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GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST WASTE AND

RESOURCE RECOVERYIMPLEMENTATION

PLAN 2017

GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST

WASTE & RESOURCE RECOVERY GROUP 2

Grampians Central West Regional Implementation Plan 2017

Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group

Authorised and published by the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group

PO Box 292

Wendouree VIC 3355

June 2017

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper when printed by Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group.

Creative Commons

This publication is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work as long as you attribute the work to the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group and abide by other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au

Disclaimer

This publication is for general information purposes only. The State of Victoria does not guarantee that this publication is comprehensive, without flaw or appropriate for your needs. You should make your own inquiries or seek independent professional advice before relying on anything in this publication. The State of Victoria disclaims all liability for any error, loss or damage that may arise as a result of you relying on anything contained in this publication.

Accessibility

If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print, telephone the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group on 0409 093 382 or [email protected]

Conflicts of interest

Potential conflicts of interest of the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Board have been considered and managed throughout the development and adoption of this publication.

3 REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

CONTENTS

PAGE

CONTENTS 3

List of Figures 5

List of Tables 6

Foreword from the Chair 7

Executive Summary 8

ONE – INTRODUCTION 10

1.1 Purpose 11

1.2 The Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Planning Framework 11

1.3 Climate Change 11

1.4 Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group 12

1.5 How the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan has been developed 13

1.6 Waste Categorisation 14

TWO – ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE OBJECTIVES 15

2.1 Objectives, Goals, Priority Actions and Action Plan 16

2.1.1 Objectives and Priority Actions for Grampians Central West 17

2.2 Strategic Objectives for Grampians Central West 19

2.2.1 Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 1: Increase Resource Recovery and Market Development 19

2.2.2 Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 2: Improve Infrastructure and Operations 21

2.2.3 Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 3: Advance Data Collection and Planning 23

2.2.4 Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 4: Foster Relationships to Optimise Diversion from Landfill 24

THREE – THE STATE OF WASTE IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION 25

3.1 Overview of the Region 26

3.1.1 Regional Demographics 26

3.1.2 Regional Information 27

3.2 Waste Generated in the Region 28

3.3 Future Projections of Waste 29

3.3.1 Waste Flows Into and Out of The Region 32

3.4 Litter and Illegal Dumping 35

FOUR – THE WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION 36

4.1 Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure and Services 37

4.1.1 Waste Managed in the Region 39

4.1.2 Material Stream Summary 39

4.2 Resource Recovery Infrastructure – Strategic Assessment 42

4.2.1 Collection Systems 42

4.2.1.1 Municipal Kerbside Collection 42

4.2.1.2 Commercial Sector Collection 43

4.2.1.3 Hard Waste Collection 43

4.2.2 Resource Recovery Centres / Transfer Stations (RRC / TS) 43

Council Case Studies 45

Hepburn Hot Trash 47

Yarriambiack Tip Treasure Hunt 47

4.2.3 Materials Recovery Facilities 48

Community Resource Recovery and drumMUSTER Campaign 48

4.2.4 Reprocessing Facilities 49

4.2.4.1 Organics 50



PAGE

4.2.4.2 Plastics 51

4.2.4.3 Paper and Cardboard 51

4.2.4.4 Aggregates, Masonry and Soil 51

4.2.4.5 E-Waste 52

4.2.4.6 Glass 52

4.2.4.7 Rubber (Tyres) 52

4.2.4.8 Metals 53

4.2.4.9 Textiles 53

4.2.5 Energy from Waste 53

Beaufort Hospital Bioenergy Project 54

Kaniva Biodiesel Project 54

Berrybank Farm, Windermere 54

4.2.6 Asbestos 55

4.3 Landfill Infrastructure 55

4.4 Waste and Resource Recovery Hubs 63

4.5 Financial and Environmental Performance of Infrastructure 66

4.5.1 Performance and Investment 67

4.6 Land Use Planning and the Transport Network 71

4.6.1 Land Use Planning 71

4.6.2 The Transport Network 72

Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) and Transport Planning 74

4.7 Market Sounding (Request for Information) and Infrastructure Scheduling 75

FIVE – RISK AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING 76

5.1 Contingency Planning – Landfill 77

5.2 Risks – Resource Recovery 78

5.3 Contingency Planning – Resource Recovery 78

SIX – INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULE 84

Part A – Resource Recovery and Consolidation Infrastructure 88

Part B – Landfill Infrastructure Schedule 95

SEVEN – APPENDICES 109

Appendix One – Abbreviations & Acronyms 110

Appendix Two – References 112

Appendix Three – Data Sources 113

Appendix Four – Legislation and Policy Context 114

Appendix Five – Infrastructure Scheduling Process 121

Appendix Six – Maps 122

Appendix Seven – Collaboration Process and Consultation Outcomes 131

Appendix Eight – Glossary 136


LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. PAGE

Figure 1 Process for Developing the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan 14

Figure 2 Strategic Plan for Waste and Resource Recovery in the Region 16

Figure 3 Map of the Grampians Central West Region 26

Figure 4 Resource Flows in Victoria’s Circular Economy 28

Figure 5 Projected Waste Generated Per Capita by Council Area for the 2015 – 2045 Period (Business as Usual) 29

Figure 6 Projected Waste Sent to Landfill and Recovered Resources for the 2015 – 2045 Period Excluding Cross Regional Flows (Business As Usual)

30

Figure 7 Indicative Composition of Generated Waste Entering Grampians Central West Landfills 2013/2014 30

Figure 8 Estimated Source Sector Projections for Generated Waste Recovered and Sent to Landfill for the 2015 – 2045 Period (Business as Usual)

31

Figure 9 Cross Regional Flows of Reprocessed Materials in the Grampians Central West Region 34

Figure 10 VLAA Best Practice Model for Litter Prevention and Management 35

Figure 11 Material Managed in the Region: Resource Material by Type Recovered and Sent to Landfill (2013/2014) 40

Figure 12 Projected Growth of Reprocessed Materials for the Period 2015 – 2045 (Business As Usual) 41

Figure 13 Landfills Used by Each Council 56

Figure 14 Infrastructure Scheduling Process 87

Figure 15 The IAP2 Spectrum 131

Figure 16 Community Engagement Poster 134



LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. PAGE

Table 1 Grampians Central West Implementation Plan Objectives and Priority Actions 17

Table 2 Alignment of Grampians Central West Implementation Plan Objectives and Priority Actions to the State Infrastructure Plan Long Term Strategic Directions

18

Table 3a Priority Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 1 19

Table 3b Priority Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 1 20



Table 4c Priority Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 2 22



Table 5c Priority Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 3 24

Table 6 Priority Actions to Achieve Strategic Objective 4 24

Table 7 Local Government Area (Council) Population Projected 2015/2016 – 2030/2031 27

Table 8 Estimated Waste Generated, Recovered and Sent to Landfill in the Grampians Central West Region (tonnes) for 2013/2014 and 2016/2017

29

Table 9 Estimate of Cross Regional Flows of Recovered Materials (2013/2014) 33

Table 10 Summary of Operational Infrastructure Types in each Council Area (in 2015/2016) 37

Table 11 Summary of Resource Recovery and Reprocessing Infrastructure Types in the Region (in 2015) and Associated Tonnages from 2013/2014

38

Table 12 Sector Breakdown of Material Managed in the Region (tonnes) 38

Table 13 Material Streams Managed, Recovered and Sent to Landfill (Tonnes) in the Region 2013/2014 41

Table 14 Summary of Key Products Produced from Recovered Materials 42

Table 15 Council Managed Resource Recovery Facilities 46

Table 16 Private Resource Recovery Centres 48

Table 17 Materials Recovery Facilities 49

Table 18 Reprocessing Facilities (Private) 49

Table 19 Operating Landfills in 2015/2016 58

Table 20 Scenarios Modelled for Landfill Projections 58

Table 21 Private (Own Waste) Landfills in the Region 62

Table 22 Waste and Resource Recovery Hubs 64

Table 23 Financial and Environmental Factors Affecting Performance of Infrastructure 68

Table 24 Council Strategic Plans and Challenges, Needs and Opportunities 73

Table 25 Infrastructure Scheduling Application Process (Resource Recovery) 75

Table 26 Infrastructure Scheduling Application Process (Resource Recovery) – Recommended Proposals to Service the Region

75

Table 27 Grampians Central West Implementation Plan Risk Register 79

Table 28 Land Use Planning and Waste Planning Framework Infrastructure Categorisation 86

Table 29 Existing Resource Recovery and Reprocessing Infrastructure 88

Table 30 Future Resource Recovery and Reprocessing Infrastructure 94

Table 31 Existing Landfills 95

Table 32 Proposed Sequence of the Filling of Available Landfill Sites* 2016 – 2046 98

Table 33 Rehabilitation Status of Closed Landfills 101

Table 34 Explanation of Landfill Rehabilitation Status 108


FOREWORD FROM THE FORMER CHAIR

I am pleased to present the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan (Grampians Central West Implementation Plan). The plan provides a roadmap to inspire change and shape the region’s waste and resource recovery (recycling) infrastructure for the next 10 years.

