Dump protesters are IRATE

DOZENS of angry Ipswich residents gathered at the Riverview Community Centre on Saturday.

Members of IRATE at a public meeting in Riverview include (centre) organiser Jim Dodrill, with his niece and two daughters (from left) Alyssa Lahey, Tara Dodrill and Ciara Dodrill. Picture: David Nielsen

DOZENS of angry Ipswich residents gathered at the Riverview Community Centre on Saturday.

Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments was formed to organise community protest regarding the expansion of the Transpacific-run dump in New Chum.

More than 30 community members from Riverview, Collingwood Park and across the region made their way to the meeting.

IRATE president Jim Dodrill said the group was concerned there were seven schools and kindergartens within a kilometre of the dump site.

"That includes St Peter Claver and Riverview State School as well as a number of small kindergartens and childcare facilities," Mr Dodrill said.

"We're very concerned about what's going to happen with so many schools nearby.

"A lot of the residents around here are worried about what will happen to the community if this all goes ahead."

Mr Dodrill said the group was increasingly worried about the process continuing on after Transpacific moved to delay the final decision.

According to IRATE Transpacific has moved to delay the council's decision by taking the matter to the State Government.

Mr Dodrill said the company was attempting to go above the council's authority by disputing the State Government's response to the application with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

Ipswich City Council Planning and Development committee chairman Paul Tully said that with the process before the department the council was unable to make a final decision.

"Council can't legally decide on the application while it is before the concurrence agency, which is the State Government," he said.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said he was committed to refusing the application.

"My position hasn't changed," he said.

"I'm against the proposal and will be knocking it back."

Originally published as Dump protesters are IRATE