By Lyn Jablonski & Lee O'Connor

Local opposition to the proposed Narwonah Waste to Energy project at Narromine continues to solidify following a third well-attended community meeting on Tuesday 12 December.

This time the meeting was organised by community members through the newly-created Positive Change Community Group, convened through social media and led by local farmer and Landcare award recipient Bruce Maynard.

Almost 230 people went along to the 'Chance for Transparency' public meeting at the Narromine United Services Memorial Club.

Two guest speakers were Sue Higginson, Greens MLC (Member of the Legislative Council) in NSW and Dan Nicholson of Topsoil Organics.

Ms Higginson is an environmental lawyer, formerly Principal Solicitor and CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office, and has also lectured and taught environmental law at various universities.

Mr Nicholson owns and operates the Central West Nutrient Return Centre near Forbes. It was opened in 2020 and turns food waste and green waste into nutrient-dense compost.

His operation, which has won regional business awards, was presented as an example of a sustainable and desirable approach to waste management.

Mr Nicolson described his company as ‘not being a waste company but taking waste that would normally go to landfill and utilising it to its best outcome’.

Greens MLC Sue Higginson IMAGE: Facebook

Ms Higginson told the Narromine meeting that the best way to consider projects like the waste-to-energy facility being proposed for Narromine is to "hold them to account or not have them at all if you really don’t want them."

 "This has been sold to the community as a solution project," she said. However Ms Higginson says that projects like this are "profit driven" and find their way onto the drawing board in areas that are looking for opportunities using methods that are "akin to predatory behaviour."

She says that the projects can be "very toxic and very controversial" but essentially do little to reduce the underlying waste problem.

"You can’t feed these projects enough waste.  The more waste fed into them, the more money is made."

"Increasing our waste is not the solution so these projects don't fit with community expectations."

The large gathering at the latest meeting about the proposed waste-to-energy project near Narromine. IMAGE: Lyn Jablonski

Ms Higginson's presentation supported earlier claims that although the Narwonah project proposes to use thermal processes it is still a form of incineration and "a very toxic process."

According to Ms Higginson, projects like the one being proposed for Narromine are unlawful under new state government environmental planning laws.

"The Protection of the Environment Operations Act has a regulation specific to waste to energy projects," Ms Higginson told the Western Plains App.

She said that, apart from designated locations that include the Richmond Valley, Goulburn, West Lithgow and potentially Parkes, "they are not permissible in New South Wales."

However she acknowledged that this could be changed if there was sufficient support for a project in another area.

There was extensive discussion with the meeting lasting two hours. 

Mr Maynard referred to "lack of substantiation" for various elements of the project proposed for Narromine including the business plan, developer capacity, financial capacity and environmental effects.

"Governance and conduct issues" were again raised, with Narromine Shire and other entities involved with the project coming under serious criticism.

A show of hands taken towards the end of the meeting saw attendees overwhelmingly vote to reject the current proposal.

"I think its very, very good the community of Narromine are being cautious and suspicious of this project," Ms Higginson said. "I think its very wise the community have jumped up early and are raising their concerns.

"You can say you'll generate jobs for the local area but the real issue is do we need this project?

"The council has to realise the community have the right to have a right to have a vision for the future of the shire and understand they don't have to have a project foisted upon them."

Dan Nicholson, Topsoil Organics. IMAGE: Lyn Jablonski

There were three councillors at the meeting Cr Dawn Collins, Cr Lachlan Roberts and Cr Ewen Jones.

Cr Jones was the only Councillor to speak.

“What has not been mentioned is that the offer on the land to (APWS) has now expired.”

Cr Jones told the audience that he and some of his family members had a long history and association with Narromine and Timbrebongie councils and that he had worked in local government for twenty-nine years.

As a Councillor, he said, “I make my decisions on facts, not emotions.”