FOLLOWING approval by Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn last week for the York tip proposal that continues to be opposed by the Shire of York, the Avon Valley ratepayers association, Indigenous groups, Central Wheatbelt MLA Lachlan Hunter and local residents and groups, the final approval now stands with the state administrative tribunal (SAT).

The proponents have appealed against the joint development assessment panel’s (JDAP) June 2020 decision to refuse an extension to the current landfill facility development approval, with the matter now listed to go before the SAT for a directions hearing on February 6 at 11.30am.

Planning Minister John Carey’s office has confirmed there is now no role for the minister in this matter.

“As the Minister for the Environment has now approved the proposal, the SAT matter can be progressed,” a spokesperson said.

Minister Swinbourn said after more than a decade of assessments, reviews and appeals, and community consultation, he had taken the decision to approve the Allawuna (Great Southern) Landfill proposal under the Environmental Protection Act.

“This decision is based on extensive, independent advice from the EPA, DWER, and the Appeals Convenor, with the project required to meet strict, modern best-practice environmental conditions.

“I wanted to be confident that the facility would be acceptable with respect to how it may impact other waste policy and other environmental principles in the Environmental Protection Act.

“A range of strict conditions accompany this approval, including the preservation of black cockatoo foraging habitat, feral animal control, dust, water integrity, and rehabilitation.

“Regular review and continuous improvement requirements for the landfill have been included to keep pace with evolving improvements in the circular economy.

“I recognise the community has every right to scrutinise decision making in relation to new waste management facility proposals. Nevertheless, I found that the EPA assessment of the proposal was conducted appropriately and its recommendation that the proposal may be implemented, subject to environmental conditions, was made based on the best available evidence.

“The project will now be subject to subsequent approvals outside of the EPA process.”

Avon Valley Residents Associations (AVRA) chair Keith Schekkerman said the group was very disappointed by the minister’s decision.

“The decision shows that again very important issues like the disposal of rubbish, while taken by the minister, in practical terms the issue is left in the court of private enterprise,” he said.

He said there was a myriad of issues that stem from the minister’s decision including transport with up to four road trains per hour through Mundaring on to  Allawuna and back, with the road from The Lakes to Allawuna being a winding country road unsuited to intensive road train traffic.

He also cited environmental concerns.

“To establish a large landfill right next to the Mundaring water catchment is unwise. Landfills leak and are allowed to leak as most do, the very reason why no new licences are issued for the coastal plains.

“We are told that newly established landfills are virtually leak proof. If that’s the case, there is no reason why they should not be in Peppermint Grove.

“In all, the minister’s decision does not make sense and shows that the government’s policy on waste disposal is rubbish. Mind you, while we justly criticise this government’s bad decision,  the previous Liberal/National government had plenty of opportunity to stop this whole process but chose not to.”

A Shire of York spokesperson said council and the community have consistently opposed this project due to concerns about its environmental, social and economic impacts.

“We are extremely disappointed by this decision and will now carefully review the conditions of approval and consider what options are available to the shire and the community.”

Mr Hunter slammed the government for signing off on the controversial Perth waste dump saying it was one of the most blatant betrayals of a regional community in recent memory.

“After years of sustained community backlash, countless submissions, rallies, petitions and meetings, Labor has arrogantly pushed ahead with turning York into a dumping ground for Perth’s rubbish,” he said.

“Minister Swinbourne refused to meet with me, York residents or local stakeholders for months. I wrote to him directly, and he refused to front up. That alone tells you everything about Labor’s contempt for regional WA.”

“Labor’s own 2025 Central Wheatbelt candidate publicly pledged to the community that this landfill would not be approved under a Labor government. That promise has now been exposed as a complete and deliberate lie.”

“Labor has shown no regard for community voices, no regard for road safety on Great Southern Highway, no regard for tourism, no regard for water security and no regard for Aboriginal cultural heritage,” he said.

Mr Hunter said the fight was far from over.

“As the local MP, I will fight this disastrous decision until the end. I will not let York be treated as the rubbish bin of Perth,” he said.

Mr Hunter urged the community to stand strong.