on the Panel for the Waste of Tasmania pub debate included: Tim Morris, Greens, Lyons; Mark Grube, Palmer United Party, Denison; and Michael Swanton, Independent, Denison.
- Mark Grube supported a claim of lack of due diligence on behalf of Southern Waste Solutions (SWS) with regard to community consultation.
- Michael Swanton supported our stand on landfill as a last resort.
- Over the last 18 months many requests made by SBCS for meeting with Labor Ministers have fallen on deaf ears.
- At a meeting with Minster David O’Byrne it was evident that he was determined that the correct decision had been made regarding the C cell and landfill was the best and only method for waste disposal in Tasmania.
- Nether Labor or the Liberals will acknowledge that we have any just cause to question the C cell permit. We have letters to that effect from both part leaders.
- Both Labor and Liberal refused their candidates permission to take part in the pub debate.
- Neither Labor or Liberal are interested in seeking alternative solutions to landfill and would rather assist industry to take the cheapest way out, leaving no incentives for alternative solutions that would lead to job creation and energy efficiency.
Statement ends.
Angela Marsh, President, SBCS
13 March 2014
