The panel hearing held at Culcairn yesterday brought to an end a year-long fight for nearby residents, but is a major setback for a long-term waste collection contract between Transpacific Clean-away and four councils, Albury, Wodonga, Corowa and Indigo.

Cleanaway is considering appealing against the panel decision to the NSW Land and Environment Court. 

Members of the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel listened to arguments for nearly two hours.

Chairwoman Pam Allan and members Terri O’Brien, Denise Osborne, Brent Livermore and Allen Grinwood were cheered when they unanimously rejected the application for the site 3.5 kilometres from the village.

The panel agreed the facility wasn’t consistent with a rural area and that it raised concerns about threats of “serious or irreversible damage” to the ecological, social and economic systems if approved.

Conflicting expert evidence regarding odour and effects on groundwater was also raised.

Greater Hume Council had urged the panel to refuse the application and an environmental assessment by its planning and environment director Colin Kane also argued against it.

Opponent Leon Martin said the panel result was a victory for community.

“I was delighted in their objectiveness in the information,” he said.

“They weren’t overawed by Environment Protection Authority approvals and all the rest — they took a lot of community issues on board.

“We are not against composting, but the site selection wasn’t done objectively.”

The site location off Pattersons Road emerged as a sticking point at the hearing.

A last-minute submission was made for Cleanaway providing background to unsuitable options explored at Bowna, Bungowannah and Ettamogah.

Cleanaway regional manager Stuart Masters defended the choice of the Gerogery site.

“We need to be away from developed and environmentally sensitive areas,” he said.

“We need to be close to our catchment.

“We continue to take waste from Greater Hume into Albury and it is a practice which has been going on for many years.”

The company maintains its high-tech GORE system to be used was bullet-proof in preventing odour, stormwater, groundwater and land management issues.

“We respect the decision by the (panel) and are considering our options,” a company statement said.

Speakers against included Greater Hume mayor Heather Wilton, deputy mayor Doug Meyer, planning consultant Peter Dwyer, Mike Scollard, lawyer Jennifer Hughes and Tanja Schramm-Trethowan.

Those supporting the proposal included Indigo’s Cr Don Chambers and Wodonga Council’s environmental manager Mark Verbaken.

Wodonga conducted a nine-month trial using the GORE technology last year and received no complaints about odour issues.

The proposed site is owned by Roger and Elizabeth Paterson, who live on the property which already has a variety of uses including farming, a quarry, accommodation and paintball.