Latest news with #ColinBarnett
Pembrokeshire Herald
15-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Call for CCTV cameras to tackle Pembrokeshire fly tipping
Campaigners call for permit reduction instead, warning trust has been 'shredded' THE COMPANY behind Pembrokeshire's controversial Withyhedge landfill site has sparked outrage by applying to increase the volume of waste it is allowed to receive by an extra 50,000 tonnes per year. Resources Management (UK) Limited (RML), the operator of the privately-run site near Dreenhill, has submitted an application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) seeking a formal variation to its existing environmental permit. Currently, the site is authorised to accept up to 250,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste annually. The proposed increase would allow a further 50,000 tonnes specifically for what RML describes as a new 'waste recovery activity'. RML wants a formal variation to its existing environmental permit NRW confirmed this week that the additional material would be used solely for 'engineering and capping' purposes—namely, restoring the site using soil-based materials. According to the regulator, RML has depleted its on-site stock and now needs to import external material to continue these works. But campaigners say the timing and nature of the request are unacceptable, given the site's recent history. Colin Barnett, a founder member of the campaign group Stop the Stink, said: 'We will be taking part in NRW's consultation and will be insisting that rather than increasing the waste accepted, NRW should decrease it by 50,000 tonnes.' 'This whole saga began because they rammed waste they should not have accepted into that landfill. Until they can be trusted to manage the site professionally, the answer must be no to any increase.' Mr Barnett and others have criticised NRW and Pembrokeshire County Council for what they view as premature scaling back of oversight, after the multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) and Air Quality Group were both stood down earlier this year. The IMT had been established in 2023 following a major public outcry over emissions from the landfill. Residents across Haverfordwest, Merlin's Bridge and beyond complained of overpowering smells and health impacts linked to Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), a gas that smells like rotten eggs and can cause nausea, eye irritation and headaches. One local described the site at the time as 'a stink bomb on steroids.' Campaigners have been complaining about the landfill for years The site was temporarily closed in May 2023 and only reopened in January this year after NRW confirmed that RML had completed all required compliance works. Despite this, odour complaints have continued, including a flare-up in Haverfordwest earlier this month (May 1), prompting further public anger. PCC later stated that no landfill-related odours were detected during its investigation of those complaints, while air quality monitoring at Spittal School has reportedly shown no exceedances attributable to the site. NRW says it remains committed to unannounced inspections and that its investigation into previous breaches is ongoing. 'We recognise the high level of public interest in this landfill,' said a spokesperson. 'We will be enhancing our communications as part of the upcoming consultation. Further details will be shared in due course.' But campaigners remain sceptical, warning that trust in the operator—and in the regulators—has been 'shredded.' 'We would like to reassure residents that unlike NRW and PCC, we are still monitoring the landfill's activities closely,' said Mr Barnett. 'People's lives were turned upside down last year. You can't just forget that because the wind changes direction for a few weeks.' Have your say: Residents wishing to comment on the application can do so during NRW's public consultation, details of which are expected to be released shortly.
Pembrokeshire Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Withyhedge landfill operator seeks to increase waste limit by 50,000 tonnes
Campaigners call for permit reduction instead, warning trust has been 'shredded' THE COMPANY behind Pembrokeshire's controversial Withyhedge landfill site has sparked outrage by applying to increase the volume of waste it is allowed to receive by an extra 50,000 tonnes per year. Resources Management (UK) Limited (RML), the operator of the privately-run site near Dreenhill, has submitted an application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) seeking a formal variation to its existing environmental permit. Currently, the site is authorised to accept up to 250,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste annually. The proposed increase would allow a further 50,000 tonnes specifically for what RML describes as a new 'waste recovery activity'. RML wants a formal variation to its existing environmental permit NRW confirmed this week that the additional material would be used solely for 'engineering and capping' purposes—namely, restoring the site using soil-based materials. According to the regulator, RML has depleted its on-site stock and now needs to import external material to continue these works. But campaigners say the timing and nature of the request are unacceptable, given the site's recent history. Colin Barnett, a founder member of the campaign group Stop the Stink, said: 'We will be taking part in NRW's consultation and will be insisting that rather than increasing the waste accepted, NRW should decrease it by 50,000 tonnes.' 'This whole saga began because they rammed waste they should not have accepted into that landfill. Until they can be trusted to manage the site professionally, the answer must be no to any increase.' Mr Barnett and others have criticised NRW and Pembrokeshire County Council for what they view as premature scaling back of oversight, after the multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) and Air Quality Group were both stood down earlier this year. The IMT had been established in 2023 following a major public outcry over emissions from the landfill. Residents across Haverfordwest, Merlin's Bridge and beyond complained of overpowering smells and health impacts linked to Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), a gas that smells like rotten eggs and can cause nausea, eye irritation and headaches. One local described the site at the time as 'a stink bomb on steroids.' Campaigners have been complaining about the landfill for years The site was temporarily closed in May 2023 and only reopened in January this year after NRW confirmed that RML had completed all required compliance works. Despite this, odour complaints have continued, including a flare-up in Haverfordwest earlier this month (May 1), prompting further public anger. PCC later stated that no landfill-related odours were detected during its investigation of those complaints, while air quality monitoring at Spittal School has reportedly shown no exceedances attributable to the site. NRW says it remains committed to unannounced inspections and that its investigation into previous breaches is ongoing. 'We recognise the high level of public interest in this landfill,' said a spokesperson. 'We will be enhancing our communications as part of the upcoming consultation. Further details will be shared in due course.' But campaigners remain sceptical, warning that trust in the operator—and in the regulators—has been 'shredded.' 'We would like to reassure residents that unlike NRW and PCC, we are still monitoring the landfill's activities closely,' said Mr Barnett. 'People's lives were turned upside down last year. You can't just forget that because the wind changes direction for a few weeks.' Have your say: Residents wishing to comment on the application can do so during NRW's public consultation, details of which are expected to be released shortly.
