Wingecarribee Shire Council says NSW Department of Planning the consent authority on Plasrefine

"The session is to inform the community on the need to connect with the relevant consent authority regarding any concerns and to help them understand the steps involved in the department's process," a Wingecarribee Shire Council spokesperson said.

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"It's important that people don't mistakenly believe they've directed their concerns or questions to the right place by writing to the council when this needs to be directed to the consent authority - the NSW Department of Planning."

According to the spokesperson Plasrefine is seeking approval for the construction and operation of a plastics recycling facility with the capacity to accept and process up to 120,000 tonnes of plastic waste per annum.

The facility would also manufacture plastic fibres and resins on land at 74 to 76 Beaconsfield Road, Moss Vale.

The council spokesperson said that under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 projects can be declared to be State Significant Development [SSD] if deemed important for economic, environmental or social reasons.

"The Plasrefine proposal has been deemed to be SSD and is being assessed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, which will provide an assessment report and recommendations to the Independent Planning Commission, the authority which will determine the application," the spokesperson said.

Wingecarribee Shire Council had the proposal and accompanying documentation on exhibition until March 22 and facilitated a community engagement session on March 17.

"A total of 346 submissions, including advice from eight NSW government agencies, was received by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment," the spokesperson said.

"Of the 328 submissions received from members of the public, some 65 per cent were from Moss Vale.

"Following community feedback and a comprehensive review of the proponent's environmental impact statement the council resolved at its April meeting to not support the proposal," she said.

Council has expressed concern about inconsistency with the adopted Moss Vale Enterprise Corridor Development Control Plan; inadequate provision of water and sewer infrastructure; inadequate provision of transport infrastructure; community health and amenity concerns; and the lack of a social impact statement.

The spokesperson said that the council recommended: "A thorough and transparent review of health and amenity concerns, as well as noise and air quality concerns be fully undertaken prior to a final planning decision being made."

All documentation regarding the Plasrefine proposal is available on the NSW Planning Portal website.

A formal process within the assessment of an SSD proposal would require a report by the "proponent" [Plasrefine] responding to issues raised in both community and agency submissions during the exhibition period, according to the spokesperson.

"This response to submissions [RTS] report was provided to the Department of Planning and Environment in March and is available to review on the planning portal website," she said.

"That RTS report is now being reviewed."

The Department of Planning and Environment responded to this report in writing and sought additional information on proposed truck routes for the delivery of plastics and removal of waste to and from the site.

"This communication notes the proponent's intended road transport route of Waite Street and Lackey Road is not currently designated as heavy vehicle route and seeks a 'robust justification' from the proponents for the use of this route together with feedback on discussions with the council regarding the use of this route for the Plasrefine proposal," the spokesperson said.

"The Department of Planning and Environment further notes that both Innes Road and Waite Street are adjacent to schools and has requested an assessment of the safety of the proposed route for school children and their families.

"The department has requested a response to these matters by Friday, April 14," she said.

According to the spokesperson the council fully supports this request for additional information with regard to the proposed routes and their potential safety, amenity and wellbeing.

She said the council agreed it would impact the community and "nothing short of a robust justification" was warranted.

"Council is drafting a report to its meeting on April 19, which will provide its response to the proponent's response to submissions [RTS] report in March," the spokesperson said.

"The community is encouraged to follow the progress of this matter on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's planning portal.

"Council will continue to monitor the department's review of the RTS and further additional information which may be sough from the proponent by the department," she said.

The Department of Planning and Environment has provided an email contact for community questions or comments: Sheelagh.laguna@planning.nsw.gov.au.

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