News
23 October, 2025
Council stands firm on opposition to incinerator
Goulburn-Mulwaree Council is standing firm on its opposition to a proposed waste incinerator at Woodlawn.
Goulburn-Mulwaree Council is standing firm on its opposition to a proposed waste incinerator at Woodlawn.
It says the proposal for an ‘Energy from Waste’ facility near Tarago is contributing to “disruption and despair” in the local community.
Concerns relate to long-term health impacts, property values, soil contamination and a loss of value on livestock and grain commodities.
Those concerns have translated to a community that is “socially tired, understandably angry and unable to move ahead with any certainty into the future”.
Council has previously stated its “total opposition” to the proposed Energy from Waste facility but South Goulburn remains one of four precincts across New South Wales considered suitable for a waste incinerator.
It says there are genuine concerns in the community that ongoing exposure to emissions may create “irreversible environmental and public health impacts”.
A parliamentary committee is currently calling for submissions on proposed Energy from Waste facilities at locations including Tarago and Parkes.
It is examining the technology as well as emissions, health and environmental impacts, regional planning implications, international best practices and alternative waste management solutions.
Chair of the committee, Nichole Overall, said regional communities shouldn’t be expected to bear the burden of Sydney’s waste without adequate and transparent consultation.
Stakeholders and members of the community have until October 31 to make a submission.
Speakers told council on Tuesday night that Sydney’s waste problem shouldn’t become Goulburn’s burden.
Reverend Paul Davey urged council to “stay the course” on its opposition to the incinerator.
He said it would have a massive impact on the young, the elderly and those “who are not well off or of lesser means”.
Danielle Marsden-Ballard urged council to show civic and environmental leadership by continuing to oppose the proposed incinerator.
She said plumes from similar facilities in the United States had been detected more than 300km away and there was a “real danger” to fresh water and marine ecosystems.
The select committee is looking into the impacts of waste-dumping in the Tarago region over a number of decades including the impacts of a proposed Energy from Waste facility on human health and agriculture.
Its terms of reference include “alternative solutions to reduce and manage residual waste produced by Greater Sydney”.
It has acknowledged that the technologies proposed for Tarago and Parkes are currently not employed anywhere else on Australia’s eastern seaboard.
In a draft submission to the select committee, council said the Woodlawn proposal followed the “short-lived but controversial” Jerrara Power proposal near Bungonia.
“Both proposals have demonstrated first-hand to council the disruption and despair that EfW proposals can have on a community,” the submission states.
“Common themes include uncertainty relating to long-term health, the impacts on property values, the fear of accumulated soil contamination and primary producers losing value on livestock and grain commodities simply through association with the locality.”
Council has said it holds concerns for the long-term social and mental well-being of residents if the proposal goes ahead.
It has asked that suitable alternatives to the project be identified, thoroughly assessed and genuinely considered.
Deputy mayor Caitlin Flint described the proposal as a “monstrosity” and “toxic” and encouraged local residents to lodge a submission and to stand united.
Cr Jason Shepherd said he would be taking up the issue with his Labor party colleagues.
“We don’t want Sydney’s rubbish here and we don’t want it burnt here either,” he said.
Cr Christopher O’Mahony said the proposed incinerator would have a carbon footprint comparable to a coalmine.
Read More: Southern Tablelands, Tarago, Marulan