The Department of Planning and Environment is inviting the Lake Macquarie community’s feedback on the future of the former Pasminco smelter site at Boolaroo.
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Specifically, the department is seeking reaction to a proposed legislative change to establish a long-term management framework, including funding, for the Pasminco Cockle Creek Smelter site before any further significant development occurs.
The proposed amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy No 55 – Remediation of Land (SEPP 55) – will require adequate arrangements for the long-term management, monitoring and maintenance of the containment cell, un-remediated areas within the former smelter site, and other land within that site that is currently zoned E2 Environmental Conservation.
Lake Macquarie residents and businesses are now invited to have their say on the proposed SEPP amendment during the public exhibition period to July 31.
The department’s executive director of key sites and industry assessments, Anthea Sargeant, said the SEPP 55 amendment proposal represented an important step in the long-term remediation efforts at the Boolaroo site.
“The department is working closely with Lake Macquarie City Council and the Environment Protection Authority to ensure the necessary arrangements associated with the perpetual care of the containment cell, including financial arrangements, are accounted for prior to the issue of any further development approvals at the Boolaroo site,” Ms Sargeant said.
Large sections of the site earmarked for future redevelopment have been remediated following project approval by the then Minister for Planning in 2007.
The on-site containment cell contains about 1.9 million cubic metres of hazardous and other contaminated material and will require ongoing management as part of an environmental management framework, a spokesperson for the department said.
Have your say at the online submission portal: planning.nsw.gov.au/Pasminco.