Blaxland RRWMF: Odour matters

Below is an update on the progress of the plan and ongoing odour issues relating to the facility.

Council received the report from the external consultant, on the landfill gas system efficacy and landfill cover in late November 2021. This was the final advice required to complete the Odour Reduction Action Plan. There are a number of operational changes that are in the process of being implemented in response to this report. Specifically, the fill plan is being modified to reduce the size of the tip face area, increase compaction and increase the angle of work to increase water run-off and avoid water seeping into the landfill.

The final report, including the above advice was submitted to the EPA on 29 November 2021, as required by the pollution reduction clause in our Environmental Protection License. The EPA has advised that it will take up to 90 days for them to consider the information provided and to respond.

Council has already re-engaged The Odour Unit Pty. Ltd. (the consultant that undertook the initial study) to undertake a further odour assessment to assess the overall improvement and effectiveness of the actions undertaken over the past 12 months.

A Council report has been planned for March 2022 that will include the feedback received from the EPA and the outcomes of the odour assessment.

The current environmental conditions are placing the facility at higher risk of odour generation. The wet conditions are presenting challenges and you will note that the odour is being reported whilst the facility is closed. This indicates that the odour would not cease if the landfill ceased operating, it is a challenge that must be solved or masked.

Council is continuing to test for any fugitive gas emission using a 25m grid across the whole facility on a monthly basis and are addressing any weaknesses as they are identified.

Council are also progressing an investigation into the use of an odour fence. An odour fence would mask and further disperse odour at the facility boundary. While this has not been suggested by the consultants at this stage, the use of an odour fence at the Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility prior to the closure of the old landfill was reportedly effective in resolving previous challenges at Katoomba.

Please be assured Blue Mountains City Council remains committed to addressing the odour challenges, are responding to all advice and will continue to explore other options.

The Blaxland Waste Management Facility provides the community with convenient access to waste disposal, recycling and reuse, local employment, lower cost waste disposal, reduced truck movements across the Mountains and flexibility to provide tailored service levels to meet community needs.

The Odour Reduction Action Plan was submitted to the NSW EPA on 28 May 2021, as required and was reported to Council at the 29 June 2021 Meeting. You can read the full report here: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/2021-06-29-council-meeting-business-paper

Please see in the table below a summary of the progress made to date in delivering the odour reduction projects.

Blue Mountains City Council is committed to being a good neighbour and addressing any issues that arise at the waste facility. The Blaxland Waste Management Facility provides the community with convenient access to waste disposal, recycling and re-use, local employment, lower cost waste disposal, reduced truck movements across the mountains and flexibility to provide tailored service levels to meet community needs.

At the Ordinary Council meeting on 29 June 2021, it was resolved:

1. That the Council notes the findings and recommendations in the Blaxland Resource Recovery & Waste Management Facility Field Ambient Odour Study.

2. That the Council notes the findings of the Blaxland Resource Recovery & Waste Management Facility Compliance Noise Monitoring report.

3. That the Council notes the conclusions of the Blaxland Resource Recovery & Waste Management Facility targeted planning review.

4. That the Council notes the submission of the Odour Reduction Action Plan to the Environmental Protection Agency on 28 May 2021 as required by the Pollution Reduction Program License Condition.

5. That the Council notes that the required service changes will commence in July 2021, with at least 2 weeks’ notice to be provided to customers and contractors.

6. That the Council communicates the findings of the odour study and noise monitoring report and outlines the actions the Council is taking to mitigate the generation of odour and noise to stakeholders.

7. That the Council receives a further report on the outcomes of the License Variation requests to the Environmental Protection Agency, and

8. That the Council receives a report to the early part of the new term of the new Council that includes all options for future planning for the finite life of the

Blaxland landfill and that this report includes timelines, ways of mitigating costs to ratepayers, and the introduction of full organics.

Council will make the report available 19 May. The planned briefing with residents on 19 May will proceed. This meeting provides an opportunity for interested residents to be briefed on the report outcomes and recommendation, in person by the consultant. Council staff will also present a draft action plan at the meeting. See details below:

Title: Odour Report Outcomes and Draft Action Plan

Location: Meeting room 1, Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, Springwood

Date and time: Wednesday 19 May at 14:30.

