The Canberra Liberals demand to know why the ACT Government rejected a Development Application for the temporary green waste facility on Stockdill Drive. But the ACT Government said it would deliver the facility, as promised.
The proposal to construct a temporary green waste facility, access road, shed, landscaping, earthworks, and associated works was lodged in June, and rejected at the start of this month.
The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate determined that it did not comply with the legislated requirements for merit track applications. Recycling facilities are prohibited within the zone in which the development is sited.
Peter Cain, Shadow Minister for Planning and Land Management and Liberal MLA for Ginninderra, said it wais disappointing the Labor-Greens government had backflipped on its commitment to ensure a green waste facility wais open in North Canberra.
“Ensuring the continuation of a green waste facility in North Canberra has been a difficult task, and it is clear this Labor-Greens government have no interest in providing this service to thousands of Canberra residents and businesses who use it regularly,” Mr Cain said.
It was announced last year that West Belconnen’s green waste drop-off facility would close after 31 years: the ACT Government would not renew Canberra Sand and Gravel’s Parkwood Road lease; instead, the site would be turned into a park as part of the Ginninderry development.
- Gary Humphries: Common sense dumped in West Belconnen (17 June 2021)
- Belconnen green waste facility closing (2 June 2021)
The decision was halted after more than 2,000 residents signed a petition which Mr Cain sponsored, the Liberal MLA said.
“Since then, the government has reluctantly committed to keeping the current facility open, and to provide a temporary solution until a permanent site could be found in the Belconnen area.
“It comes as no surprise that now the Labor-Greens government has backtracked on this commitment by rejecting the DA for the temporary green waste facility.”
Mr Cain said he had written to Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services, asking for clarification on why the DA was rejected, and what the Government would do to ensure a facility stayed open in the Belconnen area.
“As far as I can see, the concerns that caused the DA to be rejected are largely to do with internal ACT Government Agencies not communicating.
“Belconnen desperately needs a green waste facility; As a local MLA for this area, I strongly urge the Labor-Greens government to find a location in the Belconnen region as soon as possible,” Mr Cain concluded.
A spokesperson for the ACT Government said: “The Canberra Liberals are displaying an astonishing lack of understanding on how the ACT Government works.
“The Government will still deliver the green waste facility – as promised.
“The ACT Planning and Land Authority makes decisions on development applications independent from Government.
“The Government is working through the feedback on the Development Application, and we will continue to work through the planning system to deliver the northside facility addressing the issues that have been raised.”
