The landfill site adjoining Mangrove Mountain Golf Course will cease operating – plus a new golf course will tee off – within the next 10 years, following the ruling by the NSW Land and Environment Court on Friday, August 28.
Gosford Council’s CEO Mr Paul Anderson welcomed the ruling after months of negotiations with the site’s operator and owner to get the best result possible for the local community and environment. “We’ve worked extremely hard with everyone involved to make sure that the future operation of this landfill is in-line with environmental standards as well as community expectations, and a redeveloped golf course is delivered as promised,” Mr Anderson said. “The new consent orders handed down by the court today reflect this hard work. “It’s very reassuring to know this landfill will wind up within the next 10 years, which provides the community with the certainty it needs about the site’s lifespan. “Ongoing activity at the site during this time will be closely and regularly monitored by council and the NSW Environment Protection Authority to make sure that the required environmental and operational safeguards are in place. “Strict limits have been set on the amount of fill the site can now take as well as the number of truck movements in and around it. “The landfill imported to the site is material that will form the new golf course’s approved design and construction and will be excavated natural material. “The landfill’s current height also has to be significantly reduced and its’ fill properly distributed across the site to meet the new orders. “Importantly, the Mangrove Mountain Golf Club is set have a fully developed and completed 18-hole golf course during the same timeframe,” he said. Mr Anderson also moved to reassure Gosford residents that thorough independent testing had been carried out to identify any potential impacts the site might have on the environment. “Numerous independent tests carried out in different conditions at the site show that it has not had any adverse impacts on the local environment, including air quality and the water catchment,” Mr Anderson added. “The community can be very confident that the region’s drinking water supply is safe and has not been contaminated by this landfill’s operation. “Independent testing will continue as part of ongoing monitoring at the site. “We also monitor the entire region’s drinking water quality at every stage of the supply system to make sure our residents receive drinking water that meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines,” he said. Deputy mayor Cr Bob Ward said he was “delighted that, after a great deal of effort on council’s behalf, there has been a resolution to the on-going problem with the landfill site adjacent to Mangrove Mountain Golf Course”. “I’m particularly pleased that independent testing has revealed that there has not been any unfavourable impact on air quality and the region’s drinking water supply. It’s critical that activity at the site is regularly monitored by both council and the NSW Environment Protection Authority to ensure that safeguards are in place to ensure that the air quality and water catchment are not adversely affected in the future,” said Cr Ward.
Media release,
29 Aug 2014
Gosford Council
Media statement,
29 Aug 2014
Bob Ward,
Gosford Council