Nearby residents and many in the York community have been fighting the proposed landfill site since the plan was first announced.
Jenny and Ian McColl’s family have owned Orienga Park, a wheat and sheep property less than 1km from the proposed site, since 1926.
Mrs McColl said the landfill site would be disastrous for water, tourism, potential fires, traffic and would significantly decrease nearby pro-perty values.
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READ NOW‘If it goes ahead we will have no choice but to leave,’ Mrs McColl said.
Nial Stock, WA state general manager for SITA Australia, said the proposed ‘state-of-the-art’ facility was important in managing the region’s future waste needs.
The proposed landfill site would replace SITA’s South Cardup landfill facility, which is nearing capacity.
SITA referred its proposal for the Allawuna landfill site to the Environmental Protection Authority last March and the authority determined it did not require a full assessment.
Appeals following the EPA decision are currently before the Appeals Convenor.
Mr Stock said the proposed landfill site, at St Ronan’s on the Great Southern Highway, accounted for less than 4 per cent of the 1516ha Allawuna, which will remain a working farm.
‘Allawuna Farm is the most suitable location for the facility, with the location off the Swan Coastal Plain and offering separation from ground and surface water and houses,’ Mr Stock said.
‘Comprehensive environmental assessments found the proposed landfill does not pose any significant risk to the environment, and a separate traffic impact study concludes the Allawuna development would have negligible impact on users of the Great Southern Highway.
‘The Allawuna Farm landfill will boost local employment by creating at least 24 new full-time positions at the landfill facility and in the waste haulage operation. It will also create flow-on economic benefits during construction and through the facility’s ongoing operations,’ Mr Stock said.
Shire of York President Matthew Reid confirmed that SITA had submitted its planning application to the council.