The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan has been developed in collaboration with our waste and resource recovery stakeholders, which include councils, industry and the community. Importantly, this plan recognises the principle of environmental justice to ensure involvement from the entire community in delivering the optimum waste management outcomes for the Grampians Central West region.

The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan reflects the expectation of our communities to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to ensure waste and resource recovery facilities provide positive economic, community, environmental and public health benefits, and ultimately minimise the environmental impacts from climate change.

We know that our region still has some challenges to improve the level of resource recovery, recognising that there are materials that can be viably recovered before going to landfill. We are aware that disposing of materials to landfill is a limited solution and while landfill is always likely to be required, easily accessible landfill space is finite. Landfills have social and environmental consequences and need to be well managed to minimise their impact on the community. The challenge is to get the best outcomes from our waste management practices whilst ensuring the development and opportunities of our regional communities and the region’s environment continue to be enhanced and thrive.

The waste and recycling infrastructure within the region enables us to manage current waste volumes. However, there is a need to improve operational performance, manage closed landfills, create economies of scale and, in the end, minimise the costs imposed on the community and businesses.

We recognise that to achieve positive change through acknowledging our responsibility for waste and resource recovery solutions, we will need to work collaboratively with all our stakeholders to help deliver innovative solutions in waste and resource recovery technology, service delivery and engagement.

Through these stakeholder partnerships this plan aims to achieve the following outcomes:

Innovative infrastructure or systems that improve the recovery of materials New, upgraded and expanded infrastructure that improves the collection of materials for recovery and capitalises on

handling, transport and operational efficiencies across the region New and existing infrastructure operating to best practice principles or guidelines Decisions within the Grampians Central West region are evidence-based on local and regional data that is

accessible, up to date and linked to the statewide data system.

We thank our councils, industry and community stakeholders for their valuable input into developing the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan. We look forward to implementing our plan of action and inspiring change that will improve the waste and resource recovery network for the Grampians Central West region. The plan’s implementation will stimulate job generation, investment and growth and provide the basis for a prosperous future for our region.

Cr. Tom Sullivan

Former Chair, Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan is to set out how the waste and resource recovery infrastructure needs of the Grampians Central West region will be met over at least a 10-year period.

The Grampians Central West region (the region) extends across 12 council areas, encompassing an area of over 50,000km2. The region covers a significant area of the state of Victoria, stretching from the western metropolitan boundary of Melbourne to the South Australian border, with the Western Highway its central arterial link.

The region’s resident population is currently 252,230, which is projected to increase to more than 290,000 over the next 10 years. Population density varies across the region, ranging from peri-urban areas on the metropolitan fringe through to a major regional city in Ballarat to the sparsely populated rural shires of Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack in the far west.

Modelling estimates have indicated that the Grampians Central West population generated approximately 492,000 tonnes of waste in 2013/2014 and is expected to produce around 515,000 tonnes in 2016/2017.

Reflecting the additional cross regional flows of waste, the volume of waste materials that was managed and passed through waste and resource recovery facilities in the region was approximately 688,000 tonnes in 2013/2014. This is expected to increase by around 16 per cent over the next 10 years to more than 756,000 tonnes.

Climate change is another key challenge for the waste and resource recovery industry. It will require this region to develop well-planned, resilient and adaptable infrastructure that will be essential for the region to cope with the future predicted challenges of population growth and climate change.

While the region is recovering over 40 per cent of waste material, there is a dynamic opportunity to further increase the recovery of many materials currently being sent to landfill due to their significant commercial value to viable markets that are developing.

There is potential to increase the recovery of material streams such as cardboard, glass, textiles, masonry and soils through the promotion of existing services, aggregation and bulking. In addition, there are opportunities to work with local industries to develop other markets for Energy from Waste (EfW).

At present there are only three councils out of the 12 across the region that offer a kerbside organics garden waste service, with Ballarat’s having commenced in July 2016 and Moorabool’s scheduled to begin in early 2017. Consequently, the diversion of organics from landfill is a significant opportunity for the region to reduce its volume of material going to landfill.

1 Sustainability Victoria 2015, Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015–44

While there is some data on cross regional flows of waste disposed to landfill in the region and recyclables managed outside the region, specific figures on the movement of landfilled waste are not well understood. Improved data collection presents further opportunities for continuous improvement in resource recovery decisions.

It is important to note that sustainable and viable resource recovery must be reinforced by a positive business case, a market for recovered materials and goods, economies of scale, and improved outcomes for the environment and public health. The community and industry have a significant role to play in resource recovery and both must continue to participate conscientiously.

Based on a landfill needs assessment and associated airspace data analysis conducted in 2015/2016, the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group (GCWWRRG) does not consider that there is a demonstrated need for additional landfill airspace, and has not sought any additional landfill airspace for the region at this point in time. This matter is to be reviewed within three to five years. No other Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Groups have advised Grampians Central West of the need for landfill in this region.

This Grampians Central West Implementation Plan has been prepared to help stakeholders, including councils, industry and the community, to participate in planning to meet the waste and recycling needs of the region into the future.

During the development of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan, GCWWRRG undertook a market assessment to identify industry’s strategic direction and aspirations for resource recovery and waste management. GCWWRRG also consulted extensively with the community, councils and industry to better understand the issues and challenges in the region and the needs of households.

The ideas produced from these activities, together with the direction set in the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (State Infrastructure Plan)1, have helped in formulating this Grampians Central West Implementation Plan. This will assist the GCWWRRG and the region’s stakeholders face the challenges and discover the opportunities.


During the period of this plan, together with our stakeholders, GCWWRRG will aim to work on the following nine priority actions including:

1. Assess and, where viable, support the development of solutions and systems to increase the recovery of priority materials.

2. Facilitate the development of regional partnerships to produce efficiencies in resource recovery, materials transport and disposal.

3. Work across all levels of government, industry and investors to explore innovative and technological advancements that could inform future infrastructure development and investment.

4. Work with councils and industry to upgrade and rationalise infrastructure, improve operations and engage communities.

5. Facilitate work between councils and/or industry and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to progress any rehabilitation assessments and requirements for closed landfills.

6. Work with councils and relevant state planning authorities to site new infrastructure appropriately and protect existing facilities and hubs from encroachment.

7. Contribute to the development and application of a reliable state and regional integrated data system to inform waste and resource recovery decisions.

8. Share information across government on regional infrastructure and market development needs and priorities.

9. Continue to work with relevant agencies, councils, industry, schools and the community on waste and resource recovery education and engagement.

These priority actions complement the direction articulated in the State Infrastructure Plan2, and, together with the six other Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans (Regional Implementation Plans) being developed statewide, will establish a strategic direction and framework that will inform and encourage waste and resource recovery infrastructure to meet the needs of the Victorian community now and into the future, and assist the state in adapting to climate change.

2 Sustainability Victoria 2015, Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015–44

INTRODUCTION


1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 PURPOSE

The management of waste and resource recovery in Victoria is an essential service that aims to minimise the impacts on the community and the environment and to protect human health, along with supporting a sustainable resource recovery and recycling system that reduces reliance on landfill for the disposal of waste.

The purpose of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan is to set out how the waste and resource recovery infrastructure needs of the Grampians Central West region will be met over the next 10 years. The plan has been prepared by the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group (GCWWRRG) to assist stakeholders, including councils, industry and the community, to continue to participate in the planning and infrastructure implementation to meet the regional waste and resource recovery (recycling) needs into the future.

Recognising that many stakeholders and communities are continuously involved in planning, building, operating and using the region’s waste and resource recovery network, GCWWRRG will welcome feedback throughout the delivery of this plan.

1.2 THE VICTORIAN WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING FRAMEWORK

In 2014, legislative amendments to the Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act) established the Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Planning Framework (the Framework). As amended, the EP Act provides the legislative foundation for the regional implementation plans.

The Framework, which includes the regional implementation plans, is primarily governed by the EP Act, but consideration has also been given to other relevant legislation in the preparation of this document, as appropriate, including the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) and the Transport Integration Act 2009 (Vic).

The framework provides the structure for strategic planning for waste and resource recovery that integrates state, regional and local planning. Its objectives are

a) to ensure long-term strategic planning for waste and resource recovery infrastructure at state and regional levels

b) to facilitate the integration of statewide directions for the management of waste and resource recovery infrastructure and regional infrastructure needs

c) to enable waste and resource recovery planning to be

i. effectively integrated with land use and development planning and policy

ii. effectively integrated with transport planning and policy

d) to ensure Sustainability Victoria (SV) and the Waste and Resource Recovery Groups (WRRGs) work together to integrate the State Infrastructure Plan and regional implementation plans

e) to enable waste and resource recovery infrastructure planning decisions at the appropriate level of the framework.

