PARKES ENERGY-FROM-WASTE TIMELINE

  • July 2018
    eastern creek energy-from-waste proposal is unsuccessful
    The Independent Planning Commision refused consent to the development application.
  • July 2018
    state government announces parkes special activation precinct (SAP)

  • Feb 2019
    SAP planning workshops commence with plans for an energy-from-waste facility
    An Energy-from-Waste incinerator is included in the planning documents from the workshops.
  • aug 2019
    draft parkes special activation precinct master plan on public display for community feedback
    There is no reference to Energy-from-Waste. The wording used is 'Resource Recovery and Recycling' Issues raised in submissions were: – Streamlined planning – Environment and amenity – Flooding, water quality and water flows – Land use conflict – Location of proposed roads – Staging of precinct delivery – Property acquisition and compensation – Consultation
  • JUNE 2020
    parkes special activation precinct master plan
    Energy-from-Waste wording has replaced 'Resource Recovery'
  • Nov 2020
    NSW GOVERNEMENT OPENS Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Parkes Energy Recovery facility
    The Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Parkes Materials Recovery and Energy from Waste Facility were opened in November 2020 and closed on 5 February 2021.
  • March 2022
    community feedback period for proposed changes to energy-from-waste regulations to make parkes an exemption to a NSW ban
    Public consultation on the draft Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Amendment (Thermal Energy from Waste) Regulation was completed in March 2022. The proposed changes were: - apply the precautionary principle by banning energy-from-waste where there is a greater risk of harm to human health due to proximity to high population areas (now and into the future), and in areas where there are regular exceedances to air quality standards from existing sources - restrict new energy from waste operations and infrastructure to four designated precincts, West Lithgow Precinct, Parkes Special Activation Precinct, Richmond Valley Regional Jobs Precinct and Southern Goulburn Mulwaree Precinct.
     Several community groups impacted by Energy-from-Waste from other areas, who are aware of the proposed changes, attempt to contact the Parkes community to alert our community to Parkes exclusion from the ban via facebook community noticeboards, however, the posts are removed.
  • July 2022
    energy-from-waste is banned in NSW except in four regional areas, including parkes SAP
    The submissions were reviewed, and the regulation banning Energy-from-Waste in NSW, with limited exemptions, became law on 8 July 2022. Parkes was designated as one of the four precincts where energy-from-waste operations are permitted.
  • nov 2024
    Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
    On 6 November 2024 Australia and the UAE signed the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a bilateral free trade agreement that will lay the groundwork for closer economic ties. This agreement will result in estimated tariff savings of $135 million in the first year, which is predicted to rise to $160 million per year once the agreement is fully implemented.
  • feb 2025
    NSW EPA Energy-from-waste options paper submissions open
    NSW Government seeks to relax Energy-from-Waste regulations by: - Changes to the precincts and associated risks. This includes adding Tomago, and adding the former Wallerawang Power Station to the already established West Lithgow Precinct.
    - Changes to the definition of thermal treatment. Expanding the exclusions to allow certain types of waste to be thermally treated to produce new products or inputs to those products, not just for plastic.

    - Changes to the exception relating to powering industrial or manufacturing processes on site. Adjusting the exception under clause 144(4) of the Regulation to enable the EPA to consider and allow proposals to replace liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, and liquefied natural gas with energy recovery from waste, on a case-by-case basis.
  • MARCH 2025
    contract awarded to Parkes Energy Recovery
    The NSW Government, Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation (RGDC) selected the Parkes Energy Recovery consortium to deliver the $1.5 billion facility. The consortium includes Tribe Infrastructure Group, Tadweer Group, HiQ Group, and Kanadevia Inova, who will design, construct, finance, own, and operate the facility under a lease arrangement with the RGDC. Tadweer Group (part of ADQ), oversees waste management and recycling services in Abu Dhabi. ADQ is a sovereign wealth fund of the government of Abu Dhabi. Tribe Infrastructure Group (Tribe) is an advisory and investment practice specialised in the development and financing of infrastructure transactions. They have offices in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, United Kingdom and the Philippines. In 2019 Masdar and Tribe formed an Abu Dhabi based joint venture known as Masdar Tribe Energy for their joint investment in the East Rockingham Waste to Energy Project. Masdar is wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi government’s Mubadala Investment Company. HiQ Group provide waste solutions spanning resource recovery, material treatment, energy generation and storage, and more effective disposal options for government, major infrastructure and private contractors. Kanadevia Inova build and maintain plants with 1575 plants worldwide. They develop projects with clients and then draw on experience as a general engineering, procurement and construction contractor to deliver on their behalf complex turnkey plants and system solutions for thermal and biological WtE recovery, gas upgrading and power to gas.
  • 24 march 2025
    parkes SHIRE council announce energy from waste facility on facebook
    In the comments section: "Council encourages residents to stay informed by reviewing the facts and participating in upcoming community engagement opportunities led by Parkes Energy Recovery. The first community drop-in sessions will be held between 8am and 5pm at the Cooke Park Pavilion from 10-12 April. The NSW EPA is seeking feedback on the energy from waste options paper until 5pm Tuesday 8 April 2025. See https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/nsw-energy-waste-framework... for more information." Parkes community highlight to Council that the NSW EPA feedback closes before the community drop-in sessions.
  • APRIL 2025
    PARKES CLEAN FUTURE ALLIANCE
    In response to community concerns, a group of local professionals, farmers, and business owners, united by a commitment to safeguard the future of our region, form to investigate the health, agricultural, environmental, and economic risks associated with the proposed Energy-from-Waste facility.
  • april 2025
    NSW EPA extends energy-from-waste options paper feedback deadline to 16th May 2025

  • 10-12 april 2025
    Parkes ENergy Recovery community drop-in sessions
    Parkes Energy Recovery hold a series of community drop-in sessions to answer questions about the proposed Energy-from-Waste facility
  • 7 may 2025
    parkes energy recovery presentation to parkes Chamber of commerce
    Parkes Energy Recovery hold and information session with the Parkes Chamber of Commerce to answer questions about the proposed Energy-from-Waste facility
  • 14 may 2025
    NSW government WASTE & CIRCULAR INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN feedback submissions open
    EPA Have Your Say - the plan assumes that the Energy-from-Waste options paper will be adopted and re-enforces NSW Government plans to solve Sydney's landfill problem by building Energy-from-Waste incinerators in Regional NSW precincts. Plan is released while the feedback submissions for the Energy-from-Waste options paper is still open (16th May 2025). To "ensure every household and business in Greater Sydney will continue to have their red-lid bins collected" the plan will: - Streamline planning processes to help to extend or expand existing priority landfills - Consider energy-from-waste infrastructure to reduce landfill reliance while continuing to protect human health and the environment locating developments in Regional precincts, away from large populations. - Strengthen long-term waste infrastructure planning to keep pace with a growing Greater Sydney. - Establish a Ministerial Advisory Committee for strategic waste infrastructure which will be set up to support the implementation of the draft Plan.
  • 16 may 2025
    NSW EPA Energy-from-wASTE options paper submissions close

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