Venue capacity: 30

Please register for this event at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/blaxland-rrwm-facility-odour-report-outcomes-and-draft-action-plan-tickets-154179263327

A second meeting will be held on 26 May. This will provide residents time to review the report and give an opportunity for further questions and feedback on both the report and action plan. See details below:

Title: Odour Report Outcomes and Draft Action Plan Feedback session

Location: Community Dining Room, Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, Springwood

Date and time: Wednesday 26 May at 14:30.

Venue capacity: 15

Please register for this event at: : https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/odour-report-outcomes-and-draft-action-plan-feedback-session-tickets-154665652129

The Odour Report and action plan will now be considered at the 29 June Council meeting. Residents have the option to register and speak, on the topic, at the Council Meeting. The Council meeting details are below:

Title: Ordinary Meeting of Council

Location: Council Chambers, Civic Place, Katoomba

Date and time: Tuesday 29 June at 19:30

Registrations to address the meeting close: Tuesday 29 June at 19:20

If you would like to address the meeting please ensure you register at the Council Chambers between 6.45pm to 7.20pm. Alternatively you can register online by completing and returning the ‘Registration Form for Addressing Council’. This form can be found by visiting bmcc.nsw.gov.au/council-meetings.

Thank you to the residents who have contributed data to the independent odour assessment through the use of the online odour log. This information has been provided to the independent specialist to inform their report.

As this odour study is nearing completion, the online odour log information will be closed off and the final entries forwarded to inform the consultant’s report.

The final report from the independent odour assessment, including any outcomes and recommended actions, will be made publicly available when it is reported to Council in the coming months.

Blue Mountains City Council is committed to being a good neighbour and addressing any issues that arise at the waste facility. The Blaxland Waste Management Facility provides the community with convenient access to waste disposal, recycling and re-use, local employment, lower cost waste disposal, reduced truck movements across the mountains and flexibility to provide tailored service levels to meet community needs.

Following is an update on relevant actions that have been taken at Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility recently.

In addition, at the Ordinary Council meeting on 24 November 2020, it was resolved:

“That the Council calls the Environment Protection Authority in to investigate the odour issues at Blaxland Waste Management Facility as a matter of urgency and to provide advice on the immediate resolution of same, including guidance as to the future management of the site.”

We have since written to and met with representatives from the NSW EPA and agreed on a process to address the odour issue. This includes engaging a suitably qualified person to identify all potential sources of odour and management strategies to redress the issues and prepare a report for the EPA.

We are now seeking the neighbouring community’s support with this odour assessment. We have established an “Online Odour Log” – available on this page – for neighbours to record details of odour incidents. These reports will help the independent odour specialist prepare the report to the EPA.

Blue Mountains City Council continues to take extensive steps to reduce the impact of the facility on our neighbours. This helps to ensure the community continues to benefit from easy access to waste disposal, recycling and re-use, local employment, lower cost waste disposal, reduced truck movements across the mountains and flexibility to provide tailored service levels to meet community needs.

Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility has been impacted by a number of notable events over the past 2-3 years. While these events have contributed to some odour issue, Council has and continues to take action to reduce the impact of these.

The table below highlights the events and the remediation’s completed or in progress:

In addition to the remediation outlined above, Council continually and proactively carries out work to monitor and reduce the impacts the site has on the surrounding community.

Currently scheduled activities at the site include:

Council have and continue to take extensive steps to reduce the impact of Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility on its surrounding residents.

This helps to ensure the community continues to benefit from easy access to waste disposal, local employment, lower cost waste disposal, reduced truck movements across the mountains, flexibility to provide tailored service levels to meet community needs.

Neighbours of Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility may have experienced odours from the facility recently.

Council apologies for any discomfort, inconvenience and concern this may have caused.

Despite Council’s best efforts to minimise odours, recent significant rain events has resulted in the facility experiencing a landslide that has exposed waste. Unfortunately the landslide may cause some short term odours to neighbouring properties under certain weather conditions.

Council has advised NSW Environment Protection Authority of the incident, as the regulator of the site, and engaged an expert consultant. Together, we are working through the issues to remediate the site.

At this stage the continued wet weather makes the site difficult and unsafe to commence remediation. Due to the wet grounds, machinery are unable to commence the required works until the grounds dry out. We ask for your patience and ensure that as soon as the conditions have improved and are safe, works will commence.