Bill Heck arrested in Riverlink Shopping Centre over Remondis waste incinerator protest

A 57-year-old Ipswich man has been carried out of a busy shopping centre by four police officers after protesting over controversial waste incinerator.

An Ipswich man protesting a controversial waste incinerator planned for the city was arrested by police and carried out of a busy shopping centre by four officers.

Waste company Remondis wants to build a $400 million energy from waste facility at Swanbank, about 8.5 kilometres outside the centre of the city, with the plant declared a coordinated project by the state government’s Coordinator-General last year.

The Coordinator-General is currently preparing the terms of reference to outline the social and environmental matters the company must address in an environmental impact statement it needs to submit before full backing is given.

Bill Heck was arrested on Friday at Riverlink Shopping Centre. Picture: Cordell Richardson

The company has ramped up its community consultation about the project this week, with the first ‘pop-up information booth’ held at Riverlink Shopping Centre in North Ipswich on Friday.

Bill Heck, 57, said he was involved in a “peaceful protest” with a camera where he asked passing shoppers about their view on the proposed facility.

“My intention was to send a gallery of images to the company demonstrating how Ipswich people feel about this development,” he said.

“My protest was peaceful, it was non-violent and it didn’t impede the rights of anybody or any business in the centre.

“I was ordered to move on by the police because there was an anonymous complaint made to the centre management I had caused someone anxiety and I wasn’t allowed to protest on private property.

“I sat down in silent protest and the police carried me from the centre and cuffed me.”

Four police officers carried him out of the centre.

His daughter filmed him as police approached him while he was sitting on the floor.

Footage shows the North Booval resident go limp with officers then carrying him through the centre and out onto a bench outside.

Mr Heck said he was issued with two fines totalling about $1000, which he said he would challenge under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

“This is an important protest because an incinerator in this city will define the waste options for this city and state for the next 50 years,” he said.

“We can do better than burning our trash because it is a resource and our current council are committed to bringing resource recovery into our city’s economy going forward.

“Ordinary people need to support the council in their ambition because they are up against the state government, they are up against international conglomerates, and they are up against very powerful industry bodies.”

Mr Heck, who described himself as a poet, previously served in the Australian Army for 18 years.

He unsuccessfully ran for a Division 3 council seat in last year’s election.

A Queensland Police spokesman said Mr Heck was issued with a move on direction for “causing anxiety to members of the public and interfering with the trade of a business”.

“The man failed to comply and resisted arrest,” he said.

“He received fines for contravene direction and obstruct police.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.