The NSW government has abandoned plans to dump toxic sludge from Sydney's Northern Beaches Link project in Newcastle.
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Transport for NSW revealed in planning documents in November that it planned to ship 12,000 cubic metres of sludge from Middle Harbour to Newcastle before loading it on to trucks and dumping it in landfill.
The material contains lead, mercury, silver, zinc, poly-fluoroaklyl substances (PFAS) and dioxins.
Newcastle Labor politicians, including MP Tim Crakanthorp and lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes, fought the proposal and more than 6000 people signed a petition.
Cr Nelmes said last week that the government had not formally consulted City of Newcastle about the waste plan and Port of Newcastle said it would not allow the waste to be stored at the port.
Transport for NSW deputy secretary Camilla Drover told a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday that the sludge would not be transported to Newcastle but would be taken to a tip in Sydney instead.
"There are no plans to take spoil and barge it up to Newcastle for disposal," she said.
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Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
