Landfill extension proposal defeated

Woy Woy tip will not take extra commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste from Kincumber tip following a meeting of Gosford Council on September 2.

Council voted against a proposal that Woy Woy absorb the extra waste in its future waste disposal strategy

Woy Woy tip would have taken all construction and demolition, commercial and industrial waste that previously would have gone to Kincumber tip if the plan proposed by council staff was to go ahead.

"I'm more than a little tired of Woy Woy being a place of last resort," Cr Lynne Bockholt said.

"We're not taking everyone's extra rubbish."

The decision would have seen an extra 750 heavy vehicles on local roads every week and an extra 650,000 cubic metres space obtained around the site.

According to a council report based on current landfill tonnages, the existing landfill space at Kincumber will see it close by January 2007 and Woy Woy in June 2009.

Once Kincumber closes, Woy Woy will be the sole tip in the region.

"We've known for years about this problem and done nothing about it," Cr Bockholt said at the meeting.

"Now at the 11th hour we are saying Woy Woy can take it. No way," she said.

Cr Bockholt said that a public meeting should be held to inform the people of Woy Woy.

Council is currently considering options in its draft future waste disposal strategy.

Under the draft future waste disposal strategy, it was proposed to divert commercial waste to Woy Woy and extend the size of the tip to add an extra three years to landfill life in region.

Alison Branley, Council Agenda DH 087, September 2