Council provides response on international waste contract at New Chum site
16 July 2020
Ipswich City Council is aware of this matter, but the decision to accept waste from PNG has been made by the Australian Government.
Australia signed the Basel Convention in 1992, which allows for this sort of occurrence but firmly puts the onus on the exporting country to ensure that hazardous wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner in the country of import.
The permit for this contract runs from 28 January 2020 and expires on 31 December 2020.
The New Chum site is lawfully established and licensed to handle waste.
Council has to rely on the Commonwealth to ensure that any conditions it imposes will be adhered to on site.
The Queensland Government will be responsible in terms of dealing with and enforcing the waste acceptance criteria.
It is understood the material being transported from PNG is soil.
Council hopes the respective Federal and State Government MPs will be right across this matter and keep their communities and council fully informed.
Council has previously stated it does not want Ipswich to be used as a dumping ground by the Commonwealth and State Governments and will seek further clarification on this waste contract between two international governments.
Council will also endeavour to keep Ipswich ratepayers and residents fully informed on related issues.
Council today launched a new information page on its Shape Your Ipswich online platform which provides latest details and FAQs on the proposed waste-to-energy facility recently declared a coordinated project by the Queensland Government.