![Finally: Boolaroo Action Group's Jim Sullivan said the group and the community had been fighting for local soil disposal for a decade. The Newcastle Herald's award winning Toxic Truth campaign echoed this call. Picture: Peter Stoop Finally: Boolaroo Action Group's Jim Sullivan said the group and the community had been fighting for local soil disposal for a decade. The Newcastle Herald's award winning Toxic Truth campaign echoed this call. Picture: Peter Stoop](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/n8uGJwMg95DiH9D4L9ShGa/8e76a71e-4ee5-4a4b-ad49-4a532388bfc1.jpg/r0_0_4961_3248_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
THE EPA's decision to allow North Lake Macquarie landowners to dispose lead contaminated soil at their local tip will be a major consideration when Lake Macquarie City councillors revisit a controversial proposal this year.
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Councillors failed to reach a decision in July and December on a proposal to introduce a Standard Remedial Action Plan, which some residents said made a "blanket assumption" their properties were contaminated.
The plan outlines options for how landowners proposing development on land with notations as contaminated or potentially contaminated can clean it up.
It would mean they don't have to engage consultants to assess soil levels and prepare a site specific plan.
Cr Jason Pauling said in December it would be wrong to adopt the plan without a "clear and permanent solution" for soil disposal.
Prior to the EPA's decision, residents had to take soil in bags to Summerhill or Kemps Creek.
"I feel quite vindicated asking for more time," Cr Pauling said on Sunday.
"The standard plan cuts red tape but I couldn't support it because it was based on a fundamentally flawed framework - the cost burden was falling on innocent parties.
![Progress: Councillor Jason Pauling said "the devil will be in the final detail" of the EPA decision, "but we're approaching a reasonable compromise". Progress: Councillor Jason Pauling said "the devil will be in the final detail" of the EPA decision, "but we're approaching a reasonable compromise".](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/cab3awiUhmM7JiamdaiM3H/6fe53530-586d-406c-a1cc-d89637936c9b.jpg/r0_0_2400_3000_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Now we have disposal for far less cost, it's intended to be more well designed and it's somewhat in our control as a council.
"The devil will be in the final detail. Previously it would have been an outright no [to support approving the standard plan], now it would be a very strong 'it depends'."
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said he's in favour of the plan.
"It may be best off assuming contamination and taking some of the fairly easy options."