The framework provides for the preparation, integration and implementation of the State Infrastructure Plan by SV and the seven regional implementation plans. Further legislative and policy context is located in Appendix 4.

1.3 CLIMATE CHANGE

The Victorian Government is committed to positioning Victoria as a national and international leader in climate change action and is implementing a range of policy initiatives to deliver on this commitment, including:

The new Climate Change Act 2017 - legislates a long-term target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and gives effect to the majority of the commitments set out in the Victorian Government Response to the 2015 Independent Review of the Climate Change Act 2010.

Victoria’s Climate Change Framework - sets out our vision for Victoria in 2050 and the steps required across government and key sectors of the economy to commence the transition.

Victoria’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2017-2020 - sets out the priorities for the next four years for the Victorian Government to better understand and manage current impacts, and to prepare for the long-term risks of climate change.

TAKE2 – Victoria’s climate change pledge program for State Government, local governments, businesses, community groups, educational institutions and individuals to make public commitments to reduce emissions and build capacity between now and 2020.

Committing to Victorian renewable energy targets (VRET) of 25% by 2020 and 40% by 2025, supported by a competitive reverse auction scheme.

Asserting climate change action as a core component of public sector business is essential to delivering these climate change policy objectives.



This requires all Victorian Government agencies and portfolio entities to understand the impacts of climate change on their assets and service delivery and contribute to reducing emissions.

The impacts of climate change on Victoria’s waste sector are varied and may include issues such as changes in the timing, form and amount of precipitation as well as potential increases in extreme weather events such as bushfires, flood and drought.

These impacts can affect waste infrastructure, remediation and containment strategies as well as local water quality.

Waste management authorities have a number of opportunities to contribute towards action on climate change, including:

Incorporating climate-resilience into the design and management of waste infrastructure.

Contributing to TAKE2 by taking measures to reduce emissions from operations and facilities, landfills and reprocessing of materials such as organics.

Assisting the development of markets for reprocessed materials, i.e. organics to compost or energy.

Reviewing potential risks and current assumptions about remediation and containment methods in light of climate change impacts.

Putting in place contingency plans to handle surges in treatment and disposal of waste generated from climate-related events (such as bushfires and floods).

Contributing to improvements in soil quality through the provision of compost.

Contributing to Victoria’s renewable energy targets through use of EfW technologies.

Engaging with the community to increase their understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change for the waste sector, and how they can help.

1.4 GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY GROUP

The Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group (GCWWRRG) is a Victorian statutory organisation responsible for facilitating a coordinated approach to the planning and delivery of waste infrastructure and services in the Grampians Central West region of western Victoria. GCWWRRG was established on 1 August 2014 and is one of seven in Victoria. The organisation is legislated under the EP Act with the objectives for GCWWRRG set out in Section 49G.

GCWWRRG works with 12 councils to facilitate waste and resource recovery infrastructure and services and to enable improved knowledge, collaboration and best value opportunities. The 12 councils are mapped in Figure 3 and are as follows:

Ararat Rural City Council

Central Goldfields Shire Council

City of Ballarat

Golden Plains Shire Council

Hepburn Shire Council

Hindmarsh Shire Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Moorabool Shire Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Pyrenees Shire Council

West Wimmera Shire Council

Yarriambiack Shire Council

GCWWRRG is responsible for planning and facilitating the continuous improvement and development of waste and resource recovery facilities and services across the region. Its legislative functions are to plan for future infrastructure needs; facilitate infrastructure development, services and joint procurement contracts; work with and advise SV, councils, businesses and communities; support collaborative local government waste forums; coordinate and encourage community education and undertake projects funded by government or other organisations.

Waste is an essential service:

An essential service can be defined as a service that is recognised as a basic right for the community. Any failure to deliver this service results in risks to the community.

Victoria’s waste and resource recovery system provides the essential services to manage Victoria’s waste. If waste and material streams are not managed properly, they can cause a range of issues including odours, dust, noise, generation of leachate, which

can contaminate ground water, soil contamination, and the generation of greenhouse gases, which impact the community and environment.

Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan, Sustainability Victoria, 2015


1.5 HOW THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED

The EP Act3 sets out the full scope and requirements of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan. It must include

a description and analysis of waste and resource recovery infrastructure for the region

a description of how the long-term directions in the State Infrastructure Plan will be implemented to give effect to local and regional infrastructure needs within the waste and resource recovery region

a schedule of existing and required waste and resource recovery infrastructure within the waste and resource recovery region

any matters required by the Ministerial guidelines.

Figure 1 shows the overall process for preparing the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan. The process was underpinned by analysis and assessment based on evidence, principles of transparency and fairness, and engagement with stakeholders and the community.

In stages 1 to 6, GCWWRRG undertook extensive background work to inform the final Grampians Central West Implementation Plan, which included

a literature review of recent regional, state and national research

consideration of the State Infrastructure Plan

data collection (see Major Data Sources in Appendix 3) and analysis, the components of which were

o detailed data collection and surveys from councils for resource recovery centres (RRCs) and from industry for regional reprocessing facilities as part of a statewide study4

o meetings with council senior management, planning, economic development and engineering staff

o data and information from SV

o data and information from neighbouring WRRGs and other regional WRRGs, especially in relation to landfill needs assessments, that included liaison with the Metropolitan WRRG regarding the Maddingley Brown Coal Landfill

o information from relevant industry and waste associations

3 Environmental Protection Act 1970, Section 50BB, page 42 4 Sustainability Victoria/Sustainable Resource Use (SRU) 2015, Survey and Analysis of Regional Reprocessors and

o initial information, liaison and data collection from the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) and Construction and Demolition (C&D) sectors in the region.

a review of Grampians Central West council waste management strategies and plans

consultation with the Grampians Central West Local Government Waste Forum (convened by GCWWRRG) and its Technical Advisory Reference Group to understand regional priorities for future waste and resource recovery infrastructure development

consultation with representatives of councils, the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), SV, and WRRGs in Victoria about current and future risks to the region’s waste and resource recovery system

a partnership with the Barwon South West WRRG, a Market Sounding (Request for Information) and review, together with a resource recovery scheduling process, to engage industry and councils to understand the waste sector’s capacity and infrastructure investment intentions, challenges, capacity gaps, needs and opportunities, and to inform the development of an infrastructure schedule

an analysis of media stories from across the region informing the broader community about the development of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan

a review of previous local surveys to gauge community aspirations and priorities around waste and resource recovery

public consultation on a consultation draft of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan which included

o accepting submissions on the draft plan

o an online survey

o a series of forums with councils, industry and communities from the region.

To find out more information on the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan, go to the website at www.gcwwrrg.vic.gov.au.

Material Recovery Facility Operators – Consolidated Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group Report



1.6 WASTE CATEGORISATION

The waste and material streams managed by the waste and resource recovery system is complex. “Waste” can be categorised as

solid waste (which is either putrescible or inert) study5

prescribed industrial waste (PIW),which is also known as hazardous waste

other waste (includes waste emissions to air and water and liquid [trade] waste).

The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan addresses solid waste only. Whilst the management of PIW and other wastes can intersect with the management of solid waste, they are outside the scope of this plan.

Hazardous wastes are wastes that pose significant environmental and/or human health risks if not managed or disposed of safely. Under Victoria’s current hazardous waste management framework, many hazardous wastes are ‘prescribed’ through Victoria’s Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations.

The Victorian Government is committed to the protection of human health and the environment from the possible harms of hazardous wastes. A review of Victoria’s hazardous waste management framework has commenced. This review will consider the infrastructure needs to appropriately manage these waste streams, including the potential to integrate this information into the State Infrastructure Plan and other regional implementation plans.

FIGURE 1. PROCESS USED FOR DEVELOPING THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

5 Sustainability Victoria/Sustainable Resource Use (SRU) 2015, Survey and Analysis of Regional Reprocessors and Material Recovery Facility Operators – Consolidated Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group Report

Stage 1

• Analysis of current and projected waste generated andmanaged

Stage 2• Analysis of current infrastructure capacity and need

Stage 3• Market sounding for new and expanded infrastructure

Stage 4• Initial community engagement

Stage 5• Develop consultation draft

Stage 6• Broad engagement on consultation draft

Stage 7• Final Grampians Central West Implementation Plan

ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE REGIONAL AND

STATEWIDE OBJECTIVES



2. ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE OBJECTIVES

2.1 OBJECTIVES, GOALS, PRIORITY ACTIONS AND ACTION PLAN

GCWWRRG has adopted the vision, purpose and goals from the State Infrastructure Plan and developed regional strategic objectives and directions, 10-year outcomes and nine priority actions to reflect the specific challenges, needs and opportunities in the region.

Figure 2 represents the relationship between the strategic objectives, goals, directions, outcomes and priority actions.

The strategic plan will guide the implementation actions for the region, based on the principles of the EP Act and aligned to the strategic directions of the State Infrastructure Plan. The Priority Actions underpin the activities that GCWWRRG will progress over the coming years.

