Local residents heard contrasting perspectives on the proposed Bromelton Energy and Resource Centre on June 13.
Cleanaway hosted a drop-in session at The Centre and Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic representatives met with residents over the road at VK Everydays Cafe afterwards.
Cleanaway said 37 people attended the drop-in session, which formed part of the company’s ongoing community consultation program for the proposed waste-to-energy facility at Bromelton.
A spokesperson said the company had been engaging with the community since 2023 and viewed the session as an opportunity for residents to ask detailed questions about the project.
“We understand that people have questions about new ways of dealing with waste and the drop-in session was one of numerous activities we have held where we have experts on hand to answer individual questions,” the spokesperson said.
Cleanaway said the project would use modern technology to control emissions and meet strict environmental standards, and further technical reports would be released before the formal public notification and submission period, expected to begin in October.
KTSRS spokesperson Lizz Hills said the gathering at VKs was for residents to discuss the proposal after attending Cleanaway’s session.
She said KTSRS provided an update on the approval process, campaign resources and ways residents could become involved in consultation opportunities.
“We wanted to create a space where community members could decompress, compare notes, and speak freely after attending the Cleanaway session,” she said.
She said residents raised concerns about potential health impacts, heavy vehicle movements, environmental monitoring and the scale of the proposed facility.
She said more than 2500 people had signed a local petition opposing the development and encouraged residents to participate in the formal submission process.
“(We want people to know) that this is not inevitable, and that their voice matters,” she said.
“The formal submission process gives every resident a legal right to put evidence on the record. We want people to know that window is coming, to be ready for it, and to understand that the evidence we have compiled is substantial.”
“This is not a campaign based on fear. It is based on science, on food safety data, on international biomonitoring research, and on a genuine love of this place.”
