Currawang resident Louise Cooney says she can smell the Woodlawn landfill from her home.
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But the prospect of a $600 million waste incinerator at the site is raising another issue altogether.
"There's lots of water infrastructure around so I'm concerned about toxins that might deposit in them (from the incinerator)," she said.
"I'm also worried about the impact on critically endangered species."
Ms Clooney said plenty of others in the Tarago region shared her view but people in Goulburn and further afield should be just as aware of potential impacts.
Veolia Environmental Services wants to burn up to 380,000 tonnes of Sydney's waste annually at its Woodlawn eco-precinct and recover the energy. The state significant project generated more than 600 public submissions, with the majority opposed to the project.
Ms Clooney, a member of The Communities Against the Tarago Incinerator, has lodged a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the technology.
The Select Committee on Proposed Energy from Waste Facilities is examining technology proposed for Tarago and Parkes incinerators, emissions spread, health and agricultural impacts and other matters.
The inquiry, chaired by Nationals MLC, Nichole Overall, has received more than 1000 public submissions. It held a hearing and public forum in Parkes on April 14.
On May 14 and 15, the inquiry moves to Tarago and Goulburn.
The Goulburn Mulwaree Cross-Party Working Group on Waste Incinerators is encouraging people to have their say. The group comprises Labor, Liberal, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers representatives and community members.
On Saturday, April 18, they ran a stall at Goulburn Farmers Markets, raising awareness about the inquiry.
"We're encouraging people to turn up and make the government aware that the community is united in its opposition to the incinerator and we value our clean environment," member and Labor councillor, Jason Shepherd said.
Chair, The Reverend Paul Davey, said he would speak during the public forum session.
"I'll be saying that the Southern Tablelands community is steadfastly opposed to waste incineration here or anywhere," he said.
"The very fact that the state government banned them in Sydney due to health concerns means they should be banned everywhere. The health and wellbeing of people in this region is no less important."
Veolia says the technology is safe to human, animal health and won't negatively impact the environment or agriculture.
But the Reverend Davey argues there are "inherent risks" with releasing toxins into the environment long term.
"If the risks can't be borne by Sydney, they can't be borne by anyone," he said.
The inquiry will be split into a hearing, questioning community leaders, and a public forum, where anyone can speak.
The Reverend Davey encouraged people to speak up for their "families, friends, neighbours and the community's most vulnerable."
"It's a huge opportunity to let those in Macquarie Street know that this region will continue to fight for its welfare," he said.
Times and venues for the Tarago and Goulburn sessions are yet to be confirmed.
In related news, Goulburn Mulwaree Council investigated whether it could prohibit waste incineration under its planning laws.
However, a report to the April 21 council meeting concluded it wouldn't achieve any planning purpose because incineration was included in the standard definition of a waste disposal facility.
Planning director Scott Martin said it was a very wide term and the council had to be careful that it "didn't shoot itself in the foot" with anything it wanted to do in future.
"We could probably do a lot of good if we were to...advocate to the state government and lobby for waste incineration or energy from waste to have its own individual land use term," he said.
In doing so, areas pegged for the technology would have a definition on which they could rely.
Councillors decided to continue advocacy to change the standard definition of waste disposal to exclude incineration.
Cr Christopher O'Mahony said the upcoming inquiry was an ideal opportunity.
"Let's stack the room," he said.
