Ongoing saga: Lidcombe locals share objections to organic waste plan proposal

Members of the Lidcombe community have voiced their concerns over Cumberland Council plans to build a $5.4 million organic waste facility on Church Street.

With the aim of diverting more organic waste away from landfill, the new plant could reportedly accommodate up to 80,000 tonnes of organic waste, from food and garden materials through to manure and sanitary products.

But many locals aren't happy with the decision, with online campaigns being run and some community members speaking to media and at council meetings, objecting to possible health risks, smells and traffic impact as well as a negative impact on other development projects - all despite the already-completed impact studies refuting the claims.

The situation has taken another turn in recent days, after Cumberland Council Kun Huang held a community meeting about the issue entirely in Mandarin. Locals who had attended the meeting but didn't speak Mandarin - including another Cumberland councillor Steve Christou - were not offered a translation despite requests. Notably, these guests were advised that the conditions of the meeting were well-advertised.

While Christou made a fair point in saying that he wanted the community united on the issue while at the meeting, he later inferred on 2GB that what had occurred was a clear instance of 'reverse racism', lambasting the group for not offering a translation and saying "Australians are very concerned about this type of behaviour" -a statement that could be seen as promoting the very division the councillor was trying to avoid.

Cr Huang himself has been subject to racist vitriol multiple times in the past few years, with death threats and other acts of hostility thrown his way by alleged constituents.

Developers have responded to community objections about the plant by arguing the site is buffeted by a nearby industrial area and railyards, making the real impact of the site - including the smell and traffic - far less than being suggested by opposing groups.

Debate will continue for now, with more community meetings anticipated in the coming weeks.