In the early 1990’s Armidale Council began a search for a new waste dump to replace Armidale’s existing dump on the Long Swamp Road.

Identification of suitable mega-dump sites were made by local Real Estate agents on properties that were for sale in the vicinity of Armidale.

Apparent indecisiveness led to the NSW EPA becoming increasingly impatient and exerting pressure upon the Armidale Dumaresq Council (ADC) to settle upon a site promptly.

That led the ADC to announce, via local newspapers in October 2002, the new waste dump would be located at ‘Ballantrae’ (referred to as Site 9) in the Gara Valley.

That decision was taken without community consultation and led to the rapid formation of the Gara Valley Environmental Preservation Association (GVEPA) and vigorous protest to Council regarding both the process itself and the lack of wisdom in the choice of that site.

This protest culminated in a formal presentation to Council in December 2002 and subsequently a public meeting was held in the Town Hall, in January 2003. The outcome of this meeting was Council’s agreement to establish the Armidale Dumaresq Landfill Community Consultative Committee (the ADLCCC) to advise it on the choice of a site for the new waste and rubbish dump.

A consultant, Maunsell Australia, was engaged to address some of the acknowledged flaws in the interpretation of the original data and reported to the ADLCCC finally in December, 2003.

The Maunsell Report was not unanimously endorsed however, rather it was ‘accepted’ by the ADLCCC. Under pressure from some members to provide advice to the Council before the forthcoming elections, it was passed on with the recommendation that Site 7 be the preferred site for the new landfill.

In March 2004, Armidale Dumaresq Council voted unanimously to remove all other short-listed sites from the register and proceed with the proposal to establish a Regional waste and rubbish dump at the ‘preferred’ site 12 km east of Armidale (known as Site 7).

Proposed Regional Dump Site as viewed from adjoining property showing property boundaries between Councillor Waters' (left) and Mr Crisp (right)