Temporary planning protections extended over waste operators
07 December 2023
Ipswich waste operators will continue to be regulated under a new Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI), overriding the existing planning scheme with stricter management controls.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council had effectively used these planning levers since 2018 to hold waste and recycling operators to higher standards.
“The existing Ipswich Planning Scheme 2006 does not adequately regulate the regionally significant economic areas of Swanbank, New Chum, and Ebenezer, Willowbank and Jeebropilly from adverse impacts associated with waste activities,” Mayor Harding said.
“Importantly, council is now nearing completion of the major overhaul of our 17-year-old Planning Scheme.
“This revitalised planning scheme, known now as Ipswich Plan 2024, will significantly address the community’s concerns about the impacts of the waste industry on Ipswich, and will better manage the regulation of the industry across the city.
“The current TLPI was adopted in 2021 and is set to expire this week. A new TLPI was adopted by council to come into effect from 11 December, and will be in effect for a further two years.
“Many of our current waste industry operators were first attracted to Ipswich for the former open cut mining voids across our city, leading to the establishment of landfills and compost manufacturing.
“The TLPIs not only properly regulate these growing waste industries, but also manage the restoration of areas affected by past mining operators and manage the immediate and long-term protection of the environment.”
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the future adoption of the Ipswich Plan 2024 would significantly improve council’s ability to manage the waste industry and associated impacts.
“Council has prioritised managing the impacts of the waste industry for years,” Cr Tully said.
“Ongoing issues with odour impacts, concerns about the environment and the proximity of new suburbs to waste industry operators are just some of the challenges we are working with the State Government, the waste industry, and the community to address.
“This is the third Temporary Local Planning Instrument council has adopted since 2018, and with the expected adoption of the Ipswich Plan in 2024, we anticipate it will be the last.”