Tipsite negotiations begin

Negotiations are set to commence with the traditional owners of a pastoral station near Broome as part of investigations to find a new waste management facility for the town.

The Shire of Broome has identified several potential sites 20-40km from town on the Roebuck Plains Station, which is exclusively owned by the Nyamba Buru Yawuru.

To enable further investigations, it has become necessary to discus and work with the NBY to identify any heritage and cultural issues that may exist on the sites.

Shire president Graeme Campbell said this was the first step in any negotiations that may lead to the ultimate selection of a new landfill and resource recovery operation.

He said the existing tip in Broome has a life of three to four years and selecting and establishing an alternative was critical to the town.

“These investigations are a further step in the process and do not necessarily mean the location has been selected,” Mr Campbell said.

“We are pleased to be able to work with Yawuru in this very important infrastructure.”

Mr Campbell said there had been considerable public consultation on site selection and that “I can assure the community no one site has been selected yet”.

The new waste resource recovery centre would include measures that minimise the amount of waste going to landfill.

“The Shire is currently looking at opportunities that may present in relation to recycling and other business opportunities that may arise from waste treatment,” Mr Campbell said.

“In other words, we may see tyres or other waste being processed on-site as part of the recycling process.

“Depending on site selection the establishment of a waste transfer station could be necessary close to town. This forms part of the overall consideration for site selection.”