GRAINCORP has launched an appeal against last month’s Land and Environment Court decision that ruled in favour of the proposed Werris Creek miners’ accommodation village going ahead.
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GrainCorp is appealing the finding by Acting Justice David Lloyd that the MAC Services Group development is not residential and can go ahead.
The assertion the proposed village was residential in a non-residential zoned area, and was therefore in breach of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, was the basis of the company’s case against the development.
Spokesman Angus Trigg said GrainCorp supported regional development, but its sub terminal – which is opposite the site of the proposed village – at Werris Creek was of strategic importance to grain growers.
He said the sub terminal linked grain grown in northern and central NSW with the Newcastle port, with one-third of NSW grain passing through the site, and a lot of growers relied on its 24-hour operations.
“The sub terminal has been there for many years. Our concern is that a substantial new residential development directly across the road may result in pressure to modify the 24-hour operations, which would not be in the best interests of those in the region who use or rely on the facility,” Mr Trigg said.
But Liverpool Plains Shire mayor Ian Lobsey said he was disappointed GrainCorp was delaying “an important project with positive economic benefits” for the community.
“This is a project that has a huge deal of support amongst the Werris Creek community and has other associated potential developments waiting for it to proceed, so it is even more disappointing that GrainCorp is taking this stance,” Cr Lobsey said.
