Six-Year Fight Over Plastics Factory Wears Down Moss Vale Residents

Residents of Moss Vale, a town in New South Wales, Australia, shared emotional stories in court on Monday about how a six-year battle over a proposed plastics recycling factory has changed their lives. Eight people spoke at the NSW Land and Environment Court, where hundreds of community members gathered to watch. The hearing is part of an appeal by a company called Repoly, which wants to build a factory that would process up to 120,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year. A government planning commission had rejected the project, but Repoly is now asking the court to overturn that decision.

One of the people who spoke was Jean McKern, an 83-year-old woman who lives right next to the site where the factory would be built. She told the court she was healthy and active when the plan first appeared in 2020, but years of stress have taken a serious toll on her. She described trouble sleeping, worsening health, and constant worry about noise, pollution, and fire. Now in her late 80s, she said she might be forced to leave the home where she has lived for 30 years.

Another neighbor, Graham Horden, said he and his wife had moved to a smaller home in retirement. They had hoped to restore native plants on their land and enjoy time with their grandchildren. Instead, he told the court, the long dispute had turned those happy plans into prolonged stress and anxiety. He also said the uncertainty had hurt them financially, since they rely on their own savings in retirement.

A local mother named Natalie Swainston described watching her two young sons play cricket at a nearby park on Saturday and worrying about pollution from the factory. The proposed site would be less than a kilometre away. Her children had also gone to a childcare centre about 300 metres from the development, where they spent hours playing outside each day. She told the court it was hard to explain what it feels like to have your life on hold for so long.

A doctor named Jacqueline Duc also spoke in court on behalf of local health professionals and a group called Doctors for the Environment Australia. She raised concerns about health risks and the mental strain the long dispute has placed on families. She also shared something personal — her daughter's eighth birthday wish was for the factory plan to go away. Her daughter is now 11, and the fight is still going on.

The Independent Planning Commission formally refused to approve the factory in January 2025, citing concerns about fire risks and whether the location was right for a large industrial facility. Since then, Repoly has made some changes to its plans, such as moving one building further from nearby homes and promising to send wastewater offsite. However, the local Wingecarribee Shire Council still says the location is not suitable for this type of factory.

A resident named Gabby Kent raised a legal concern, arguing that the definition of resource recovery was being used too broadly. She worried this could lead to an outcome where many manufacturers are wrongly classified as waste processors. She also pointed to risks from tiny plastic particles called microplastics and fire dangers near homes and a nearby research facility. Repoly, for its part, says the factory will help Australia recycle plastic, create useful materials, and meet all environmental rules.