Risdon Vale residents left frustrated by Spectran Group Operations as council awaits EPA decision

Risdon Vale residents who live near a waste processing facility say their concerns aren’t being heard. Meanwhile the council says it’s awaiting a decision from the EPA.

A photo of the Spectran Group site at Risdon Vale, taken on February 27, 2024. Image shows a large pile of waste. Image: Supplied.

Risdon Vale residents fed up with the unpermitted operations of a nearby waste processing facility say they don’t feel heard. Meanwhile amid disagreement around who is responsible for enforcement action, it’s been revealed the activity could be breaking pollution laws.

Spectran Group’s reprocessing facility at 20 and 42 Scotts Road has left residents concerned and frustrated by what they say is dust and noise pollution.

Images captured by the Mercury in March also show large piles of debris at the site.

The company, which was fined in March for dumping at Pawleena, has recently applied for retrospective approval of “level two” industrial activity at Risdon Vale.

Risdon Vale resident Regina Williams said she and others had made several complaints to the council, but nothing had been done.

“We reported there was waste dumped there. It’s still operating,” she said.

“We can’t even find out what permits they’ve got.

Risdon Vale Residents Garry Witt, Regina Williams, and Irena Luckus. Picture: Linda Higginson

“We need to be heard and that’s not happening.

“The problem is, we don’t live in Lindisfarne.”

According to the Clarence Council, the matter lies within the Environmental Protection Authority’s jurisdiction.

“At present, Council is unable to undertake enforcement actions on any new activity until a decision is made by the EPA as to whether all activities on the site will be called in and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of the EPA,” Clarence Council mayor Brendan Blomeley said.

“Council has been awaiting formal advice from the EPA, and council officers have been in regular contact with the EPA seeking updates and action to progress current processes.”

“I share the frustration of the Risdon Vale community.”

The site at Risdon Vale. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mr Blomeley said the council was listening and that discussions have been ongoing with residents

“Council has also responded to several letters and emails to residents on this issue, addressing and providing specific advice in respect to each concern raised,” he said.

The council said when it came to retrospective applications, it generally would not pursue enforcement proceedings where an applicant is “taking genuine steps” to become compliant.

Last month the Environmental Protection Authority told the Mercury it had received four complaints about dust emissions from the facility from January last year to February this year.

It said the complaints were referred to the Clarence City Council, as the environmental regulator.

On Friday an EPA spokesperson said it had paused enforcement action for the offence of operating without a permit because it was making an assessment related to the development application.

“The Clarence City Council remains the regulatory authority for the ReProcess facility at Risdon Vale as it relates land use planning matters,” they said.

They said the organisation had met with the council in March after an initial assessment of complaints received about the operations.

“The EPA has provided the Council with a preliminary assessment that identified some ReProcess activities could be in contravention of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).

“The EPA has also proposed to council some shared interim compliance arrangements to assist with management of the ReProcess activities at Risdon Vale.

“The EPA will continue to investigate matters of environmental nuisance”