29 November, 2023
Tip redevelopment has residents offside
Residents living near the Greenmount Waste Management Facility site on Falknau Road are up in arms because of how Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is redeveloping the site.
Following the clearing of many trees at the front of the site, among many other issues, residents banded together.
They held a meeting at the site last Thursday and were joined by project manager Eben Geldenhuis.
One of the concerned locals is Carol Priebbenow, who said she and her neighbours have been upset with the total lack of communication regarding the changes and the disregard of their requests for a meeting to discuss them.
TRC Water and Waste Portfolio Lead Cr Nancy Sommerfield said TRC
is undertaking significant landfill remediation works at the Greenmount Waste Management Facility site to transform the old Greenmount landfill into a modern Waste Management Facility.
“Council took the strategic decision to continue to operate a landfill on the existing Greenmount site, rather than find a new site, which is a positive long-term solution for the community,” Cr Sommerfield said.
“As part of the Development Application conditions through the local and State planning process for the project, a bund in front of the facility needed to be removed so that the batter slope conditions could be met as per landfill capping design guidelines.
“As a result, a row of trees planted on the bund needed to be removed.
“Trees and vegetation will be replaced as part of the landfill remediation works.
“The remediation works will be undertaken using local soils and native vegetation and rely on the natural processes of evaporation and transpiration.”
Mrs Priebbenow said residents hope to see mature trees will be planted, not seeds.
Cr Sommerfield said the design, the first of its kind in the Darling Downs region, will prevent water ingress by using evapotranspiration and water balance theory.
“In a great long-term win for the community and the amenity of the area, part of the site will be turned into bushland with native grasses, trees and shrubs growing over the old landfill cell,” she said.
“The remediation works are designed so water soaks into the landfill cap, but before it reaches the waste, the vegetation uses it to grow, creating an environmentally friendly remediation solution that will continue to look better as it matures.”
Mrs Priebbenow said the increased traffic on the road as redevelopment is underway has raised concerns for residents.
“Eastern end residents of Falknau Road raised concern of the current speed and no signage around the bend in front of the residential properties, along with road width,” she said.
“It does not allow for safe passing with the increased truck movement since the refurbishment has commenced.
“They have witnessed trucks locking up brakes and near misses regularly, and with the local school bus using the private driveway for pick up/drop off, this has been elevated.
“They have requested clear signage of speed and a bus route sign to hopefully slow traffic.”
Other issues residents are concerned about include possible asbestos removal, land resumption to widen the road, water run-off and waste blowing into surrounding paddocks.
Cr Sommerfield said the project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024.
