News
5 November, 2025
Residents reunite in new fight against plastics recycling factory
Residents of the Southern Highlands have reunited as part of a new community campaign against a proposed plastics recycling factory in Moss Vale.
Residents of the Southern Highlands have reunited as part of a new community campaign against a proposed plastics recycling factory in Moss Vale.
Southern Highlands Matters (SHM) officially launched its new ‘Reject RePoly’ campaign in Bowral earlier today.
It has also renewed calls for funding support, saying the use of “highly specialised lawyers and barristers” at significant expense will be the only way to defeat the controversial proposal.
The message at today’s launch was clear: the fight is far from over.
The original Plasrefine proposal for a plastics recycling factory in Moss Vale was rejected by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) in January this year after a four-year community fight.
The proponent has since rebranded as RePoly and has lodged an appeal in the Land and Environment Court seeking to overturn the IPC’s decision.
SHM chairperson Ms Sam Wood has been recognised as one of only four legal respondents with standing in court to challenge the appeal.
“It’s the same project, under a different name, with the same risks to Sydney’s drinking water, public health, world-leading medical research and our Southern Highlands industries and way of life,” Ms Wood said today.
“We fought this before and we won. Community opposition and expert evidence were so clear to the IPC. We shouldn’t have to fight this battle twice — but if that’s what it takes, we will.”
“RePoly may have a new logo, but it’s the same proposal the IPC rejected after thousands of community objections and a four-year opposition and detailed expert and technical inputs,” she said.
Ms Wood said SHM had already achieved what many people considered impossible.
“Make no mistake – this is one long fight, but one worth fighting,” she said.
Ms Wood said the appeal process would mean that public input is highly restricted as the arguments are legal, technical and scientific, requiring expert witnesses and studies, presented by highly specialised lawyers and barristers, which are extremely expensive.
“However, it’s the only way to win in the legal environment that RePoly has decided to pursue.”
As part of the campaign launch, SHM has published a new microsite – www.rejectrepoly.com.au – which includes a commitment by SMH to run a fact-based campaign that encourages residents to learn about the risks of the RePoly proposal and engage in debate to develop a broad-based, authentic and informed opposition.
Ms Wood said the Reject RePoly campaign would bring together “volunteers, supporters, creative talents, social media experts and good old fashioned shoe leather”.
She said it was important for people to understand the fight must start all over again.
Campaign material has already started to appear across the Southern Highlands with village pop-ups and street stalls being planned to complement social and media presence.
Sydney will also be a focus.
Dr Peta Seaton AM, former local MP and Moss Vale farmer, joined Ms Wood to launch the campaign.
Dr Seaton said she was “very alarmed” about the RePoly proposal and described it as “one of the most significant threats that have come our way”.
She described the proponents as “off-shore factory bosses based in China” who had shown complete disregard for the community and were attempting to ‘sidestep’ the IPC decision.
She said they had “no skin in the game” locally and didn’t engage with local residents.
Dr Seaton described looming action in the Land and Environment Court as a “new fight with new rules” and it was important for people across the region to understand “the battle is back on”.
She praised Ms Wood on her commitment to the cause, describing her as “our spokeswoman and our champion”.
“We all need to wrap around Sam and make sure she has what she needs.”
Dr Seaton said a “big war chest” would be the only way for the community to have its voice heard and encouraged people to donate as little or as much as they can – and to encourage friends and family to do the same.
But she said the money was needed now – not six months down the track.
An initial fundraising target of $180,000 has been about 65 per cent achieved via GoFundMe with specialist donations also being sought for specific legal costs from individuals and entities familiar with the scale of expenses associated with this level of legal defence.
To date, legal expenses incurred solely for court preparation have already accounted for a significant portion of the funds raised in the last few months.
“Fundraising right now is extremely urgent,” Ms Wood said.
“We are grateful to the community members who have already made an average donation of $208.
“But we need many hundreds of thousands more, by year’s end, to guarantee the breadth and quality of the defence we can afford and allow for preparation in advance of hearings next year,” Ms Wood said.
“This proposal risks the integrity of Sydney’s drinking water and the health of millions. It’s reckless, unnecessary and entirely at odds with NSW’s own environmental safeguards.
“We’re up against deep pockets and the profit motivation. Our only weapon is the truth, delivered by the best legal counsel possible and the support of people who care about protecting the Southern Highlands environment, our residents’ health and Sydney’s water,” Ms Wood said.
Donations can be made via GoFundMe or by visiting Reject RePoly on Facebook and Instagram.
People can also make a direct deposit to Southern Highlands Matters (BSB: 633 000, Acct: 233 071 315) or donate in person at BDCU Community Bank in Moss Vale (formerly the Berrima District Credit Union).
For more information and to read the Reject RePoly campaign charter, visit www.rejectrepoly.com.au
Read More: Southern Highlands, Moss Vale