Plans for a waste-to-energy incinerator have been ruled out at Wallerawang, but the controversial industry could still proceed in the Lithgow region.
Key points:
- A bid to extend the zone where waste-to-energy facilities can be built near Lithgow has failed
- Greenspot was seeking to build the infrastructure which thermally processes rubbish at the old Wallerawang coal-fired power station
- The proposal has faced community backlash, with one councillor calling for Deputy Premier Paul Toole to ditch any similar plans
Last year the state government outlined just four areas in the state where waste-to-energy proposals would be considered by the planning department, including one zone called the 'West Lithgow Precinct', around the Mount Piper Power Station near Lithgow.
The owners of the nearby former coal-fired power station at Wallerawang have been trying to have their industrial site included in the plan, to proceed with their proposal for a $700 million incinerator on the site.
The infrastructure would thermally process rubbish from Sydney to make electricity.
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The Environment Protection Authority has now assessed the proposal from Greenspot at Wallerawang.
In a statement, the Deputy Premier Paul Toole said there would be no changes to the zoning.
"There will be no change to the energy waste priority infrastructure areas, and therefore an energy from waste project will not go ahead at the Wallerawang Business Park," he said.
In a statement, the company behind the proposal, Greenspot, did not support the decision to rule out Wallerawang.
"Greenspot's purpose is to respect, rethink and regenerate places that matter. The repurposing of the Old Wallerawang Power Station is our flagship project."
It has labelled the build as a stepping stone in the move away from the coal industry, which the community is grappling with.
Greenspot has several other plans for the site, including a grid-scale battery that is currently before the state planning department.
A rubbish idea
The waste-to-energy proposal for near Lithgow has faced some strong opposition.
Lithgow City Councillor Stephen Lesslie labelled it a "small victory" for locals in the overall fight against the industry.
"I think it's an awareness from the government that there's huge community concern about this," he said.
He said the federal election highlighted communities had the power to change governments.
But to overcome potential political fallout at the state level, he believed the West Lithgow Precinct, where the infrastructure could still be built, should be scrapped.