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Not a marriage': Nationals Senator argues Coalition break up should be ‘on the table' but former Nationals leader says 'absolutely not'
A Queensland Nationals Senator has floated the idea of a Coalition break up, boldly declaring 'all options should be on the table'. The soul searching is continuing within the federal Coalition after their catastrophic election defeat on Saturday, with the party currently sitting on just 40 seats compared to Labor's 88. Speaking to Sky News Australia on Wednesday, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said the relationship between the two parties was 'a business relationship, not a marriage', and the junior Coalition partner needed to make decisions based on 'what is in the best interest of the country'. Senator Canavan said the National party was at its best when it was instigating policy debates within the Coalition, namely opposition to Kevin Rudd's carbon tax, and the campaign to save the Adani coal mine project despite 'a bunch of bedwetting liberals that wanted to kill it'. 'We should never be shy in the Nationals Party, of putting forward our view. I worry that we have been gun-shy in this last term of Parliament in a futile attempt to give the Liberals space, some sort of opportunity to win seats in the city. That obviously didn't work; that clearly didn't work," he said. Asked whether he thought the Coalition should break up, Senator Canavan said the goal was to deliver for the Australian people, and he would "love to see the Liberal Party join us on that fight", but when pressed on the issue, the Queensland Senator said 'all options should be on the table'. The comments come after former WA Premier Colin Barnett called for the two parties to officially merge, arguing it would simplify the structure, reduce costs and provide the reset the Coalition needs. 'The Liberal Party and the National Party would be in a stronger position if they merged,' Mr Barnett told The Australian. The former WA Premier, who led the state from 2008 to 2017, said the current arrangement was 'wasting resources' and causing 'unnecessary competition'. 'The National Party probably won't want to do that because they like to be the rural party, but younger voters, I think, don't really care and they just think: 'Why aren't these two right-of-centre parties just one party?',' the former Premier said. Former Nationals Leader and current Riverina MP Michael McCormack rejected both a break up of the Coalition and a merger, stating that while all policy should be 'on the table' this should 'absolutely not' include the scrapping of the Coalition agreement. 'We've been much stronger, as John Howard always said, when we're in a coalition with the Liberal Party,' Mr McCormack said. 'Agriculture and business does a lot better when we've got a strong coalition government in power in Canberra, and I'm very much a proponent of the Coalition staying as well.' The former Nationals leader then took a swing at the former WA Premier's proposal of a merger. 'I see Colin Barnett, the former WA Premier, is out giving plenty of frank, free advice about the LNP merging. I'm not in favour of a merger. I'm just in favour of a Coalition. I think the Coalition is Australia's best form of government." The Liberal and National parties have been merged in Queensland since 2008, with federal MPs running under the Liberal National Party branding before splitting into Liberal and National partyrooms in Canberra. But the merger remains controversial among party members in the sunshine state, with many Liberals continuing to deride it as a Nationals takeover of their party.
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Ex-Lib premier tips Labor win after 'stalled' campaign
Labor is likely to win the federal election and much-courted seats in the nation's west probably won't affect that outcome, a former longstanding Liberal premier says. Former West Australian party leader Colin Barnett said federal hopeful Peter Dutton had worked hard but it had been a lacklustre campaign. Mr Barnett, who was premier of the resource-rich state from 2008 to 2017, told a Business News breakfast the opposition leader had stumbled on policy with his pledges to cut the public service and limit its employees working from home. "Why would you go out and talk about sacking public servants in an election campaign and ... upset people who enjoy working from home," he said on Tuesday. Both approaches reflected a lack of vision and made no sense, Mr Barnett said. "The Liberal campaign stalled mid-term and didn't really recover," he said, noting the polls were probably accurate in showing Labor ahead. "It does look like Labor is going to get back into power." Mr Barnett said overseas events, including US President Donald Trump's tariffs and the death of Pope Francis, had all bolstered Labor's campaign. "That created an environment where people think, 'Well, we're not quite sure that the Liberals are ready to govern and we're not particularly fond of Albanese', but people stick with what they know," he said. Both the prime minister and opposition leader have made multiple visits to WA during the election campaign, with the coalition targeting several seats lost to Labor at the 2022 poll. But Mr Barnett said the state was unlikely to play a decisive role in the election, highlighting just two seats he believed the Liberals could win: Bullwinkel and Curtin. "I don't expect to see much change in other seats ... there's been a lot of media speculation and discussion that WA is going to be vital to this result - I don't think so," he said. "The results of this federal election will be determined in Victoria ... and the western suburbs of Sydney."
