The court will continue considering the appeal before deciding the future of the controversial facility.
Residents have described years of stress, fear, and exhaustion during a Land and Environment Court site hearing at RePoly's proposed Moss Vale plastics recycling plant in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Around 150 people gathered for the hearing on Sunday on an unsealed road near land owned by the company, braving gusty winds of up to 70 kilometres an hour and a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, which felt like 8C.
RePoly director Nancy Zheng also watched on quietly, during the hearing in front of Commissioner Joanne Gray.
Community voices stress
The project gained wide public attention in 2022 when Plasrefine, now rebranded as RePoly, sought State Significant Development status, shifting consent from council to the state.
The recycling plant would be built across three hectares of a 7.7-hectare Moss Vale site, rise four storeys high, and recycle up to 120,000 tonnes of plastic annually.
The NSW Department of Planning recommended approval, but the proposal drew more than 2,900 unique objections, triggering referral to the Independent Planning Commission.
The commission has defended its rejection of the factory and selected six locals to provide testimony to the hearing.
For neighbours, the appeal by the company behind the project is the latest chapter in a saga marked by years of uncertainty and opposition.
Long-time resident Graham Hordern, fighting back tears, said the proposal had "taken five years of my life," describing the toll on himself and his elderly neighbours.
"They have total disregard for community sentiment," he said, drawing loud applause from the majority of the crowd.
As the wind picked up, the crowd huddled together almost five deep surrounding the commissioner, straining to hear the evidence, with repeated calls for those talking to speak up.
Vanessa Harcourt, whose home neighboured proposed site, warned the development would have "immediate, severe and irreversible" impacts.
"It would have a catastrophic impact on the community and make my home effectively unliveable," she said.
Ms Harcourt said heavy industry would undermine years of investment in nearby residential land.
"No compromises make it compatible."
Local doctor and member of Doctors for the Environment Jacqueline Duc highlighted the psychological toll on the community.
"Parents, grandparents, children, concerned if not terrified ... the exhaustion and stress over five years cannot be underestimated," she said.
"Just because we can does not mean we should.
Neighbours also raised safety concerns.
Resident and RFS volunteer Gabby Kent warned of the danger of a "catastrophic fire", noting that specialist firefighting resources were an hour away.
She highlighted noise concerns and said the factory's exposed, windy site would exacerbate safety and environmental risks.
"It's a marathon, not a sprint ... many of us have lost faith in the process, but we are glad we had the opportunity to be heard today."
Multiple witnesses criticised the site's management.
David Baxter, whose property sits 150 metres from the boundary, said the company had left "two derelict buses" and allowed blackberry weeds to spread.
Alternative locations
Wingecarribee Council officer Susan Stannard said there were alternative sites.
She told the hearing that the Southern Goulburn Mulwaree Precinct, with existing infrastructure for resource recovery and waste management, would be a far more strategic location.
She added the site did "not align with NSW Planning strategies or the EPA's waste and energy plans" and offered "no strategic or site-specific merit" for the proposal.
"Wingecarribee Council does not support the proposed plastic recycling factory," Ms Stannard said.
Applause also followed her remarks.
The hearing lasted around 90 minutes.
RePoly maintains the project is "reasonable, lawful and compliant" and says many nearby residents now support it.
It has presented amended plans to the Land and Environment Court for consideration as the court process continues.