Wanless dump: Council says ‘thanks but no thanks’ to state interference

After multiple waste lawsuits and pleas for assistance from the State Government over rejected waste facilities, a council report suggests the Deputy Premier backs off on the Wanless waste facility call in.

The deputy premier may use ministerial powers to intervene with the Ipswich City Council’s decision to reject a controversial waste development. Picture: Wanless and Liam Kidston (Mr Miles)

The Ipswich City Council CEO wrote to the Deputy Premier to report that the council was sticking to its guns and the state should not interfere with the decision to reject a major waste development.

After Ipswich councillors voted against a $50m controversial landfill development at Ebenezer, Wanless lodged an appeal with the Planning and Environment Court - now that’s all on hold after a call in was announced in late 2021. Pic Mark Cranitch.

Wanless took the council to court after the landfill component of its $50m waste and recycling project between Willowbank and Ebenezer was rejected.

The legal battle is set to cost ratepayers millions, although legal proceedings are now on hold and dependent on the actions of Deputy Premier Steven Miles after he proposed a call in.

Minister Miles said calling in the project allowed the government to assess if the facility would help reach Queensland’s waste reduction and recycling targets.

If the Minister goes through with the call in, there will be a new assessment process on whether the development should be approved although the minister’s decision will be final and can’t be appealed in court.

The council report notes the Minister can use his ministerial powers for a ‘call in’ if the Wanless waste facility affects the economic or environmental interest of the state, part of the state, or to uphold the interest of the Planning Act (2016).

Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Josh Woning

In the past the Ipswich City Council wrote to then development, manufacturing, infrastructure and panning minister Cameron Dick three times asking for the state to call in Bio Recycle, BMI, Lantrak and Cleanaway applications.

The pleas for assistance fell on deaf ears despite the council’s view that the landfill applications were of interest to the state.

“Had the earlier landfill applications been the subject of a ministerial call in, considerable uncertainty and in the order of $6.7 million in legal expenses defending council’s decisions would have been avoided, not to mention the expenses borne by the other parties along with the Queensland Government,” the report read.

If the call in comes to fruition on the grounds of state significance the council argues the other rejected waste applications that are still before courts are relevant and may also be subject to a call in.

Dean Wanless and a depiction of the rejected the Ipswich plan.

Wanless CEO Dean Wanless said the council “failed to understand” the recycling facility and landfill were integrated but the council begs to differ.

“The landfill component was described in the application material as an ancillary aspect of the recycling centre and not a major economic driver on its own,” the report states.

“Council’s refusal of this part was on sound, justifiable reasons and it was considered that the recycling centre could operate in isolation of the landfill component.

“It is difficult to see how a landfill proposal of the nature and scale proposed is of a scale that warrants a state economic and environment issue.”

Even though the council would avoid millions in legal costs now and into the future if the call in was to move forward, the council said “allowing the process to continue without intervention is the best course, given where this present matter is in terms of process, and its relevance to other matters”.

“The original decision of council was the right decision.

“The current course allows the community to continue to have its say.

“The Ipswich community have demonstrated a preparedness to stand with council on its stance on these matters.”

Mayor Teresa Harding said approving the Wanless landfill was not in the interest of council, the community or the environment. Picture: Cordell Richardson

Many environmental risks and factors were flagged by concerned community members, including the ongoing issue of privately owned landfills located in the Ipswich area not complying with acceptable levels of odour and dust.

Before the state government intervened, Mayor Teresa Harding said the council was moving away from a dependency on landfill and the application didn’t align with the council’s current planning and policy framework.

“(The project) raises environmental risks which have not been adequately addressed in this application. The base of the proposed landfill will ultimately sit below the groundwater table which leaves the potential of harmful substances seeping through the baseline,” she said.

“My view is that approving a new landfill in Ipswich is not in the interest of council, the community or our environment.”