Rockingham waste-to-energy plant returns to council for approvals

City of Rockingham councillors will this week decide whether to recommend conditional planning approval for a proposed waste-to-energy facility for East Rockingham.

At this week's full council meeting, elected members will debate whether to adopt a report to be submitted to the South West Joint Development Assessment Panel, which recommends conditional approval for the proposal from New Energy Corporation.

Recommended conditions include a planning approval validity period of two years from the date of approval, efforts to prevent increased sand or dust blow-off during preliminary earthworks at the Office Road site, the containment of stormwater, the preparation of a landscaping plan and car parking for at least 36 vehicles.

The City received 21 public submissions during its community consultation period, including concerns about the facility's proximity to homes and existing industry, air quality, undesirable odours, increased traffic, a decreasing incentive to recycle and the potential impact on property values.

According to the report, the departments of Water, Parks and Wildlife, and natural gas infrastructure business APA Group raised no concern with the New Energy Proposal.

It concludes the proposed development is generally compliant with City of Rockingham town planning scheme number 2, which outlines the proposed site as zoned for special industry, and current State planning policies.

The plan for the plant, expected to receive and treat 153,000 tonnes of waste per year, and create 16 megawatts of electricity to be returned to the grid, received conditional approval from Environmental Protection Authority in June.