Environment Minister Orders Immediate Clean Up of Rutherford's Truegain Site

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Environment Minister Matt Kean has become to first NSW Environment Minister to issue a prohibition notice, ordering the owner of the former Truegain waste oil refinery site in Rutherford to clean up the site of face prosecution from the Environmental Protection agency.

The prohibition notice requires the all storages of waste or substances that could pose a risk to the environment or human health to be removed from the site. 

“The owner of this site has been given ample opportunities to fix this mess, but now enough is enough, it’s time we use every power we have to protect the environment and the local community.” Mr Kean said.

“After seeing it for myself, it is clear the Truegain site has been left in a terrible mess and it needs to be cleaned up.”

The Minister says numerous opportunities have been afforded the owner, including one last month, to provide submissions to the EPA in relation to the site and about this Prohibition Notice.

The EPA has also issued 18 penalty notices to Truegain, successfully prosecuting the company twice in the NSW Land & Environment Court.

The EPA also suspended Truegain’s environment protection licence in 2016 and revoked its licence on 5 January 2018 and ordered the landowner to remove all liquid from the premises’ spill containment system and lawfully dispose of it, and then do so again within 48 hours of any rainfall event.

The EPA is now monitoring the condition of the site during rain events and is arranging for removal and lawful disposal of contaminated wastewater as needed to prevent any discharge of contaminated water to the environment.

Mr Kean said non-compliance with the Notice, which requires removal of all stored waste at the site, may result in prosecution by the EPA.

“I want to make sure the community can have confidence that sites are properly maintained and rehabilitated and that all necessary action is taken to prioritise the health of the community and protection of the environment,” Mr Kean said.

Hunter Bee Keepers Call For Recovery Plan, Not Just "Sugar Hit" On World Bee Day

BY EL FITCHETT

Today is World Bee Day, and across the Hunter beekeepers are backing calls from New South Wales Labor for a recovery plan to ensure the survival of the beekeeping industry.

New South Wales is the largest honey producing state in Australia, but apiaries are reeling after years of drought, followed by a horror bush fire season.

"A lot of trees didn't flower and produce honey because of the drought, or died. Even though we've had rain, we don't really get the benefits from that for around 6 to 12 months, before trees respond and eventually flower," said Col Wilson, who runs Hunter Valley Apiaries based in Kurri Kurri.

In an added blow, the summer bush fires destroyed native habitats, thousands of hives, and many millions of bees.

"A lot of the burnt timber won't recover, and the places that have been burnt wont be good for 5 to 10 years before they can be useful for the bee keeping industry," said Col Wilson.

Without pollen producing trees such as flowering gums to feed bees, producers in fire-affected areas were given a short-term food source of sugar supplements earlier this year.

"There was a limited amount of it. There's a lot of bee keepers still feeding bees to try and keep them alive," said Col Wilson.

Prior to COVID-19, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Jenny Aitchison traveled across the state and spoke to many beekeepers about the devastating impacts on the industry, and saw the damage first-hand.

"It's the perfect time for the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government to produce a recovery plan that details how they will help the industry recover both in the short term and long term," said Jenny Aitchison.

“NSW apiarists were given short-term food source of sugar supplements for the bees in the fire-affected areas earlier this year, but they need ongoing support from the Government to ensure not only the bees future, but the sustainability of the many other primary producers in horticulture who are reliant on bee pollination.”

The industry has petitioned the State Government for access to national parks and conservation areas which could serve as alternative sites, until fire-affected land recovers.

However, these areas have previously been off limits to beekeepers, due to concerns about the impact bees could have on native ecosystems.

"With national parks they say because bees weren't native to Australia we do not want you in there. But bees are beneficial to the environment, would they prefer to let the bees die? Is that conservation?" said Col Wilson.

Other suggestions from the industry include an audit of public lands available for beekeepers, waivers on fees for using public land for hives, and more sugar supplement to keep hives in production.

Ongoing support from the Government could ensure not only the bees future, but the sustainability of many primary industries which are reliant on bees for pollination.

