In a rare attack against a local council, local MP, Jonathan O’Dea has criticised Warringah Council over a lack of support for mountain biking at the rehabilitated WSN waste disposal landfill site at Belrose, as reflected in the recommendation from Council officers to the Council tonight.
The Member for Davidson has described the move by Council officers against such activity, essentially on the basis of seemingly remote financial considerations, as demonstrating a lack of community consultation and awareness.
“The local community has repeatedly compromised over the use of the WSN site. Most recently it accepted an extension of operations and an extra 180,000 tonnes of waste on the clear understanding that recreational facilities would be established on the site, potentially including mountain biking and horse riding,” Mr O’Dea said.
“For Council to now reject these options within the rehabilitated site would be an appalling, insensitive, slap in the face to the community in general and to those who have worked so hard, in a spirit of compromise, to achieve an acceptable outcome for all. This is particularly so, given that $3.5m is available from a special landfill levy to undertake the relevant work and maintain the site for over a decade.
“At last week’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on the WSN site, it was revealed up to half a dozen Council officers had recently visited the property but had not informed the local Ward Councillor, who regularly attends the CAC meetings. Even the Mayor was unaware of developments,” Mr O’Dea said.
“In a further demonstration of contempt for local community processes and views, the Council officer appointed to represent the Council bureaucracy at the CAC meeting failed to even attend this crucial forum to discuss future use of the site.
“It seems Council officers want the rehabilitated site to feature little more than picnic and dog walking areas. But who would want to climb a former tip site, exposed to the wind, unable to grow significant trees, next to an ongoing waste transfer station for a picnic, when there are many more appealing facilities nearby,” Mr O’Dea said.
I intend to speak at tonight’s Warringah Council meeting. Established community processes regarding the Belrose landfill site, as well as past commitments to its rehabilitation with appropriate recreational facilities, such as mountain biking, should be respected,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
