GUNNEDAH, the so called 'Koala Capital of the World' could become the 'Garbage Mecca of the North West' if a development application gets approval, residents fear.
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The Mackellar Group's proposed Gunnedah Waste Facility would transport thousands of tonnes of industrial waste from as far away as Sydney and the coast of Queensland and process it right on Gunnedah's doorstep, which has left some locals asking "why?".
The state significant project has sparked strong community opposition, and is currently before the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Public submissions closed earlier this month, but that hasn't stopped residents strongly and publicly voicing their concerns.
The hub of one of Australia's richest agricultural regions - the Liverpool Plains - and the inspiration behind the late Dorothea Mackellar's famous poem 'My Country' should not be home to a waste facility of this size, said Donna Hanlen, who with her husband Allan Hanlen, own a grazing property near Mary's Mount, 20 kilometres from Gunnedah.
"The unclaimed material from the proposed processing terminal would be transferred to the serene and quiet farming community of Marys Mount," Mrs Hanlen said.
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"A large number of farm and residential landowners, some as close as several hundred metres, received no meaningful consultation from the proponent before the development documents were quietly lodged.
"With Gunnedah recently nominated as one of the top three regional destinations in the state for 'tree changes', that rating could be short-lived.
"The potential negative impact of the Mackellar Group's proposed developments could well bring an end to land value increases or viewing the area as a desirable place to live and raise a family."
Gunnedah Shire Council do not oppose the development, and have stated they are confident the IPC will deal with the matter appropriately.