Narromine Councillor Judy Smith who led a campaign against a Waste to Energy incinerator in her town in 2023 says all councils should be submitting an opinion to the NSW Government Inquiry into projects like the proposed development in Parkes.

‘’The state government has over reached and every council has to seriously look at this,’’ Ms Smith said.

The Inquiry begins soon but the councillor says, with pressure mounting to solve Sydney's waste nightmare, it might be just a pause button so regional communities need to act.

‘’We have to lobby politicians, government officials on the amount of renewable energy developments going out in the area we have the voice to stop these in our backyards," she said.

Community opposition sent the Narromine project to the dust bin with Parkes still the only site in the area.

Lachlan Shire who neighbours Parkes also will look to make a submission it was the focus of the latest council meeting where councillors aired concerns.

A large crowd rallied against the project a few weeks ago in Parkes.

The NSW Nationals secured the Parliamentary inquiry into waste to energy incinerators, following concerns almost a million tonnes of extra waste could be sent to the regions each year to help deal with an overflow in Sydney.

The motion was moved in the Upper House by NSW Nationals MP Scott Barrett with fellow Nationals MP Nichole Overall appointed as Chair of the Select Committee.

The inquiry, which originally intended to explore current plans for two large energy recovery facilities in Tarago and Parkes, has now also been expanded to cover other potential areas in regional NSW.

Opponents say the Waste to Energy plants are more about reducing Sydney's waste issue than generating power. [IMAGE: RDA Sydney]

Mayor of Parkes Shire, Neil Westcott, has welcomed the move.

"It is encouraging to see that the EfW Parliamentary inquiry received bipartisan support.

"This united approach gives confidence the questions rightly being asked by the community can be thoroughly examined with the scientific rigour required. 

"I thank the Hon Scott Barrett MLC, and the other members of the House, including The Hon. Penny Sharpe, MLC and Dr Amanda Cohn, MLC for supporting this Inquiry."

Greens MLC Dr Amanda Cohen says visiting Parkes she saw big opposition to the project.

''I was recently in Parkes where the government is planning an "energy-from-waste" incinerator>" she said.

"But this was never about producing energy - the incinerator is proposed to address Sydney's waste crisis, with the Greater Sydney basin set to run out of landfill space by 2030.

"The state and federal government must take stronger action to reduce waste at the source, for example, extended producer responsibility schemes that require products to be repairable, recyclable or compostable - or the producer must bear the cost of disposal, not communities, councils and ratepayers.''

Mrs Overall said she was appreciative of the support across the Chamber to see the inquiry get up and for the opportunity to chair it.

“This provides the chance for community members to raise the many questions they have around potentially millions of tonnes of waste being dumped in their backyards,” Mrs Overall said.

“The objective is to fully explore the issues and look at options and alternatives to the ever-growing Sydney waste problem that doesn’t leave some areas worse off than others.

“People have genuine concerns around the plan and they are coming from a place of wanting answers and information that they feel they just haven’t received."

The inquiry will look at matters including the risk of potentially toxic emissions, the health implications of the projects and the impact they will have on agriculture.

Orange-based Nationals MLC Scott Barrett campaigned for the Inquiry. [IMAGE: NSW Nationals]

Mr Barrett is encouraging people to come forward and have their say.

“Initially this was a tough issue for me, I want to see our communities thrive and grow, but we don’t want projects that will put them at risk,” he said.

“The proposed Parkes incinerator would divert 600,000 tonnes of waste from Sydney, so it’s common sense for that community to have their voices heard, which is something that was sorely missing from the consultation phase of this project.

“I recently took part in an information night hosted by the Parkes Clean Future Alliance, which was attended by nearly 600 people, and it was clear the community feels there are too many unanswered questions here.”

Visit the Inquiry website to find out more.