The Mayor of Parkes Shire, Neil Westcott, has expressed strong support for the NSW Nationals’ push to establish another Parliamentary inquiry into Energy-from-Waste.
The previous 2017 inquiry, which included participation from the current Environment Minister Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC along with representatives from the Greens and Liberals, led to several recommendations. One of the recommendations was for the Chief Scientist and Engineer to ensure that international best practices were followed in Energy-from-Waste initiatives, which was addressed in the subsequent Chief Scientists report. However, many of these recommendations appear to remain unaddressed.
The Mayor said; “While the 2017 inquiry provided a foundation, there remains important questions that are yet to be fully addressed. A renewed Parliamentary inquiry could help clarify these issues and provide the transparency our community is seeking.”
Mayor Westcott has raised the question about the rationale behind the proposed location of Energy-from-Waste facilities and that it needs to be clearly explained to the community. Further, Mayor Westcott applauded Geoff Rice’s call for respectful debate which was timely and necessary. “Whether someone holds a different opinion on EfW or simply is not ready to form a view at this stage, that position deserves to be respected. People should feel safe to ask questions, seek information and take the time they need to understand the issue without fear of judgement or pressure.”
To view all correspondence with the State Government on the concerns of Parkes Shire Council regarding this development, please visit https://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/Council/News-mediaand-projects/Projects-and-works/Energy-From-Waste-Facility and refer to the State Liaison section.