Media Release 12th Sept 2014

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                               12 September 2014

David Vs Goliath

Ever heard the parable of the little shepherd boy who knocked down a giant with one slingshot?

Watch this space, because a legal story is unfolding where the giant in this case is the Copping Refuse Disposal Site Joint Authority (the Joint Authority), and the little shepherd is the community group Southern Beaches Conservation Society (SBCS).

Let’s go back to the start of this story. You may recall that around 2 years ago the Joint Authority did not adequately consult the community about placing a hazardous waste C cell within the proximity of the southern beaches river catchment. The Joint Authority’s  “owners”, four Councils, pushed through the development application and failed to adequately discuss the matter with concerned locals. These same locals then formed a community group called the SBCS who researched and promoted best practice waste management techniques rather than what they claimed to be the out-dated, option being pursued.

Fast forward to the present day and our giant, the Joint Authority, is suing the shepherd SBCS for writing to their potential customers and suggesting they undertake their own due diligence.

It doesn’t sound like reason for a lawsuit and the Joint Authority themselves are not alleging they have suffered any loss or damage as a result. So why are they bothering?

It’s a question that remains to be answered, but a possibility hard to go past is that they are trying to stifle public discussion and questioning by a community group.

Car Boot Sale

Blue Environment Report

Southern Beaches Conservation Society

Dump the Toxic Dump

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                               17 August 2014

The Report to End All Reports

Recently released “Blue Environment Report” has twenty two recommendations to put an end to Tasmania’s ongoing waste management debate.

Prepared for the Waste Advisory Council, the State Government and local Councils, this final report ignores the interests of big business in favour of practical suggestions for dealing with the waste we are all responsible for creating.

Overriding all recommendations is the message that Tasmania needs to move into the 21^st century of waste management by placing a strong focus on ‘Reducing, Reusing and Recycling’.

By doing so, it foresees more Tasmanian jobs being created within a new and exciting industry.

“The last two years, of the waste management debate has been a learning process. Moving controlled waste from one place to another does not solve a problem it creates another,” said Andrew Ranson, President SBCS.

“This Blue Environment Report details key recommendations that can be adopted by those responsible for our waste management. Recommendations that create jobs and benefit our environment rather than deplete it.”

“It’s a win-win situation.”

Sorell Council meeting, 15 July 2014, planning permission for a remediation facility at Copping

Thank you to SBCS members who were at the Sorell Council meeting last 

night to hear Councillor's discussion about construction of the 

proposed remediation facility at the Copping landfill site. 
The remediation site planning application was passed by Council with 

2 dissenters. Mayor Kerry Vincent agreed that the community, through 

93 submissions, had voiced their opposition and these had been taken 

into consideration with the planning application.  
All SBCS members present at the meeting asked questions and stated 

SBCS's position about the remediation site, the C cell and the need 

for State government to regulate landfill. Mayor Kerry Vincent agreed 

that a state based policy for waste management is needed. Kerry also 

advised that Councils were in discussion with Government about reforms 

to waste management. Council also acknowledged that the "Blue Environment" 

Report (2014)*, commissioned by the Waste Advisory Council (WAC), 

states that Tasmania lags behind other states with waste management, 

making 22 recommendations, including introduction of a waste levy to 

provide financial incentives for recycling. SBCS agree that there has been 

a major step forward by Councils and state government with regard to 

waste management,they are beginning to listen! The C cell is on hold, 

Government and Council are more open to looking at alternative solutions. 

We will continue to work against Copping taking hazardous waste from 

around the state, while promoting sustainable waste management and job 

creation with waste reduction, recycling and reuse. 
 
 
*Tasmanian Waste Review, Final Report:P403, prepared for Waste Advisory 

Committee, March 2014, Blue Environment Pty Ltd.

"Wasted Jobs" Media Release

Southern Beaches Conservation Society Inc.

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                    6 July 2014

“WASTED JOBS”

Southern Beaches Conservation Society Inc. (SBCS) is calling on local and state government and Tasmania's waste industry to respond to the recently released Tasmania Waste Review Report, which was commissioned by the Waste Advisory Committee (WAC).

The report, completed by Blue Environment Pty Ltd, reinforces many of the points that SBCS has been advocating for the last two years – alternatives to landfill  - Reduce  - Reuse – Recycle.

The report clearly indicates that an additional 360-500 direct and 300-420 indirect jobs could be created in Tasmania if the report's recommendations, including increasing the amount of waste we divert away from landfill, were implemented.

The report also vindicates other SBCS longstanding goals:

ñ  Implementation of a waste management levy

ñ  Implementation of a state wide waste management policy

ñ  Reduction of landfill as a viable option and creator of jobs

“The waste management industry in Tasmania is in a state of crisis” according to Alex Green, Chair of the Southern Waste Strategy Authority on ABC Radio.

“Implementing the recommendations of the report will go a long way to rectifying this situation. SBCS remains committed to creating jobs by helping Tasmania realise a better waste management future”, said SBCS Spokesperson, Andrew Ranson.

-- MEDIA RELEASE ENDS –

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