Residents living near a gravel quarry at Anambah are angered by a decision to approve the site for a composting facility they fear will pollute their rural area.
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Maitland City Council approved a development application this week for a proposed in-vessel composting facility at 442 Anambah Road.
In-vessel composting generally describes a group of methods that confine the composting materials within a building, container, or vessel which can consist of metal or plastic tanks or concrete bunkers in which air flow and temperature can be controlled.
This technique is generally used for municipal scale organic waste processing, including final treatment of sewage bio solids, to a safe stable state for reclamation as a soil amendment.
Resident James Clark told this week’s council meeting that residents are concerned about noise and odor and the possibility of polluting waterways used by livestock.
Mr Clark said the approval of the development would affect residents’ quality of life.
The facility is intended to process 40,000 tonnes of organic materials a year sourced from municipal waste facilities and kerbside collections within the Hunter region.
A council report said the site has operated as a quarry for a considerable period, estimated at 95 years by the applicant Ditton Properties Pty Ltd.
At a council meeting in June 2014 council approved an application to extend quarrying the site for 14 years.
During debate on the composting issue councillors Philip and Nicole Penfold declared an interest and left the chamber.
Cr Bob Geoghegan said the proposal was for a state of the art facility and would mean not as much waste would be sent to landfill.
Cr Henry Meskauskas said residents have raised concerns with him about noise, dust and odour. He said the matter should be deferred so further investigation about possible water contamination.
The development application was passed with councillors Meskauskas and Ben Whiting voting against it.
