Questions for Government

A. Evidence base and Territory Plan integrity

1. Has the ACT Government prepared a written statement confirming that the evidence relied on to support DPA-14 is current and specific to Block 1653 as a separate parcel, as distinct from the former Block 1582?
2. For each technical study cited in the DPA-14 explanatory statement, what was the study date and scope? Does any study pre-date the creation of Block 1653 as a separate parcel?
3. Where studies were conducted for Block 1582 and are being applied to Block 1653, what is the ACT Government's basis for concluding that those studies remain valid for the new parcel?
4. Has an independent technical review of the DPA-14 evidence base been conducted? If so, is that review publicly available?

B. Western Edge studies and background context

1. Which Western Edge investigation reports are being relied on to support DPA-14?
2. Which findings are site-specific to Block 1653 Belconnen?
3. Has current odour and air-quality modelling been prepared for the proposed Block 1653 use?
4. Has a current bushfire and emergency-management assessment been prepared for a permanent recycling facility and bulk landscape supplies operation?
5. What types of materials and processing activities could be assessed under the proposed "recycling facility" use?
6. Would construction and demolition material, soil, composting, transfer-station activity, stockpiling or other resource-recovery activities be capable of being assessed under the proposed use?
7. How does DPA-14 relate to earlier DA 202240118 and the temporary approval pathway? See the Background Timeline for this history.

C. Odour and public health

1. Has a site-specific odour impact assessment been conducted for Block 1653? What methodology was used, and does it comply with current Australian odour assessment guidelines?
2. What radius or geographic area has been used to assess odour, bioaerosol and air-quality impacts from Block 1653, and why is that area considered sufficient?
3. Has modelling considered impacts beyond 1 kilometre, including nearby and future West Belconnen / Ginninderry residential areas?
4. What are the modelled odour concentrations at the nearest residential areas under average and worst-case conditions?
5. Has the assessment considered bioaerosols as well as odour and volatile organic compounds?
6. Has a health risk assessment been prepared for the proposed composting and green waste processing operations, including assessment of bioaerosol exposure for nearby residents?
7. What feedstocks, materials and processing activities have been assumed in any odour or air-quality modelling?
8. Would the assessment change if "recycling facility" allowed a broader range of materials or activities than green garden waste?
9. What odour and air quality monitoring will be required under any development approval? Will monitoring include locations in nearby residential areas, not just at the site boundary, and how will results be made publicly accessible?
10. What complaint-response, incident-response and public reporting arrangements would apply if odour impacts occur after operations begin, what are the required response timeframes, and what enforcement powers does the relevant ACT regulator hold?
11. Would any approval conditions require enclosed processing, forced aeration, windrow controls, leachate controls, weather-based operating restrictions or independent odour audits?

D. Co-location and staged intensification

1. What is the full range of uses that would be permitted on Block 1653 under the proposed Territory Plan amendment — at the upper end of what the amendment allows?
2. Has the ACT Government assessed the cumulative impact of potential co-location of multiple waste or resource-management uses on or adjacent to Block 1653?
3. What conditions in the Territory Plan or development approval process would prevent unplanned intensification of waste uses on Block 1653 over time?
4. What is the ACT Government's position on whether the DPA-14 amendment could be used as a precedent for further amendments to adjacent parcels?

E. Traffic and access

1. Has a traffic impact assessment been conducted specifically for Block 1653? What road routes does it assess, and are projections based on the proposed operational scale or only a smaller initial phase?
2. What are the projected daily heavy vehicle movements associated with the proposed operations, and how do these compare to current traffic volumes on affected roads?
3. Have ACT Emergency Services Agency access requirements for the site been assessed, and do proposed access arrangements meet those requirements?

F. Environmental and waterway risk

1. What is the proximity of Block 1653 to waterways, groundwater recharge areas, or other sensitive environmental receptors?
2. Has an environmental risk assessment been prepared that addresses leachate management under normal and worst-case operational conditions?
3. What monitoring and reporting conditions will be placed on the site to detect and respond to environmental incidents?

G. Bushfire and emergency management

1. Has a bushfire risk assessment been prepared for the proposed composting and green waste processing operations on Block 1653?
2. What separation distances from residential areas and vegetation are required, and are those distances achievable within Block 1653?
3. Have evacuation routes for surrounding residential or employment areas been assessed for any impact from the proposed operations?

H. Consultation quality and process

1. Are all technical studies cited in the DPA-14 explanatory statement publicly available? If not, why not, and how can residents access them?
2. How were communities within the potential odour and traffic impact zone notified of DPA-14? Does notification extend beyond the immediately adjacent area?
3. How will submissions be considered, what weight will they be given, and will the decision-maker provide written reasons that address the specific concerns raised?

I. Governance and accountability

1. Who is the decision-maker for DPA-14, and what criteria are they required by law to apply?
2. Following the ACT Auditor-General's findings on Territory Plan amendment processes (see the Auditor-General Lessons page), what systemic improvements have been made — and does DPA-14 reflect those improvements?
3. What is the mechanism for residents to seek review of the decision if they believe the process has not been properly followed?

Ask these questions

You can put these questions to government by:

• Including them in a formal submission — see our submission guide.
• Writing to your local MLA —find your MLA via the ACT Legislative Assembly website.
• Attending any public information sessions —check the Source Documents page for any announced sessions.
• Submitting through the official consultation page — see the Source Documents page.