At the heart of this implementation plan is a culture of cooperation between councils, industry and the state government that focuses on achieving the best outcome for the community in waste and resource recovery.

FIGURE 2. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY IN THE REGION

VISION

The Grampians Central West region has an integrated and efficient waste and resource recovery system that provides an essential community service to protect the community and the environment,

and ensure human health is not compromised; viably recover materials from our waste; and minimise costs to residents, industry and government.

PURPOSE To provide strategic direction for the management of waste and resource recovery infrastructure that is

able to cost effectively and efficiently manage the expected mix and volumes of waste.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVE 1 Increase resource

recovery and market development

OBJECTIVE 2 Improve infrastructure

and operations

OBJECTIVE 3 Advance data collection

and planning

OBJECTIVE 4 Foster relationships to optimise diversion

from landfill

GOALS What we want to achieve in 30 years

GOAL1 Materials are made

available to the resource recovery market through

aggregation and consolidation of volumes

to create viable economies of scale.

GOAL2 Resource recovery and waste

infrastructure, including landfills, are established and

managed over their lifetime to provide economic, community, environment and public health benefits and are commercially

flexible.

GOAL3 Reliable information that

provides the evidence base and confidence to plan and invest in new and existing infrastructure is available.

GOAL4 Diversion rates are

optimised so that Landfills will only be for receiving

and treating residual waste streams from which all materials that can be viably recovered have

been extracted.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS What we will do differently

Establish and optimise a cost effective and adaptable

material recovery infrastructure network and service solutions through

consolidation, aggregation and transport efficiencies.

Advance the provision and performance of waste and resource

recovery infrastructure service delivery through innovation and

continuous improvement.

Gather reliable data to inform current and future waste and resource recovery planning.

Optimise the diversion of recoverable materials from

landfills and ensure adequate cost effective landfill provision

to meet current and future needs.

10-YEAR OUTCOMES What will be different in 10 years

New, upgraded and expanded resource recovery

infrastructure that delivers cost efficiency, increased and prioritised resource recovery and transport /

handling efficiencies.

New and existing infrastructure designed, developed and operating

viably and to best practice principles, standards or guidelines

and meeting community expectations.

An integrated data system established in partnership with local

and state governments and connected to industry.

Infrastructure and associated systems that optimise material recovery and minimise waste

to landfill.

PRIORITY ACTIONS What will happen?

1. Assess and, where viable, support the development of

solutions and systems to increase the recovery of

priority materials.

2. Facilitate the development of regional partnerships to produce efficiencies in resource

recovery, materials transport and disposal.

3. Work across all levels of government, industry and investors

to explore innovative and technological advancements that could inform future infrastructure

development and investment.

4. Work with councils and industry to upgrade (and rationalise)

infrastructure, improve operations and engage communities.

5. Facilitate work between councils and/or industry and the EPA to

progress any rehabilitation assessments and requirements for

closed landfills.

6. Work with councils and relevant state planning authorities to site new infrastructure appropriately and protect existing facilities and

hubs from encroachment.

7. Contribute to the development and application of a reliable state

and regional integrated data system to inform waste and resource recovery decisions.

8. Share information across government on regional

infrastructure and market development needs and priorities.

9. Continue to work with relevant agencies, councils,

industry, schools and the community on waste and

resource recovery education and engagement.


2.1.1 OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST

Table 1 represents the relationship between the State Infrastructure Plan strategic directions with the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan objectives and priority actions.

TABLE 1. GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY ACTIONS

State Infrastructure Plan Long Term Strategic Directions

To maximise the diversion of recoverable materials from landfills

Resource recovery will be undertaken by local government and industry where it is economically viable and where it will result in better community, environment and public health outcomes.

To support increased resource recovery

Planning of new landfill airspace, including the scheduling of new landfill sites, will be based on: › the volumes of residual waste streams remaining after all materials that can be recovered viably have been extracted › a demonstrated need for additional airspace.

To achieve quantities for reprocessing

Consolidation and aggregation of material streams, around a hubs and spokes network, will be undertaken if: › there is a market for the feedstock › there is a viable business case › potential community, environment and public health impacts are minimised.

To manage waste and material streams

Suitably located and zoned land will be made available for the mix of infrastructure required.

To maximise economic outcomes, provide cost effective service delivery and reduce community, environment and public health impacts

Decisions to determine resource recovery and waste management options will be based on evidence.

To facilitate a cost effective statewide network of waste and resource recovery infrastructure

Integrated statewide planning and decision making will be capable of addressing local, regional and state needs.

Grampians Central West Implementation Plan Objectives and Actions

Objectives Increase resource recovery and market development

Improve infrastructure and operations

Advance data collection and planning

Foster relationships to optimise diversion from landfill

Pri

ori

ty A

ctio

ns

1. Assess and, where viable, support the development of solutions and systems to increase the recovery of priority materials.

2. Facilitate the development of regional partnerships to produce efficiencies in resource recovery, materials transport and disposal.

3. Work across all levels of government, industry and investors to explore innovative and technological advancements that could inform future infrastructure development and investment.

4. Work with councils and industry to upgrade (and rationalise) infrastructure, improve operations and engage communities.

5. Facilitate work between councils and/or industry and the EPA to progress any rehabilitation assessments and requirements for closed landfills.

6. Work with councils and relevant state planning authorities to site new infrastructure appropriately and protect existing facilities and hubs from encroachment.

7. Contribute to the development and application of a reliable state and regional integrated data system to inform waste and resource recovery decisions.

8. Share information across government on regional infrastructure and market development needs and priorities.

9. Continue to work with relevant agencies, councils, industry, schools and the community on waste and resource recovery education and engagement.



TABLE 2. ALIGNMENT OF GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY ACTIONS TO THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN LONG TERM STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

State Infrastructure Plan Long Term

Strategic Directions

To maximise the diversion of recoverable materials from landfills Resource recovery will be undertaken by local government and industry where it is economically viable and where it will result in better community, environment and public health outcomes.

To support increased resource recovery Planning of new landfill airspace, including the scheduling of new landfill sites, will be based on: the volumes of residual waste streams remaining after all materials that can be recovered viably have been extracted a demonstrated need for additional airspace.

To achieve quantities for reprocessing Consolidation and aggregation of material streams, around a hubs and spokes network, will be undertaken if: there is a market for the feedstock there is a viable business case potential community, environment and public health impacts are minimised.

To manage waste and material streams Suitably located and zoned land will be made available for the mix of infrastructure required.

To maximise economic outcomes, provide cost effective service delivery and reduce community, environment and public health impacts Decisions to determine resource recovery and waste management options will be based on evidence.

To facilitate a cost effective statewide network of waste and resource recovery infrastructure Integrated statewide planning and decision making will be capable of addressing local, regional and state needs.

GR

AM

PIA

NS

CE

NT

RA

L W

ES

T IM

PL

EM

EN

TA

TIO

N P

LA

N

Increase resource

recovery and market

development

Priority Action 1

Priority Action 2

Improve infrastructure

and operations

Priority Action 3

Priority Action 4

Priority Action 5

Advance data collection and

planning

Priority Action 6

Priority Action 7

Priority Action 8

Foster relationships to optimise

diversion from landfill

Priority Action 9


2.2 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST

Tables 3 to 6 outline the short-term activities proposed for each priority action.

A five-year timeframe for delivery has been set to enable actions to remain relevant, achievable and measurable.

2.2.1 ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASE RESOURCE RECOVERY AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Priority Action 1. Assess and, where viable, support the development of solutions and systems to increase the recovery of priority materials.

Recovery of the majority of resource materials is lower in the region compared to the state trends. This is evident in areas such as organics, timber, tyres, aggregates, plastics and electronic waste (E-waste), which could be significantly improved. The current waste and recovery statistics for the Grampians Central West region are as follows:

The region only recovers around 13 per cent of materials through reprocessors. The majority of councils in the region do not currently collect kerbside organic garden material, which means it is

therefore currently being placed in landfill. It is estimated that at least 41,000 tonnes of organic materials are being placed in landfill every year.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), C&I and C&D recovery rates are lower than statewide averages. According to available information, no textiles or rubber (tyres) materials are being recovered through reprocessing

in the region. The glass recovery rate is 0.1 per cent. The plastics recovery rate is 2 per cent.

A number of infrastructure or service gaps that limit recovery have been identified as follows:

There are no operational rubber (tyre) recovery facilities in the region; tyre stockpiles are slowly being reduced. There are significant transport costs due to the extensive distances that need to be covered across the region. Growing stockpiles of materials are evident at many facilities as a result of limited end markets for some material

streams in rural and regional facilities. Rationalisation of facilities to enable aggregation of materials may assist in developing viable markets.

