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A NSW government agency has been formally sanctioned by the state’s environmental watchdog after a $2.5 million taxpayer-owned property in Sydney’s west was allowed to deteriorate into a dumping ground littered with construction waste, car parts, machinery and more than 500 tyres.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority has issued a clean-up notice to Transport for NSW, alleging land it owns at 284 Palmyra Avenue in Shanes Park has been the site of a sustained “pollution incident” dating back at least five years.
The accumulation of waste across the two-hectare semi-rural block located within the Blacktown Council area has prompted community concerns about the management of public land in a region under sustained pressure from population growth and increased urban density.
The EPA notice details a chaotic mix of material scattered across the property, including trucks, car parts, solar panels, demolition waste, PVC piping, concrete, shipping containers, timber pallets, geofabric material and more than 500 tyres.
Among the clutter is potentially hazardous materials – discarded batteries, fire extinguishers, electronic components and empty chemical and pesticide containers.
In its formal notice, the EPA said it “reasonably suspects” a pollution incident is occurring at the property and has deemed Transport for NSW, as the legal landowner, responsible for ensuring the site is remediated.
A Transport for NSW spokesman, in a statement, said the property is leased to a third party but declined to identify the tenant or explain how such a large volume of waste was permitted to accumulate on land under its ownership.
“Transport for NSW is in the process of complying with the EPA’s clean-up notice,” the spokesman said, adding the agency could not comment further while the matter remains subject to regulatory action.
The case has drawn criticism from local environment groups who argue it highlights a disconnect between government policy and practice. The site sits opposite Wianamatta Regional Park and near the Yiraaldiya National Park wildlife conservation sanctuary, areas established to protect sensitive ecosystems.
Wayne Olling, a member of the Blacktown and District Environment Group, said the situation exposed what he described as a “double standard”.
“It is a major concern that dumping is occurring with potential toxic material leaching into areas which have been preserved for nature,” he said.
“There is a total contradiction here – the state is managing sites for conservation nearby while allowing this to happen on its own land. It’s a double standard.”
Blacktown Council confirmed it first raised concerns about the property in 2020. A spokesman said council officers had attended the site on multiple occasions to support the EPA’s investigation, including facilitating asbestos testing alongside a specialist occupational hygienist.
The EPA commenced a formal investigation in April 2021 into the alleged illegal processing and storage of waste. Yet even after years of regulatory attention – including a joint inspection with Transport for NSW representatives as recently as September last year – large volumes of waste have remained in place.
In November, the regulator issued a $15,000 penalty notice to a tenant for allegedly failing to clear the site. With limited progress made, an EPA spokesman said the agency proceeded to escalate its enforcement action by issuing the formal clean-up notice to Transport for NSW.
“The EPA can confirm that while some waste has been removed, some materials remain on site, causing the clean-up notice to be issued to the landowner,” he said in a statement.
Under the terms of the clean-up notice, Transport for NSW is required to prevent any further waste from being brought onto the property and must remove more than 500 waste tyres by July 20.
All remaining waste — including machinery parts, containers and other debris — must be cleared by November 3.
Transport for NSW is also required to provide monthly progress updates and submit a final completion report to the EPA. Failure to comply with the notices carries significant penalties with corporations facing fines of up to $2 million, along with daily penalties of $240,000 for ongoing breaches.
Authorities also retain the power to recover clean-up costs from any party found to have contributed to the pollution.
Property sales data from Cotality shows the site has been owned by Transport for NSW since 2019 when it was purchased for $2.51 million.
NSW Transport Minister John Graham and the state opposition were approached for comment but did not respond to questions.
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David Barwell is an urban affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning HeraldConnect via email.From our partners
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