MEDIA> TASMANIAN INCINERATOR
Tasmanian Incinerator is extinguished
For the past two years, angry Brighton and Bridgewater area residents have been fighting a proposal for a $100 million incinerator project located in their community.
The proposal faced mounting opposition from nearby residents over concerns it would emit toxic ash. Community-based lobby group Tasmanians Against Incineration was formed at a forum organised by Greenpeace.
The "waste-to-energy" incinerator was to be built in 2005, burning 180,000 tonnes of household and industrial rubbish to generate electricity.
Mayor of the Brighton Council, Tony Foster yesterday confirmed what the project's backers had avoided stating so far this week.
"Test was unable to secure enough contracts for the waste materials they needed."
Test had also failed to install a meteorological station on its development site as required by November 15, after two extensions to its environmental permit.
The project was approved by the council in 2001, but Cr Foster yesterday said he was relieved.
"Brighton Council, and myself, will always support development that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable," he said. "I don't think at the present time that the project meets any of those criteria."
Spokesman for Tasmanians Against Incineration, Keith Higgins, said the group, and surrounding communities, were elated yesterday.
"We just couldn't accept that we were about to get something that the rest of Australia wouldn't have."
The group,Tasmanians Against Incineration, deserves this victory for their determined efforts.
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