The community expects that materials should be recovered rather than sent to landfill where possible. TABLE 3A. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1

SHORT-TERM ACTIVITIES (5 years) LINK TO PRIORITY ACTIONS LEAD STAKEHOLDERS WHEN

1.1 Investigate viable and innovative opportunities to increase recovery of food and garden organics as feedstock for regional EfW options.

2, 3, 9 GCWWRRG,

Councils (subject to project)

Industry, SV, EPA, DELWP, RDV, Other WRRGs

2016 – 2020

1.2 Facilitate discussions with the waste and resource recovery industry to investigate opportunities for resource recovery improvements

2, 3, 4, 9 GCWWRRG Industry, SV,

Councils, Other WRRGs

2016 – 2019

1.3 Conduct waste audits to inform pre-sort viability assessment

3 GCWWRRG Councils, SV 2018 – 2019

1.4 Investigate viability of pre-sort infrastructure at landfills and large RRCs

3, 4 GCWWRRG Councils, Industry 2019 – 2020

1.5 Investigate and, where viable, inform and facilitate opportunities to increase recovery of priority materials, including organics, timber, tyres, aggregates, E-waste, glass, and textiles

2, 3, 9 GCWWRRG Industry, SV, Councils

2017 – 2020

1.6 Identify appropriate co-location sites, that have the appropriate buffers and social license to operate to receive, process or treat organic waste

2, 3, 4, 6 GCWWRRG Councils, Industry, Water Authorities

2018 – 2020

1.7 Work with councils and state authorities to develop mechanisms to appropriately manage waste and recover resources during and after emergency events

3, 8, 9 GCWWRRG

SV, Emergency Management Victoria, EPA, Councils, Other

WRRGs

2017 – 2018

1.8 Consider, inform and facilitate any future material diversion requirements from landfill in line with government commitments

2, 3, 4, 8, 9 GCWWRRG

DELWP, Councils, Industry, Product

Stewardship ‘arrangements’

2016+

1.9 Investigate resource recovery opportunities with industry via waste stream mapping and resource availability awareness schemes

2, 3, 7, 9 GCWWRRG Industry, SV,

Industry networks, RDV, Other WRRGs

Ongoing



Priority Action 2. Facilitate the development of regional partnerships to produce efficiencies in resource recovery, materials transport and disposal.

Facility operators generally manage waste and resource recovery in isolation without the consideration of partnerships in the interest of cost and logistical effectiveness. There are no options currently for aggregation and bulking, as well as back loading of waste, to reduce the cost of transport.

Councils are required to have regard to the transport system objectives and decision-making principles in the Transport Integration Act 2010 (Vic) when making decisions under their governing legislation. The transport system objectives include integrating land use and transport systems, and promoting efficient and coordinated movement of goods.

Emergency events such as fires and floods have the potential to contribute to spikes in the volumes of waste to be managed by regional infrastructure. Clear mechanisms need to be developed to ensure that appropriate waste systems and contingencies are in place during and following these events.

TABLE 3B. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1

SHORT-TERM ACTIVITIES (5 years) LINK TO PRIORITY ACTIONS LEAD STAKEHOLDERS WHEN

2.1 Investigate logistics and infrastructure that produce efficiencies in waste transport including understanding the viability verses distance constraint

1, 3, 4, 9 Councils,

GCWWRRG Industry, SV, Other

WRRGs 2016+

2.2 Facilitate collaborative procurements to maximise waste and resource recovery outcomes, where viable and providing cost effective solutions to optimise resource recovery

1, 3, 4, 9 GCWWRRG Councils, SV Ongoing

2.3 Observe and facilitate methodologies to minimise stockpiles of recovered materials 1, 3, 4, 9 GCWWRRG

Councils, SV, DELWP, Industry,

EPA 2017 - 2020

2.4 Assist councils to procure waste and resource recovery services and infrastructure that will achieve the goals and objectives of the State Infrastructure Plan and the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan

All GCWWRRG Councils, SV,

Industry, Other WRRGs

Ongoing

2.5 For collaborative procurements, encourage councils to notify the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or initiate authorisation

All Councils GCWWRRG Ongoing


2.2.2 ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2: IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS Priority Action 3. Work across all levels of government, industry and investors to explore innovative and technological

advancements that could inform future infrastructure development and investment.

Innovative and technological advancements are continually progressing and becoming more competitive.

Monitoring changes and new opportunities could inform new infrastructure development or upgrades, which could involve innovative and cost-effective service delivery models to rural and remote communities that increase resource recovery.

Energy from Waste initiatives and their technologies are in their infancy and require further investigation.

TABLE 4A. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2

SHORT-TERM ACTIVITIES (5 years) LINK TO

PRIORITY ACTIONS

LEAD STAKEHOLDERS WHEN

3.1 Assist councils to establish policy and strategies for resource recovery, waste management, infrastructure, the environment and sustainability which are aligned with the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan and the State Infrastructure Plan

1, 2, 4,

5, 6, 8, 9 GCWWRRG Councils, SV Ongoing

3.2 Promote the strategic directions of this plan to the waste and resource recovery industry in the region

3, 9 GCWWRRG Industry, Councils, SV Ongoing

3.3 Investigate and evaluate service delivery models and any associated infrastructure in rural and remote regional areas to facilitate cost-effective resource recovery

1, 4, 9 GCWWRRG Councils, SV 2016 - 2017

3.4 Monitor and provide advice on opportunities and advances in the waste and resource recovery sector and consider their application and viability for the region

1, 2, 4,

6, 8, 9 GCWWRRG Councils, Industry, SV Ongoing

3.5 Foster innovation, economic development and employment initiatives as they relate to the waste and resource recovery industry

1, 2, 4,

6, 8, 9 GCWWRRG

Councils, SV, DELWP, Industry, RDV

Ongoing

3.6 Assist councils and industry in responding to key waste and resource recovery issues and topics to foster enhanced relationships and continuous infrastructure and operational improvement

All GCWWRRG Councils, SV, Industry Ongoing

3.7 Review the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan and associated schedules within 3-5 years

All GCWWRRG Councils, SV, DELWP, EPA, Industry, Other

WRRGs 2018 - 2020

3.8 Provide ongoing assistance to councils and industry to identify and develop opportunities for recovery of material streams with potential economic value or high environmental and public health risk at the state, regional and local level to inform infrastructure investment decisions including:

potential opportunities and gaps identified in the State Infrastructure Plan

opportunities to use cross regional flows to consolidate material streams

opportunities in rural areas where economies of scale may be hard to achieve

1, 3, 4, 7 GCWWRRG Councils, Industry,

Other WRRGs Ongoing



Priority Action 4. Work with councils and industry to upgrade (and rationalise) infrastructure, improve operations and engage communities.

Sufficient landfill airspace exists within the Grampians Central West region to accommodate projected waste generation beyond the 10 years covered by this plan. Landfills play a role in safely and effectively managing residual waste, and whilst increasing resource recovery is a priority, landfills will continue to play a role in the infrastructure network for some years to come. It is recognised that high levels of skills and expertise are required to plan for, design, construct, operate and rehabilitate landfills to best practice. This means that significant capital, operational and long-term rehabilitation costs of landfills underpin decisions to continue development of current landfill facilities.

There are many RRCs not performing at best practice levels, which means they are operating at a high cost to councils and are not achieving the desired recovery rates. Approaches to planning for, procuring and operating resource recovery facilities is inconsistent, inefficient and does not necessarily address regional objectives or broader issues.

It is likely that additional infrastructure and storage capacity will be required to support the government’s commitment to banning E-waste from landfill.

The waste and resource recovery infrastructure in the region is ageing and in some instances does not meet best practice and has inadequate storage facilities for certain materials.



PRIORITY ACTIONS


4.1 Work with councils to establish best practice storage and handling of materials such as hardstand areas to reduce contamination of organics at RRCs, shelters, etc., where appropriate

1, 3 Councils GCWWRRG, SV 2016 - 2020

4.2 Investigate and consider options for asset rationalisation, consolidation and upgrade of landfill and RRC infrastructure, primarily in rural and remote areas.

1, 2, 3, 9 Councils GCWWRRG, SV, EPA 2016 - 2020

4.3 Facilitate training opportunities to assist councils to continuously improve landfill and RRC operations to meet best practice and optimise recovery

1, 2, 9 GCWWRRG EPA, Councils Ongoing

Priority Action 5. Facilitate work between councils and/or industry and the EPA to progress any rehabilitation assessments and requirements for closed landfills.

Councils manage the majority of closed landfills in the region. Post closure landfills must be rehabilitated and managed to a standard appropriate for protecting the environment and human health. This is costly and is often an unfunded liability.

TABLE 4C. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2


PRIORITY ACTIONS


5.1 Facilitate work between operators/duty holders and the EPA to develop risk based assessments for closed landfills and develop management strategies for future rehabilitation implementation

3, 4, 9 GCWWRRG,

Councils EPA 2017 - 2020


2.2.3 ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3: ADVANCE DATA COLLECTION AND PLANNING Priority Action 6. Work with councils and relevant state planning authorities to site new infrastructure appropriately and

protect existing facilities and hubs from encroachment.

