Community Environment Network (CEN) chairman Mr John Asquith is encouraging community members to write to their local members and demand the Mangrove Mountain landfill site be closed.
Mr Asquith said the existing dumped material is unstable and needs to be reshaped to prevent it sliding down the hill.
“This part of the proposed agreement with Gosford Council is needed, but it should be at the contractors cost, not a reason for concessions by council,” said Mr Asquith.
“In this the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has some level of responsibility as they manage Bingo Mountain dumping and they are getting off free.
“Once the mountain is reshaped for stability, no more dumping should occur.
“Digging it all up would probably lead to more pollution, so the best option is to monitor the water quality seeping from the hill for at least 10 years,” said Mr Asquith.
Mr Asquith said CEN met with the Minister for the Central Coast and Minister for the Environment Mr Rob Stokes in late June.
“The Minister wanted to wait until the court action was finished before making any commitments; not very helpful.
“Potential danger to the Coast’s water supply is usually managed by not allowing dumping in the catchment.
“Once it is allowed then control of the material dumped and monitoring water seepage is the only option available.
“Verda Terra getting off scot free is a worry and while we have no evidence of malfeasance yet, the result is not credible when you look at council’s original points of claim from September 2012.
“The refusal of council to meet with either CEN or members of the Mangrove Mountain community to explain their actions is arrogance in the extreme and betrays the residents of Mangrove Mountain.
“It is noted that Council has been a major customer of the dump,” said Mr Asquith.
Kaitlin Watts, 11 Aug 2014
Interviewee: John Asquith