Western Sydney Green Jobs Creation

Ms DIANE BEAMER: I direct my question to the Minister for the Environment. What is the latest information on green initiatives that create jobs in western Sydney?

Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: I had the pleasure this morning of opening the SITA Environmental Solutions advanced waste treatment facility at Kemps Creek. This very impressive $50 million plant is a $50 million vote of confidence in this Government and its policy settings.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.

Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: It is also a terrific tribute to Liverpool and Penrith councils and to SITA. The facility at Kemps Creek is one of seven such facilities in New South Wales and it incorporates the latest recycling and waste recovery technology. The facility will be able to recover or recycle 70 per cent of our waste. These sorts of facilities are driven by this Government's waste policies, which involve increasing recycling, creating green jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the opening of the facility this morning the managing director of SITA described New South Wales as one of the leading centres of advanced waste treatment in the world.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of The Nationals to order. I call the member for Terrigal to order.

Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: This is great news for western Sydney. It does not just mean improved environmental outcomes and reduced greenhouse gases, it also means jobs for western Sydney. More than 150 worked on the construction of this facility—and it is a most impressive facility—and there will be 40 ongoing jobs in operating the waste treatment facility—so, good environmental outcomes and green jobs for western Sydney. This clearly demonstrates an appetite for investment in positive environmental initiatives and waste reform. The industry, community and Government understand that environmental change and infrastructure investment need to go hand-in-hand. It is also a clear sign that the days of just dumping our garbage in landfill and forgetting about it without a care in the world are long gone. As I said, New South Wales is leading the way in the development of waste treatment facilities. Six facilities are already operating in the greater metropolitan region and more are planned or are under construction. The Kemps Creek facility represents another step forward in our State's efforts towards reducing waste disposal and greenhouse gas emissions in New South Wales.

When waste is dumped it can contaminate land through leaching of chemicals and emit greenhouse gases, particularly methane, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases. Sending waste to landfill can also mean that large areas of land are taken up in a fairly unproductive way. The New South Wales Government has made significant advances in this area. The waste levy started in 1971, and has helped to encourage investment in resource recovery facilities. It is now a vital economic and environmental lever in driving change among councils, the constituents they serve and the business community. New-generation facilities like that at Kemps Creek provide local communities with sustainable options in their waste management services. Alternative waste and resource facilities have increased in number and sophistication during the term of this Government. These technological advances divert waste from landfill and recover resources at a higher rate than the methods of yesteryear. This is a direct result of the forward-thinking waste policies the Government has pursued.

We are all aware that in this day and age community and business are faced with major challenges to be able to use resources more sustainably, to be able to change our lifestyles and to be able to move to a low carbon economy. Part of this challenge is how we deal with waste. This facility at Kemps Creek is a great achievement; it is a great example of what can be achieved when governments put in place the right policy settings and when the private sector and local government rise to the challenge. It means jobs for western Sydney and better environmental outcomes, and I congratulate SITA Environmental Solutions and the Liverpool and Penrith councils on a job well done. We cannot underestimate the importance of getting waste management and waste reduction right. It might not be the most glamorous area of environmental management, but it is critical. We need to be much more conscious of the need to conserve resources and to sustainability dispose of waste.