If sites are not located appropriately and protected by suitable buffers, then the ability of existing facilities to undertake operations and protect the amenity of the community may be impacted.

Land use planning is a key mechanism to protect these buffers. Confidence to invest in new facilities is also linked to the availability of sites with adequate, protected buffers.

All Victorian planning schemes require planning decision-makers to consider (as appropriate) relevant regional waste management plans. This requires planning decision-makers to consider the regional implementation plan when considering planning permit applications for new waste and resource recovery infrastructure and development.

TABLE 5A. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3


PRIORITY ACTIONS


6.1 Work with councils to discuss potential planning mechanisms to protect buffers for existing and proposed facilities and hubs where required

3, 8 GCWWRRG Councils, Minister for

Planning, Industry, SV, DELWP, Other WRRGs

2016 - 2019

6.2 Work with industry and councils to identify possible sites for new infrastructure including mechanisms to consider this plan in relation to relevant planning scheme amendments and planning permit applications for new waste and resource recovery infrastructure

1, 3, 4 GCWWRRG Councils, Minister for Planning, SV, EPA, DELWP, Industry

2016 - 2019

Priority Action 7. Contribute to the development and application of a reliable state and regional integrated data system to inform waste and resource recovery decisions.

Accurate, credible, timely and reliable data is essential to assist planning for service delivery and capital infrastructure investment. Unfortunately, there are currently difficulties and repetition in data measurement and collection systems. To help find solutions to these problems, the state government waste and resource recovery portfolio (WRRGs, EPA, SV and Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning – DELWP) is currently investigating ways to enhance data collection and share information.

There is an interest in sharing data and learnings between operators and all councils.

At the region’s facilities there are a limited number of weighbridges, which necessitates the use of estimates without standard criteria and accurate measurements. This also presents difficulties in distinguishing between volumes of MSW and solid industrial waste (from business and industry), particularly at transfer stations.



PRIORITY ACTIONS


7.1 Work with SV and other WRRGs to develop and support an integrated data system that responds to state and regional needs

9 SV GCWWRRG Other WRRGs, Councils,

DELWP, EPA 2016 – 2018

7.2 Work with industry and SV to receive more timely, consistent and reliable data through building relationships

9 GCWWRRG Industry, SV 2017 – 2019

7.3 Analyse and share data and information to assist evidence-based decision-making and operations

9 GCWWRRG Councils, Industry, SV,

Other WRRGs 2017 – 2019



Priority Action 8. Share information across government on regional infrastructure and market development needs and priorities.

The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan can provide evidence to assist funding applications or business cases around asset improvement for waste and resource recovery infrastructure and associated infrastructure such as roads.

Information must be shared to ensure industry, government and communities have a full understanding of the trends, developments, technologies and advances that can influence markets and support investment in recovered resources.

Consideration has specifically been given to meeting community expectations for resource recovery activities that improve the environment, community amenity and human health, while stimulating markets for the use of recovered materials for positive economic return.

TABLE 5C. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3

SHORT-TERM ACTIVITIES (5-years) LINK TO

PRIORITY ACTIONS


8.1 Consult with industry and councils to gather information on innovation and market development needs and priorities

3, 8, 9 GCWWRRG Councils, Industry, SV,

Other WRRGs Ongoing

8.2 Inform and participate in the development of state policies and co-regulatory programs by communicating regional needs and priorities for infrastructure, innovation opportunities and market development for materials

1, 2, 3, 4,

6, 7, 9 GCWWRRG

Councils, SV, DELWP, Industry, Other

WRRGs, Product Stewardship

‘arrangements’

Ongoing

2.2.4 ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4: FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS TO OPTIMISE DIVERSION FROM LANDFILL Priority Action 9. Continue to work with relevant agencies, councils, industry, schools and the community on waste and

resource recovery education and engagement.

The Victorian Government’s Waste Education Strategy identifies the value in coordinated education across the state to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and there is a need for state programs to be tailored so as they address regional and local priorities and thereby maximise effectiveness and take-up.

There are a range of stakeholders with a role in the delivery of waste education including, (but not limited to) councils, SV, the EPA, Infrastructure Victoria, Regional Development Victoria, the Victorian Litter Action Alliance, and schools.

TABLE 6. PRIORITY ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4

SHORT-TERM ACTIVITIES (5-years) LINK TO

PRIORITY ACTIONS


9.1 Play a role in assisting SV, the Victorian Litter Action Alliance (VLAA) and councils in facilitating the development and implementation of best practice litter prevention programs

All GCWWRRG Councils, SV, DELWP, Industry, Other WRRGs

Ongoing

9.2 Implement community education and engagement activities in conjunction with councils, schools, industry and communities.

4 GCWWRRG SV, VLAA Councils,

Schools, Industry Ongoing

9.3 Provide assistance to industry to ensure infrastructure, facilities and services are operated and managed to protect the community, environment and public health

4 Councils GCWWRRG, SV,

Community, Ongoing

Some actions in this plan are similar to those in other WRRG Regional Implementation Plans. Where appropriate, GCWWRRG will work with the other WRRGs to determine if a joint approach may provide opportunities to achieve better outcomes that align with those of the plans of both regions.

THE STATE OF WASTE IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL

WEST REGION



3. THE STATE OF WASTE IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION

3.1 OVERVIEW OF THE REGION

3.1.1 REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS

The Grampians Central West region (Figure 3) extends across 12 council areas, encompassing an area of over 50,000km2. The region covers a significant area of the state of Victoria (21 per cent), stretching from the western metropolitan boundary of Melbourne to the South Australian border, with the Western Highway its central arterial link.

The region includes key population centres such as Ararat, Ballarat, Horsham, Maryborough and Stawell, and ranges from urban fringe areas adjoining metropolitan Melbourne to rural areas bordering South Australia.

The region is home to a current population of over 250,000, as outlined in Table 7, which is projected to grow over the next ten years to around 290,000. This an increase of 16 per cent between 2015/2016 and 2025/2026 (the life of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan) incorporating more than 40,000 people.

Population density varies across the region, with the number of people per km2 ranging from over 130 in Ballarat to fewer than one in Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.

FIGURE 3. MAP OF THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION


TABLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (COUNCIL) POPULATION PROJECTED FOR THE PERIOD 2015/2016 – 2030/2031

COUNCIL 2015/2016 2020/2021 2025/2026 2030/2031 CHANGE 2016-2026

Ararat 11,299 11,578 11,744 11,913 445 4%

Ballarat 104,344 115,476 127,265 139,650 22,921 22%

Central Goldfields 12,729 13,039 13,482 13,768 753 6%

Golden Plains 21,714 24,250 26,488 28,841 4,774 22%

Hepburn 15,175 16,059 17,082 17,918 1,907 13%

Hindmarsh 5,497 5,352 5,125 4,932 -372 -7%

Horsham 19,886 20,509 21,371 22,223 1,485 8%

Moorabool 32,420 36,484 40,930 45,414 7,970 25%

Northern Grampians 11,657 11,554 11,410 11,542 -247 -2%

Pyrenees 6,902 7,199 7,461 7,739 559 8%

West Wimmera 3,933 3,828 3,696 3,631 -237 -6%

Yarriambiack 6,674 6,434 6,264 6,208 -410 -6%

Total 252,230 271,762 292,318 313,779 39,548 16%

Source: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015 Victoria in Future (VIF) projections

The projected growth is not uniform across all council areas. The populations of Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack are expected to decrease slightly over the next 10 years, with the western segment of the region remaining stable, and the majority of growth expected to occur in the peri-urban and regional centres of Ballarat, Golden Plains and Moorabool.

The regional centres and peri-urban municipalities have the larger population base and will also experience the greatest population growth. The City of Ballarat will be home to 44.5 per cent of the region’s population by 2030/2031, and will also accommodate the majority of the projected population growth, with over 35,000 new residents (which equates to 57.4 per cent of the region’s growth). Rural councils, conversely, are experiencing slightly declining populations for a number of reasons, which include, but are not exclusive to, an ageing population, changing agricultural scenarios and migration to regional centres where health and education facilities are located.

While population growth is a major driver of how much waste is generated, there are many other factors that contribute to how much and what waste and associated materials are generated. This includes, but may not be exclusive to, urban lifestyles, economic conditions, manufacturing, consumer decision, education and community behaviour.

6 Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan, May 2014 and Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan, May 2014

3.1.2 REGIONAL INFORMATION As noted in the Central Highlands and Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plans6, the region has three distinct parts, each with its own particular issues and opportunities:

Ballarat, which is the largest city, has a significant impact on the development and growth in its hinterland.

The eastern section of the region, which is within Melbourne’s peri-urban hinterland, has particular population growth pressures around areas with significant landscapes, agricultural, waterway and other environmental assets.

