News
1 October, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Repoly speaks to The Southern Wire
In a special two-part report, Repoly discuss their amended plans and issue a plea to the community. In part two, published tomorrow, Repoly address the decision of Wingecarribee Shire Council, not to intervene in the court case.
Repoly are presently appealing the decision of the Independent Planning Commission who refused to allow Australia’s biggest plastics recycling facility in Moss Vale.
In a special two-part report, Repoly discuss their amended plans and issue a plea to the community. In part two, published tomorrow, Repoly address the decision of Wingecarribee Shire Council, not to intervene in the court case.
Nancy Zheng, director of Repoly and niece of company owner Lyu Yalin has confirmed that Repoly will not walk away from their plans. Zheng says the plastics recycling plant “will be a world class garden style plant that incorporates an education centre and an R+D hub.”
The local community have long opposed the Repoly development. Wingecarribee Shire Council have repeatedly refused to enter the court proceedings as a respondent with Mayor Fitzpatrick citing costs. In a video, Mayor Fitzpatrick added, “I done what I thought was best.”
At the September meeting Councillors voted 6-2 to continue to donate $500,000 each year to the art gallery in East Bowral without a review. Theo Onisforou, brings experience as a former barrister. Onisforou gathered a group of local high net worths and offered to help council fund the fight against Repoly. Such advances were refused by Council citing a policy Onisforou argues was hastily cobbled together.
Zheng maintains the plant is in line with the Albanese government goal to lower carbon emissions as part of net zero, “emissions will be well below European standards.”
The Southern Wire asked Repoly for updated visual renderings of their proposal however Zheng commented “we do not have updated visual renderings.” Pressed on whether they have amended their plans Zheng says there are three amendments:
1. Access from Braddon Road will no longer be used. All vehicles will enter and exit entirely within the industrial area, further away from the residential.
2. The multi-function part of building 2 has been relocated from the east side to the west side, further reducing traffic noise impacts on ABR.
3. The colour of the plant buildings has been adjusted to better minimise visual impact.
Community groups remain concerned about the impact on Sydney’s drinking water catchment with dangerous plastic particulates infiltrating Sydney water catchment areas. Zheng dismisses such concerns “there will be a closed-loop water treatment system that recycles 100% of process water. The facility will not need to be connected to the municipal sewer and will not discharge into waterways, meaning it cannot impact Sydney’s drinking water.”
Community member Anna Phillips, part of a team who led the fight against Plasrefine, now Repoly, spoke to The Southern Wire on behalf of community group Moss Vale Matters. Phillips is resolute. “We will forever remain the water and environment protectors of the precious Southern Highlands. Our community is united in raising funds to pay legal costs on behalf of Southern Highland Matters for their respondent Samantha Wood.” Phillips adds “When it’s gone it’s gone.”
Zheng is similarly resolute “We feel very helpless about the rumours circulating in the community. Claims that our project would pollute Sydney’s drinking water, is completely untrue. In fact, our facility has its own wastewater treatment plant, where 100% of the processed water is recycled with no discharge required.”
Zheng adds “our facility is designed with rainwater collection tanks that captures rainwater from the roof. This rainwater is directly fed into our production line, so it does not flow into the water system and therefore does not pose any risk of contaminating Sydney’s drinking water.”
Despite the overwhelming opposition from the community Zheng says Repoly are “preparing for conciliation and remain hopeful of reaching a resolution with the respondents, so that we can begin contributing to the community as soon as possible.”
Whilst dealing with litigation in The Land and Environment Court, The Southern Wire can exclusively reveal that Repoly are involved in further litigation. Repoly is named as a party in the matter of Yi Zha Cleaning Services v Jiacheng Lyu. Zheng downplays the litigation “it is an incident involving our company vehicle. There were no injuries, it was a minor traffic matter.”
Zheng has issued a plea to the community “We sincerely hope that everyone will respect the facts and recognise the real benefits this project brings to the community, as well as the significant improvement it represents in addressing the plastic waste problem for all of New South Wales.”
The decision rests with one Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court, unless an agreement is reached. If an agreement is reached Wingecarribee Shire Council will not have a seat at the table.
Read More: Southern Highlands, Moss Vale