The owners of a new factory set to open in Hume next month have lashed out at a nearby tip, calling it hazardous, a fire risk and damaging to nearby businesses.
Glass manufacturer CSR Viridian, which is moving to a new multimillion-dollar facility in the industrial subdivision, is taking issue with the owners of Southern State Waste Recycling, which is estimated to have more than 30,000 tonnes of rubbish on site in piles more than five metres high.
![Vogue Pergolas' Marina Dempsey says the rubbish had caused land values to decrease and business to decline.](/web/20161114175814im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/7/b/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsmnf5.png/1478949502279.jpg)
CSR's general manager of property Andrew Mackenzie said CSR bought the Hume site before the tip was approved in September 2015 and said it has caused land values to fall nearly 10 per cent.
"It's gone from a small amount of rubbish to now a property covered in rubbish that's over four metres high," he said.
![It's estimated there is 30,000 tonnes of rubbish on the site, some in piles up to five metres.](/web/20161114175814im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/7/c/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsmnf5.png/1478949502279.jpg)
"Everything there is inconsistent with normal industrial areas in mainland capital cities. I've never seen anything like it in 30 years of industrial experience."
Mr Mackenzie said the business moved from the opposite side of Hume to their new facility in order to expand operations.
He said in the event of an emergency at the tip, it would mean devastation for nearby businesses.
"Our concerns is the risk of fire, those rubbish pits have been known to be a fire starter with the type of materials there," he said.
"[Tips] are permitted in industrial zones but they are usually within a building ... this is an unsealed block of land."
CSR has written numerous complaints to the Environmental and Planning Directorate about the noise, odour and potential contamination of the water supply from the facility.
ACT Fire and Rescue have confirmed they are regularly inspecting the site after concerns were raised about the threat of the large rubbish piles catching fire.
A spokesman for Southern State Waste Recycling said there were no reason for businesses to be concerned.
"There's not even more than 5000 tonnes on site. Rubbish is a bulky product not like rocks and soil. It's not heavy material," he said.
"The company hasn't been found to be doing anything illegal and the site has been zoned for planning."
However, it isn't just CSR taking issue with the recycling facility, with long-time tenants in Hume Vogue Pergolas also complaining.
National business manager Marina Dempsey said the company had been on the site for three years and business has dropped off since the tip started to operate.
"It's already an issue having the site next to us. All the debris and muck coming across from it is making [our business] inhospitable," she said.
"It's just grown massively. It was a few small heaps at the start, but over the last six months it's just exploded and bursting at the seams."
Mrs Dempsey said the conditions at the nearby facility would lead to many businesses deciding not to renew their leases.
"Everyone is up in arms over it. I cannot believe this went ahead," she said.
"Every day the piles or rubbish are getting higher and higher and there's no reprieve from the dust or smell."
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