"You have farmers who grow crops, and with bees working those crops you get better quality fruit, or in canola crops you get a better quality seed and a higher oil content. But no bees no crop," said Col Wilson.

"The industry has been crying out for assistance, and it is past time that the Government listened to them," said Jenny Aitchison.

"I know commercial beekeepers who've lost 50 per cent of their resources. What they are going to do I don't know. That's why we would like some of this public land to be made available in the short term to keep the industry going," said Col Wilson.

Government Presses Pause On Sale Of Local Building

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

Member for Maitland Jenny Atchison has won a momentary reprieve from the Government's plans to sell the East-Maitland Lands Office building.

The building was deemed surplus to both Property NSW and the 'Whole of Government' earlier this year, leading to the decision for it to be sold off.

Recently Moree Plains Shire Council was offered the chance to purchase the towns Crown Lands Office for just $1.

Maitland MP Atchison wrote to the Hon Victor Dominello MP earlier in the month asking for the local community to be offered the same opportunity.

"The community is sick of having to fight for decent infrastructure and services," Ms Atchison said.

Minister Dominello has advised that he's asked Property NSW to put the sale process on hold so a proper assessment of the community use proposal by the Maitland Regional Museum committee can be made and negotiations with Maitland City Council can take place.

"This is a huge win for our local community and I look forward to the proper assessment of the regional museum committee's proposal

"This is a tribute to the hard work of our community," Maitland MP Atchison said.

Maitland Mercury/WIN

Police Shortage In Maitland

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison is criticising the state government for failing to enlist more police in Maitland.

The region was promised ten new officers, however, they are still three short.

"We've just had 234 new police recruits coming into the state- three of those have come into the Hunter, but none to Maitland," she says.

"We've only got seven out of ten of the promised recruits, and that is not good enough."

Ms Aitchison feels the area is being overlooked, despite a growing population and crime rate.

"Our population has topped well over 80 thousand now, we need these services to be delivered and yet the government just seems to ignore us," she says.

"They're very happy to build and to knock down stadiums in Sydney, but when it comes to putting police on the ground in Maitland, they can't cut a ribbon for that one."

Since the start of the year, seven outlaw motorcycle gang incidents have occurred, on top of day to day crime.

Ms Aitchison says this, paired with a high domestic violence rate, should be acknowledged.

"In 2016 we were the third highest increase in domestic violence in the state, and we have the highest Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) application rate," she says.

"There have been six to seven incidents of outlaw motorcycle gang violence in the first two months of this year, and a lot of that violence was centred in Maitland,"

"That takes time out of police in their busy schedules, so that makes it even harder."

Maitland receives Return and Earn machine

BY GRACE LANCASTER

Maitland residents will be lining their pockets with recyclables with the installation of their very first Return and Earn machine today.

The reverse vending machine comes four weeks after the Environment Protection Authority promised the deposit location after ongoing community concern over the lack of collection points in the Maitland area.

Those who wish to return their glass, plastic, aluminium, steel or liquid paperboard containers will be provided with the option of either receiving vouchers, payments or donations to charities for every piece they return.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, said the machine will be well worth the wait.

"It's great to be underway, the first one in Thornton was put on site there today, it'll be connected up very shortly and New South Wales and the EPA will be announcing its commencement very shortly," he said.

Maitland MP, Jenny Aitchison, however, still has grave concerns believing the initiative won't be as effective as promised.

"My big concern is that it is half the size of the one at Medowie and Cessnock. I'm concerned it was built too quickly, we have had our community for three months waiting for this machine to arrive and it's a shame there's not enough of it."

Mr MacDonald thanked the people of Maitland for their patience noting his excitement despite Labor concerns.

"I'm disappointed the Labor party is still talking down Return and Earn, but I think the community can see through that, they're on board and it'll be used," he said. 

Ms Aitchison responded with disappointment at the liberal government's politicising of a local need.

"I've got people who can't afford subscriptions, people that can't afford to eat, and this little bit of extra cash would help and the government wants to make it some political point scoring exercise. It's really disappointing." 

Source: www.westernadvocate.com.au