ABOUT US
Reject Repoly Inc has been established as a community campaign and fundraising partner to support Sam Wood, the chair of Southern Highlands Matters (SHM), the incorporated community organisation formally representing residents in the Land and Environment Court appeal against Repoly. Reject Repoly will be SHM’s fundraising and community campaign partner, working with community leaders, businesses and donors across the Highlands to help raise funds for expert witnesses and independent reports. This is in addition to other grassroots, community and SHM fundraising for SHM’s legal expenses.
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
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Reject Repoly is led by Co-Chairs John Hopkins and Peter Barge. Both are distinguished business leaders and long-term residents of the Southern Highlands, and both are active in Highlands community life.
John Hopkins lives in Moss Vale. He is the former Chair of leading global advertising agency, Ogilvy Australia and a Founder of Pop In which supports Highlands women navigating Domestic Violence and Abuse. John says the plastics factory development is completely inconsistent with the Southern Highlands ecology, economy and way of life: ‘Placing a microplastics generating factory amongst schools, homes, farms and 23,000 families is sheer madness. The risks to water, air, wildlife and village life are excessive, and the risk of fire is unacceptable. I urge business and the community to support us so that we have the strongest voice in court to protect our shared future.’
Peter Barge lives in Kangaloon. He is the former CEO and Chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle Asia Pac (JLL) and a former board member of the Southern Highlands Foundation. Peter sees this as a make-or-break fight: ‘Research has shown us that the two most chosen reasons residents give for choosing to live in the Highlands are the natural environment and the country lifestyle. This development has the potential to erode both. That’s why I’m fighting to Reject RePoly.’
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS MATTERS REJECT REPOLY:
CAMPAIGN CHARTER
OUR AIM
Southern Highlands Matters aims to empower our community to protect what makes this region unique—its environment, people and way of life—by balancing growth with care, foresight and integrity.
OUR BELIEF
The Southern Highlands is a living ecosystem where nature, community and livelihood depend on one another. We believe that progress and protection can coexist. The highlands flourishes when growth is guided by respect for place, people and environment—not pursued at their expense.
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WHY WE ‘REJECT REPOLY’
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After careful review and wide community consultation, we oppose the proposed Repoly (formerly Plasrefine) plastics reprocessing facility in Moss Vale. If approved, this factory would be one of the largest of its kind in Australia. This development poses unacceptable risks: from our water, air and soil to local traffic networks and safety and the long-term social, environmental and economic prospects of our region.
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Repoly promises innovation but offers uncertainty. The science on nano- and micro-plastics is still emerging, and no-one can guarantee the safety of large-scale processing of this kind—particularly in greenfield, flood- and bush-fire prone, and ecologically sensitive areas. Until there is clear evidence that these risks can be managed, the precautionary principle must apply.
The Southern Highlands economy depends on agriculture, tourism and clean natural assets—from vineyards to regenerative farming, equine industries and family farms. Industrial-scale plastic processing is specialised, hazardous and volatile and simply incompatible with that foundation.
OUR CAMPAIGN
For four years we’ve built a movement of informed, persistent and principled opposition. Through local action and strong alliances, we will continue to ensure that community and local voices are heard in every room where decisions are made.
OUR CAMPAIGN PROMISE
Our campaign is grounded in truth, fairness and respect. We commit to:
- Presenting fact-based information
- Encouraging learning and open debate
- Representing community voices throughout the legal process
- Using every donation transparently and solely for legal and campaign outreach costs.
OUR CAMPAIGN VALUES
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TRANSPARENCY
We share clear information about the proposal, our actions and our decision-making. We are open about what we know — and honest about what we don’t.
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ACCURACY
We are informed by verifiable evidence. Where legal processes restrict what can be shared, we respect those limits while continuing to inform our community responsibly.
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RESPECT
We acknowledge the roles of all participants—community members, government, regulators and the court—and engage in good faith, even when we disagree.
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CARE
We act always from a place of care — for our environment, our community and our shared future. Every decision is guided by what sustains the highlands, long after the noise and headlines are gone.
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STEWARDSHIP
We believe the highlands can evolve without eroding what makes it extraordinary. We support progress that honours ecological integrity, community wellbeing and long-term sustainability.
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INDEPENDENCE
We are guided by evidence and community interest, not by political, corporate or personal agendas. Our decisions and communications are grounded in integrity and free from external influence.
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