THE POST, Thursday, April 3, 2025 - Page 1
parkeschampionpost.com.au
ESTABLISHED 1891 Thursday, April 3, 2025
clittle@midwestmedia.com.au
$2.20 inc GST
parkeschampionpost.com.au
Community pushback Mayor CONCERNS OVER WHAT FACILITY assures town will WILL DO TO PARKES’ FUTURE come first Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott has penned a letter to the community following widespread concern over a proposed Energy from Waste facility for Parkes. The project was officially launched on 24 March after its developers were appointed and proposes to convert Sydney’s rubbish into electricity, heat and steam.
BACK DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS
on Sunday, April 6 at 3am (EST) you need to put your clocks BACK by one hour.
Read the full letter from Mayor Neil Westcott on page 12
■
Residents want to be heard Members of the Parkes Shire community want their voices heard regarding a proposal to build a $1.5 billion Energy from Waste facility just west of the town. Many are calling for answers and raising concerns on potential impacts such a development could have on human health, animals, vegetation, farmland and food production, air quality and water pollution.
More coverage on the Energy from Waste facility proposed for Parkes and the town’s feelings on pages 12 and 13.
■
SHERYL STEVENSON AND ROASTED KOMBI CAFE OWNER DARRIN GIBSON DO NOT WANT AN ENERGY FROM WASTE FACILITY BUILT IN PARKES. PHOTO: CHRISTINE LITTLE By CHRISTINE LITTLE Cafe owner Darrin Gibson has firmly and publicly made his stance known on an Energy from Waste facility that has been proposed for Parkes. Last week he hung printed signs in the windows of the Roasted Kombi cafe in Clarinda Street, strongly opposing the $1.5 billion development and calling on Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott to “send it back to Sydney”. On March 24 the next significant steps in establishing an Energy from Waste facility on land the state government has earmarked within the Parkes Special Activation Precinct were revealed. A development agreement has been
signed with the developer - a consortium led by Tribe Infrastructure Group - and details on the facility proposed, including a timeline were also released. The plant will convert rubbish from landfill in Sydney that cannot be recycled into electricity, heat and steam. Mr Gibson is far from alone in his feelings on the development. A large number of Parkes residents have voiced their concerns across social media regarding the impacts such a facility will have on their health and that of the environment, and their anger at the lack of communication and community consultation. A petition to reject the project is also circling the community and a Facebook
group called ‘Stop the Parkes ‘Energy from Waste’ facility’ has formed. Mr Gibson said he is fighting for our children and their future. He questions the impact the Energy from Waste facility and any emissions will have on people’s health and lives, land and air quality in five, 10 or 15 years’ time. “Our children are the most important thing in our world,” he said. “I’ve already lost one family, my children (who died in the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria in 2009) are buried here. “But my children who are living, I speak up for them.” ■ Continued on page 13
Maggie Anderson is sew awesome Page 3
Goobang on big screen
LAZBOY FLASH SALE 30% OFF EVERYTHING
7 DAYS A WEEK
5 DAYS ONLY Starts Wed 2nd April
22-36 Parkes Road, Fo bes (Next doo to Bunnings)
Page 4