LENGTHY and expensive delays in building a new landfill should soon be over, former Armidale Dumaresq Council general manager Shane Burns says.
Mr Burns said the council staff had lost patience after numerous setbacks due to a small portion of councillors.
“The new landfill should progress now,” he said.
“Council is being frustrated by some councillors representing the interests of a small amount of people at the expense of the broader community.
“The deferments, costs of studies and yet more studies, promoting of unviable technologies is all about seeing the development application approval lapse.”
Mr Burns said millions of dollars had been wasted by the delays, with potentially additional costs to come.
“This will result in the waste of around $2 million in getting the approval and have a high likelihood of significantly greater costs to the community,” he said.
“Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has highlighted the need for a decision.
“To date, there is no alternative being proposed that has any credibility at all,” he said.
“If this position continues to be unresolved it will be Armidale’s answer to the Glasshouse at Port Macquarie and ratepayers will be huge losers.”
