A mother described fearing for her children's health, a doctor recounted the psychological toll on families, and a retiree told of plans for a quieter life put on hold.
They were among the eight residents who addressed the NSW Land and Environment Court at Moss Vale on Monday, as hundreds gathered for the opening of an appeal hearing into a proposed plastics recycling factory.
Developer Repoly is appealing the Independent Planning Commission's decision to reject the project last year.
The proposed factory would process up to 120,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste a year at a site on Beaconsfield Road.
Six years of uncertainty
For Jean McKern, who lives immediately beside the proposed site, the dispute has overshadowed what she hoped would be peaceful retirement years.
Jean McKern (sitting) surrounded by people who also spoke at the appeal hearing. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
Now in her late 80s, she told the court she was a healthy, active 83-year-old when the proposal first emerged in 2020.
She described disrupted sleep, mounting stress and health problems she believes have been exacerbated by the uncertainty.
Ms McKern became emotional as she described fears about noise, lighting, pollution and fire risks, saying she could be forced to leave the home where she has lived for 30 years.
Another neighbouring resident, Graham Horden, said he and his wife had downsized in retirement, hoping to restore native vegetation on their property and spend time with their grandchildren.
"From a feeling of justified satisfaction in our retirement years, we have regressed to a situation of prolonged stress and anxiety," he told the court.
He said the uncertainty had also raised concerns about their financial position as self-funded retirees.
Families living in 'suspended animation'
Moss Vale mother Natalie Swainston described watching her two young sons play cricket at nearby Lackey Park on Saturday and worrying about potential pollution if the factory were operating less than a kilometre away.
Natalie Swainston told the court she feared the potential impacts of the factory on children attending a nearby childcare centre. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
Her children had previously attended a childcare centre about 300 metres from the proposed development, where they spent much of their days playing outdoors.
"It's quite hard to explain what it's like to live in suspended animation for this long," she told the court.
"You put your life on hold and wait for the next amendment, the next deadline, the next hearing. You think you can finally rest and then there's an appeal."
Palliative care doctor Jacqueline Duc, speaking on behalf of local health professionals and Doctors for the Environment Australia, raised concerns about potential health risks and the psychological toll of the prolonged dispute.
She urged the court to adopt a precautionary approach.
"Just because we can doesn't mean that we should,"
she said.
Dr Duc also shared a deeply personal account of how the dispute had affected her own family.
Jacqueline Duke told the court years of uncertainty over the proposed factory had affected the wellbeing of local families. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
She told the court her daughter's eighth birthday wish was for the factory proposal to go away.
Her daughter is now 11, and the dispute continues.
Dispute over factory's location
The Independent Planning Commission refused approval in January 2025, citing concerns including fire risks and the suitability of the location.
Repoly has since amended its plans, including moving one building further from neighbouring homes and proposing to transport process wastewater offsite for disposal.
Wingecarribee Shire Council maintains the location remains unsuitable.
More than 500 people attended the appeal hearing at the site of Repoly's proposed facility in Moss Vale. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
Resident Gabby Kent questioned whether the development was permissible under planning laws, arguing that an overly broad definition of resource recovery could create an "absurd continuum", where manufacturers using recycled materials could also be classified as waste processing facilities.
She also raised concerns about potential microplastic pollution and fire risks, particularly given the proximity of homes, businesses and the Garvan Institute's Australian BioResources facility.
Developer defends proposal
Repoly declined an interview but said the project would help Australia recycle more plastic waste, produce useful materials and support local manufacturing.
The company maintains the facility can meet environmental requirements and is seeking approval through the court.
The hearing will continue for another nine days, with council offering live stream access at the Moss Vale Civic Centre for residents unable to watch online.