The western area, predominantly comprising rural areas and establishment settlements, has relatively low or negligible population growth.

The main road transport corridor in the region is the Western Highway, which connects the region from Bacchus Marsh through Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell, and Horsham to the South Australian border. There are numerous other important road and rail corridors, including the Sunraysia Highway connecting Ballarat to the central part of the region, the Henty Highway, which runs north-south through Horsham, and the Wimmera Highway, which provides an additional east-west link in the West Wimmera area.

The region contains highly productive agricultural and horticultural land for broadacre grazing in the south and broadacre cropping in the north and central areas. There are also some areas of intensive agriculture, including horticulture, viticulture and poultry farming across the region.



Tourism, transport and mining are important elements of the economy in some areas of the region. Employment is growing in the services sectors particularly in education and health. The industry outlook over the next two decades indicates that high-growth sectors will be healthcare and social assistance; professional, scientific and technical services; renewable energy; accommodation and food services; and tourism.

One of the principal challenges in managing the future of waste and resource recovery across the region is the significant variation in the economic outlook in terms of population density, growth patterns, economic diversification and changes in economic activity.

3.2 WASTE GENERATED IN THE REGION

All aspects of life, business and household activities within the region lead to the generation of waste. Materials or waste generated in the region refers to materials or waste that have originated or have been produced from within the region.

Waste materials originate and are generated from three activity source sectors: MSW, C&I and C&D.

Modelling undertaken by SV and presented in Table 8 indicates that the Grampians Central West region generated approximately 492,000 tonnes of waste in 2013/2014. Of this, approximately 325,000 tonnes (66%) are recovered and 167,000 tonnes (34%) are sent to landfill.

With an average increase of approximately 1.5 per cent per annum, the estimated amount of waste to be generated in the region during 2016/2017 is expected to be just under 515,000 tonnes. It should be noted that generation figures are modelled only because waste and resource recovery data is not collected at the point of generation (for example, the household or business) but at the point of lodgement for disposal, consolidation or recovery.

While MSW accounts for about one quarter of all waste generated in the region, it represents a large proportion (42 per cent) of the material that is sent to landfill each year. With the introduction of kerbside collection for garden organics in some councils, it is anticipated that the MSW resource recovery rate will increase, as will the overall regional, and ultimately the state, recovery rate.

FIGURE 4. RESOURCE FLOWS IN VICTORIA’S CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Source: Sustainability Victoria 2015, Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015–44


TABLE 8 ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF WASTE (TONNES) GENERATED, RECOVERED AND SENT TO LANDFILL BY SECTOR FOR THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION FOR 2013/2014

SOURCE SECTOR GENERATED RECOVERED LANDFILLED RECOVERED (%)

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) 122,600 50,700 71,900 42%

Commercial & Industrial (C&I) 184,100 123,900 60,200 67%

Construction & Demolition (C&D) 185,500 150,400 35,100 81%

Total 2013/2014 492,200 325,000 167,200 66%

Source: Modelled data from Sustainability Victoria 2015, Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3

3.3 FUTURE PROJECTIONS OF WASTE

Figure 5 highlights the future for the region’s waste and resource recovery per capita based on business-as–usual (BAU) projections. Assuming current resource recovery rates continue, and based on further economic development and expected population increases, by 2026, waste generated is projected to increase to almost 666,000 tonnes. By 2046, it is expected to have increased by more than 36 per cent to approximately 768,000 tonnes.

Under BAU conditions, overall waste generated will increase consistently over the next 30 years, with recovery occurring at a slower rate than for waste sent to landfill. This trend provides a substantial opportunity for this region to address and increase resource recovery. As outlined in Section 3.2.1, a significant volume of waste is deposited at Maddingley Brown Coal’s solid inert landfill. This waste is a result of cross regional flows from waste generated in the metropolitan

Melbourne region. Regional projections must take this into consideration when analysing resource recovery and landfill rates.

BAU is defined as the current situation (status quo) continuing, although it is noted that the intention of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan is to provide continuous improvement and for these figures to ultimately change for the better.

The region, under BAU modelling, will continue to consistently increase the amount of waste and resources generated within the region, as outlined in Figure 6, and will also send waste to landfill and recover resources.

Detailed analysis has established that the region will not require additional landfill capacity within the next 10 years. Moreover, the strategic objective to recover materials and reduce waste to landfill will further lessen the reliance on landfill.

FIGURE 5. PROJECTED WASTE SENT TO LANDFILL AND RECOVERED RESOURCES FOR THE 2015 – 2045 PERIOD (BUSINESS AS USUAL)

Source: Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment based on RWRRD data Sustainable Resource Use for Sustainability Victoria, 2015



The projected 30-year trend for total generated waste and resources (based on a per capita generation rate) by each council is shown in Figure 5 utilising BAU modelling. This demonstrates that the largest contribution towards the total generated waste growth in the region will be from the councils with the largest projected population increases, which includes Ballarat, Moorabool and Golden Plains.

Proportions of waste generated by each council area is based on the overall waste for the region divided by the population for each council.

Modelled data also presents a breakdown of generated waste materials that are sent to landfill, as represented in Figure 7, and can display a range of materials that may be viewed as potentially being recovered in the future.

FIGURE 6. PROJECTED WASTE GENERATED PER CAPITA BY COUNCIL AREA FOR THE 2015 – 2045 PERIOD (BUSINESS AS USUAL)

Source: Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment based on RWRRD data Sustainable Resource Use for Sustainability Victoria, 2015

FIGURE 7. INDICATIVE COMPOSITION OF WASTE GENERATED IN GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST SENT TO LANDFILL 2013/2014

Ton

nes

(tho

usa

nds)


The expected source sector growth of generated waste sent to landfill and recovered is shown in Figure 10 under existing conditions of BAU generation and diversion. Much of the additional growth in waste generated from the sectors is expected to result in materials being sent to landfill, while the amount of waste recovered is expected to remain relatively static if actions of industry and community remain the same.

The principles and priority actions of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan aim to alter this

projected scenario by recovering more resources and minimising landfill usage.

Therefore, a future representation of this figure will indicate an increased rate of resource recovery in line with the objectives of this plan.

This increase in generated waste growth is largely based upon the population increases projected to occur over the planning period, especially in regional centres and peri-urban municipalities as indicated in Figure 6.

FIGURE 8. ESTIMATED SOURCE SECTOR PROJECTIONS FOR GENERATED WASTE RECOVERED AND SENT TO LANDFILL FOR THE 2015 – 2045 PERIOD (BUSINESS AS USUAL)

Source: Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment based on RWRRD data Sustainable Resource Use for Sustainability Victoria, 2015. Note – includes Maddingley Brown Coal landfilled material.

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Thousands

C&D ‐ Landfilled

C&D ‐ recovery

C&I ‐ Landfilled

C&I ‐ recovery

MSW ‐ Landfilled

MSW ‐ recovery



3.3.1 WASTE FLOWS OUT OF AND INTO THE REGION Waste knows no boundaries and will gravitate to the most viable option. Therefore, a number of materials or wastes, which may have been generated within this region or in another region, will ultimately be disposed of or reprocessed within this region or in another region – whichever is most accessible and viable.

There is a significant amount of waste and materials that flow out of and into the region. The exact amount is difficult to determine due to the rudimentary amount of data captured and the extensive array of waste measurement and recording methodologies, multiple facility options, within the region and abroad, and transport routes. Simply, the region, where viable, should focus on the opportunity to better manage materials generated in the region.

The current information on cross regional flows was one of the considerations for GCWWRRG when undertaking the joint market sounding process with the neighbouring Barwon South West region.

Current data7 indicates that more material leaves the region for reprocessing than enters the region due to viability and economies of scale reasons. Significant material flows, outlined in Table 9, are transported out of the region for recovery/reprocessing and include

a large amount of paper and cardboard that is collected in the region and transported to Melbourne

metals and tyres that are collected and then transported to Melbourne. The exact quantity and volumes are unknown

organic material that is predominantly transported to the metropolitan region and Barwon South West region

plastics and mattresses that are transported to the Barwon South West region

hazardous waste8 (oil, car batteries, paint and gas bottles) that are collected and sent to Melbourne.

The majority of materials able to be reprocessed are sent either directly to the Melbourne metropolitan region, or aggregated at local resource recovery centres and forwarded. Waste generators and material handlers with a statewide or nationwide presence often have recycling contract arrangements that see material flow directly to capital city facilities. This includes national waste companies and also national retailers and industrial sites.

Smaller tonnages are managed within the Grampians Central West region and then sent to other Victorian regions or interstate. A small proportion of material is sent overseas following reprocessing.

Some residual waste is transported to the Werribee landfill (in the adjacent metropolitan region) from the Golden Plains and Moorabool Shire Councils.

