UP TO 20 per cent of the expected $100 million in developer contributions from SITA Australia for the expansion of the Lucas Heights waste centre will be spent within a 7.5-kilometres radius.
This measure was enshrined in the voluntary planning agreement, which cannot be altered by any future councils.
The last-minute change to SITA’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and development application for the centre was introduced by Sutherland Shire councillors John Riad and Peter Towell.
SITA will give the council $100million over 15 years to fund community projects in order for the centre to take an extra 8.3 million tonnes of putrescible waste.
The tip was to close in 2025 but will now operate until 2037.
The maximum height of the extended tip will be seven metres and it will be given an undulating profile. After it closes it will be converted to parkland.
SITA has completed the EIS to go with the development application, which is ready to be lodged with the NSW Department of Planning.
The September 21 council meeting was to allow the final endorsement of the EIS.
Cr Towell wanted this exhibited before the development application was lodged.
He showed councillors a photo of the present tip stack, which he said the locals had named Mount Menai.
‘‘Under the changes, the stack will be two metres higher,’’ he said.
‘‘It will change the time of day by five minutes when the sun sets across the golf course. There will be visible mounds of rubbish at certain times.
‘‘The community should get the opportunity to see the Environmental Impact Statement before it is adopted.
‘‘This is going to be a massive impact and I don’t think the community is aware.
‘‘It is only fair Menai is asked whether they want it or not.’’
But councillor Kent Johns said the EIS would be exhibited with the development application.
‘‘Why should we exhibit it twice?’’ he said.
‘‘It will now go through a thorough assessment through the development application process.’’
Cr Riad said the documents had been thoroughly scrutinised.
‘‘At the end of the day it is an Environmental Impact Statement.
‘‘It will be scrutinised by the public and there will be changes in relation to their comments,’’ he said.
The EIS was presented to the councillors in a series of informal workshops.