SWANBANK NON-COMPLIANCE - WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?





There is an issue with various waste dump facilities in the Ipswich area of Swanbank.

There are 5 separate operations with 3 different companies operating them ( The Greenspot (Bio-Recycle), Lantrak and Nugrow (Growam) (See attached land use plan)

All the operations use the same access of signposted as 1 Memorial Drive Swanbank.

Over many years both Ipswich City Council (ICC) and  the Queensland Government through DEHP have approved conjointly these operations as well as various extensions to the same.

It is clear that there are many issues for local residents around Ipswich regarding these sites with some apparently under investigation by ICC and maybe DEHP for non compliance with their various licence conditions.

Recent applications approved for some sites and for a current application for another have called for transport reviews by the applicants that need to be approved by DEHP and Transport Qld.

One approved application for a company named Lantrak MCU 248/2015 had a condition inserted by SARA DILGP required the company to upgrade the intersection of Swanbank Rd and Memorial Dve before the applicant could commence the requested operational changes. ICC had this condition inserted into the approval.

Later applications by other operators all referred to this "proposed upgrade" as an article to ensure that the new applications would be approved.

Investigation by Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments (IRATE) has identified that this condition of the approval by the company Landtrak has not been done.

This is despite the situation that Lantrak is now working the site to the approval even though this condition has not been met. (See email confirmation from ICC on this matter.)

IRATE subsequently advised SARA DILGP of this non compliance and their response is attached in the letter from them.

In the letter they advise that compliance with the condition is either a matter of ICC or Department of Transport and seem to indicate that they will not be doing anything about this non compliance.

ICC on the other hand says they "may take further action".

So we have DILGP approving their part of the application.

ICC approving the application.

Landtrak not complying with the application, but working their site to the new approval.

ICC being aware of the issue but trying to blame DILGP.

DILGP being aware of the situation but declining to do anything about it as it is an ICC or Dept of Transport issue.

Dept of Transport most probably not being aware of the issue.

This is a finger pointing exercise with highly paid staff in all levels of government going through the motions of approval, but not wanting to ensure licence conditions are actually complied with.

Many of these sites are blatantly receiving waste from New South Wales with previous applications and as well as the current application advising of this situation.

After the Four Corners report on the issue of waste transport from New South Wales that is making Ipswich the "Waste capital of Australia) the Queensland goverment claimed they knew nothing of this trade and an inquiry was initiated where only the waste companies were invited to a special meeting with the Minister at the time.

What is important here though is that all levels of the government approval agencies know of this significant non compliance with the licence conditions for Lantrak, a none seem interested in having this company brought to task for this non compliance.

Can you please advise what your Council and Government are going to do about this significant issue?

When can the people of Ipswich expect that the laws of the land are enforced?

When can we expect Lantrak to cease their new operations until the required infrastructure is installed?

What penalty will be imposed upon Lantrak for working the site without complying with their licence conditions?


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