Council
12 August, 2026
Mayor has concerns about proposed tyre recycling facility
Wollondilly residents concerned about a proposed tyre recycling facility in Production Avenue, Warragamba only have until August 21 to lodge a submission.
Wollondilly residents concerned about a proposed tyre recycling facility in Production Avenue, Warragamba only have until August 21 to lodge a submission.
Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould said he shared a number of community concerns about the proposal and expressed frustration that a decision would rest with the Wollondilly Local Planning Panel – and not with the elected council.
The panel is made up of a State Government-appointed chair, two State Government-approved experts and a community representative chosen by council.
“The Mayor and councillors don’t sit on the panel and we don’t get a vote on whether the application is approved or refused,” Cr Gould said this week.
“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I find that incredibly frustrating – particularly for proposals with the potential to significantly affect a local community.
“Decisions like this should be made by the people elected to represent that community,” he said.
The proposal is to use an existing industrial warehouse at 4 Production Avenue to mechanically process end-of-life tyres.
Passenger, truck, bus and large off-road tyres would be transported to the site where they would be debeaded and shredded.
As part of a second stage of the process, steel from the tyres would be recovered for recycling and the rubber would be ‘crumbed’.
At full operation the facility could process up to 32,000 tonnes of tyres each year – with the first stage limited to 16,000 tonnes.
Cr Gould said he had heard a number of concerns relating to fire and smoke, heavy vehicle traffic, air quality, the proximity of the proposed facility to Warragamba Public School and whether an operation of this scale was appropriate in this location.
“I share a number of these concerns but after reading the application two in particular worry me.
“The first is fire and bushfire risk. Warragamba has a long history of significant bushfire impacts and the applicant’s own assessment confirms the site is bushfire-prone, with parts of the development exposed to the highest level of bushfire risk.
“That concerns me when we’re talking about storing and processing large quantities of tyres, particularly because Warragamba Sportsground – which is immediately next door – is the designated Neighbourhood Safer Place for Warragamba (the place of last resort for the community to go during a bushfire emergency.
“We need a very clear understanding of what happens if a significant bushfire impacts the facility and tyres become involved, including the potential toxic smoke impacts on people sheltering at the sportsground, Warragamba Public School or surrounding homes.
“My other major concern is heavy vehicle and traffic at the school,” Cr Gould said.
“Warragamba is only around 330 metres from the site.
“Regardless of where the final truck number lands, this proposal would introduce ongoing heavy vehicle movements associated with a 32,000 tonne-a-year operation.”
Cr Gould said the site was zoned E4 General Industrial and the proposed use was permissible with development consent.
“That means the applicant is legally entitled to lodge a DA and it has to be properly assessed on its merits.”
However, that doesn’t automatically mean it will be approved.
“DAs are refused when they don’t adequately address the relevant planning issues or aren’t considered appropriate for the site.
“We’ve seen plenty of controversial applications rejected over the years,” he said.
Cr Gould has encouraged people to lodge a submission through council’s DA Tracker and to focus on the actual planning issues.
Alternatively, people can email council and include the DA reference number (DA/2026/736/1) in the subject line.
Cr Gould said he would be making a presentation to the LPP on behalf of council and the community.
“While I may not get to the vote on the DA I can make sure the people who do determine it hear directly from me and from our community,” he said.
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