NEWS that New Chum dump operator Cleanaway is seeking approval for work to combat rising water levels in a notorious waste fill cell has community campaigners worried.

Cleanaway is seeking a development permit to redesign part of the unconstructed Cell 3B East – Northern Stage at its New Chum rubbish dump.

“The primary purpose of the redesign is to respond to rising groundwater,” town planners (acting on behalf of Cleanaway) Wolter Consulting Group (WSP) wrote.

“The proposed change is a better environmental outcome, specifically by increasing the degree of separation between groundwater and the landfill cell.

“The increase in the groundwater level … is potentially due to the end of dewatering activities that occurred during mining activities in the vicinity.”

“WSP has been instructed by Cleanaway to assume a long-term ground water level … one metre above the level predicted.”

Champions for a cleaner environment Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments (IRATE) said they remain doubtful if the proposed works would prove sufficient.

“It is uncertain why this issue [of rising groundwater] has not been addressed in the application, particularly given that it appears that current completed cells appear to be beneath the current raised rising groundwaters,” an IRATE spokesman said.
 Previously, leachate levels at the dump had climbed to 110 times the approved threshold and were measured at 33 metres instead of the recommended 0.3 metres.

 IRATE members said they were also concerned Cleanaway had not consulted with the Community Reference Group before the application was submitted to Council.

The campaign group wants the Department of Environment and Science and The State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) to play a part in the development application process.

 Meanwhile, Ipswich-Lockyer Greens spokeswoman Danielle Mutton said the latest bid for more works at the dump site raises yet more red flags.

“News of continued rising waters shows that this is not an appropriate site for a landfill,” Ms Mutton said.

“The community wants the dump closed for ever, not for it to be remediated.

“Cleanaway has lost its social license to operate a dump because it doesn’t have the support of the community.”

A spokesman for Cleanaway said its New Chum team had “worked tirelessly in difficult circumstances to fully remediate the site”.
 “Cleanaway has taken a conservative approach to the engineered design so that Cell 3B sits well above any future groundwater levels,” he said.

“This will ensure the cell is constructed safely and with the best environmental outcomes.”

A spokeswoman for Ipswich City Council said: “Council is extremely interested in the Cleanaway New Chum waste facility, and any application or intent to continue works or operations at the site.
 “Council officers will begin assessing this application and will work with the Department of Environment and Science in their determination, given the Department’s recent actions concerning odour and leachate issues at the site,” the spokeswoman said.
 “This particular application deals with engineering design only, and not the operation of the landfill. 
 “The assessment by council officers will include consideration of the groundwater issues as described in the application material.”
 Cell 3B was overwhelmed last year when 140 million litres of water filled the chamber.

The water soon fermented into leachate and caused noxious fumes across the city, which has led in part to Cleanaway’s looming court appearance next week in which it faces fines of $30 million on a raft of charges including alleged wilful environmental nuisance.