Residents argue at Blue Circle burn plans

Residents concerned about Blue Circle Southern Cement plant’s plan to burn alternative fuels asked for further studies on the possible health and environmental effects of the plan at a public meeting on Wednesday.  Around 70 people attended the meeting at Moss Vale Chamber of Commerce with environmental engineering and science consultant John Court and Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) environmental planning officer Tim Ward at the Moss Vale Civic Centre.

 DIPNR has appointed Mr Court to review Blue Circle’s capability to burn alternative fuels and the ability of the process to be operated in a way that meets acceptable environmental, safety and amenity standards. Speakers at the two-and-a-half hour meeting voiced concerns over the possible impact of the proposal on residents’ health and the environment, tourism and farmers and called for an independent Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on the proposal.