A significant amount of mixed recyclables, including

7 Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations - Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report 8 Hazardous waste is out of scope of the Regional Implementation Plan 9 Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations

around 43,000 tonnes from kerbside collections, are also transported to other facilities in Melbourne for reprocessing. Kerbside collection of recyclable materials such as in Ballarat – which has over 40 per cent of the regional population – is solely managed in Melbourne. Virtually all the other councils in the region are also having their kerbside recyclables transported to the metropolitan or Barwon South West regions. This, of course, impacts on the amount of material that is actually managed within the region.

Figure 8 illustrates the source of materials entering the region to reprocessors and the destination of materials leaving reprocessors from the region. Analysis of the estimated data from Sustainability Victoria (2015) indicates that the reprocessors in the Grampians Central West region receive the majority (68 per cent) of their recovered materials from within the region, followed by the Melbourne metropolitan region.

The total value of resources recovered in the region9 is estimated to be over $4 million, with less than $0.5 million of those resources staying in the region. This figure underestimates the value of the industry as some businesses in this region did not provide a value for reprocessed products.

There is an opportunity to undertake a number of resource recovery initiatives to aid in the viable reclamation of materials within the region such as reducing contamination, developing new or enhanced markets, security of feedstock and economies of scale. This opportunity must consider the extensive geographical region and localised variation in population.

The most significant cross regional waste flow is materials transported into the region from the metropolitan region for disposal at the Maddingley Brown Coal Landfill (Maddingley) facility.

GCWWRRG acknowledges the significant role that Maddingley plays in servicing the neighbouring metropolitan region as well as receiving some materials from this region. These inflows make up a considerable portion of the waste managed in the Grampians Central West region and it is of paramount importance that this facility of state significance is recognised within the waste and resource recovery network. The inflows, although providing a large volume of landfill material, have no direct impact on the region’s waste and resource recovery network operations. Maddingley proudly provides an additional regional economic and employment opportunity.

Maddingley is a solid inert waste landfill and is the only landfill in the state permitted to receive shredder floc10, which is a major by-product of industrial activity. The majority of material managed and ultimately disposed of at Maddingley has either had all viable resources recovered from it and is totally residual or there are no current reprocessing markets for the particular material. With the site’s proximity to metropolitan Melbourne, the majority of the material deposited at Maddingley is

- Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report 10 Shredder floc is residue directly arising from large-scale shredding operations to recover metals. Shredded material includes, but is not limited to, end-of-life vehicles, white goods, machineries, drums and corrugated material.


generated and transported to the region for management and final disposal.

This issue at Maddingley of large amounts of non-recoverable material being sent to landfill is not encountered by any of the other regions in the state.

It is acknowledged that Maddingley supports viable reprocessing activity in the metropolitan region and

provides a service (destination) for the residual materials. GCWWRRG will continue to work with the metropolitan WRRG on data and the role of Maddingley in the regional and statewide waste and resource recovery network. More information on Maddingley can be located in Section 4.3 – Landfill Infrastructure.

TABLE 9. ESTIMATE OF CROSS REGIONAL FLOWS OF RECOVERED MATERIALS (2013/2014)11

MATERIAL TYPE DESCRIPTION OF MOVEMENT OF MATERIAL

Recovery

RRC/TS and Drop-off Outflows: significant tonnes of materials from the region’s RRCs/TSs are transported to reprocessing facilities in the metropolitan region and are outlined below by material type.

MRF

Outflows: 40,000 – 45,000 tonnes of mixed recyclables (includes paper/cardboard, glass, plastics and metals) from council kerbside collections, transported to one or more MRFs in the metropolitan region for reprocessing. Small quantities of materials from councils are transported to the Barwon South West region.

Reprocessing

Organics Garden Organics

Outflows: 25,000 – 35,000 tonnes of garden organic materials are transported to the metropolitan region, other Victorian regions and interstate for reprocessing. This is likely to decrease with new organics recovery/reprocessing solutions such as City of Ballarat garden waste collection, a proposed organics facility within Moorabool Shire Council and proposed micro Energy from Waste facility in Hepburn Shire Council. Inflows: 2,000 – 4,000 tonnes of garden organic materials are transported from the metropolitan region for reprocessing by local industry.

Paper/ Cardboard

Outflows: 5,000 – 8,000 tonnes of paper/cardboard are transported to the metropolitan region (majority), other Victorian regions for reprocessing. Inflows: 5,000 – 8,000 tonnes of paper/cardboard are transported from the metropolitan region (majority) and other Victorian regions for reprocessing by local industry.

Glass Outflows: fewer than 1000 tonnes of glass materials are transported to the metropolitan region for reprocessing.

Plastic

Outflows: 1,000 – 3,000 tonnes of plastic materials are transported to the metropolitan region, the Barwon South West region, interstate and some overseas for reprocessing. Inflows: 1,000 – 3,000 tonnes of plastic materials are transported from the metropolitan region and interstate for reprocessing by local industry.

Rubber (including tyres) Outflows: no data is available for rubber materials such as tyres from council and industry; however anecdotal information from councils is that a minimal amount is sent to the metropolitan region on a sporadic basis.

Metals Outflows: 1,000 – 3,000 tonnes of metal materials are transported to the metropolitan region for reprocessing.

Aggregates, Masonry and Soil Inflows: 8,000 – 10,000 tonnes of aggregate, masonry and soil materials are transported from the metropolitan region for reprocessing by local industry.

Textiles Outflows: fewer than 50 tonnes of textile materials (mattresses) are transported to the Barwon South West region for reprocessing.

E-waste Inflows: fewer than 500 tonnes of E-waste materials are transported from the Barwon South West region for reprocessing by local industry.

Other

Outflows: 5,000 – 8,000 tonnes of other materials are transported to other the metropolitan region (majority) and some overseas for reprocessing. Inflows: fewer than 500 tonnes of other materials (car batteries) are transported from the Barwon South West region and interstate for reprocessing by local industry.

Waste sent to landfill

Outflows: a nominal amount of residual waste is transported to the metropolitan region for landfilling. Inflows: approximately 400,000 tonnes of solid inert waste, mainly shredder floc, is transported from the metropolitan region and is sent to landfill in the Grampians Central West region. A nominal amount of waste from the Barwon South West region is also sent to landfill in the Grampians Central West region.

Source: Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operators – Grampians Central West Regional Report, and direct Industry, WRRG and council data contribution.

11 Not including kerbside collection



FIGURE 9. CROSS REGIONAL FLOWS OF REPROCESSED MATERIALS IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION

Source: Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment.


3.4 LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING

Litter and illegal dumping poses a significant problem for communities in terms of environmental and amenity impacts, and clean-up and collection costs. Litter also has a negative impact on local communities’ feelings of safety and wellbeing (Gladwell, M. 200012 and Kelling, G. 198213).

Litter and illegal dumping is managed through a wide range of infrastructure, education and enforcement actions undertaken by state and council authorities. The Victorian Waste Education Strategy identifies regional litter plans as a key mechanism to identify and prioritise regional litter issues and develop targeted, measurable and evidence based litter prevention activities.

GCWWRRG will play a role in supporting SV, the Victorian Litter Action Alliance (VLAA) and councils in facilitating the development and implementation of best practice litter prevention programs by

leveraging our strong relationships and partnerships to influence best practice litter prevention methods among our stakeholders and delivery partners

supporting participation (and retaining membership) with the VLAA and utilising existing resources, research and tools developed by the VLAA to ensure a consistent approach to litter prevention and clean up

supporting stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing, capacity and capability building through state government and council partnerships, and with other land managers, where relevant

supporting the development of consistent litter data collection and reporting practices (for example, VLAA’s Local Litter Measurement Toolkit) that can be shared and used by all stakeholders for strategic program implementation and evaluation

supporting the development of cohesive state, regional and council litter strategies.

FIGURE 10. VLAA BEST-PRACTICE MODEL FOR LITTER PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT

Source: Victorian Litter Action Alliance Website http://www.litter.vic.gov.au/litter-prevention-tooklits/best-practice-model

12 Gladwell, M. The Tipping Point, 2000 13 Kelling, George L.; Wilson, James Q. Broken windows: the police and neighborhood safety. Atlantic Monthly. 1982

THE WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY

SYSTEM IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL

WEST REGION


4. THE WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM IN THE GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION

4.1 WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES

The region is served by a range of waste and resource recovery infrastructure, both publicly and privately owned and operated. The infrastructure network includes four licenced landfills (two owned by councils, and two privately owned) and 12 landfills exempt from licensing.

The region also has 64 resource recovery centre/transfer stations (RRC/TS) (the majority of which are operated by councils) as well as five drop-off facilities, two material recovery facilities, three resource recovery interchange facilities and at least 13 reprocessors.

The network generally has adequate current capacity; however, some additional capacity in key areas will be required to meet the region’s future needs.

Table 10 shows the number of resource recovery facilities/reprocessors and landfills in each council area and Table 11 displays a summary of the types of infrastructure. (Note that some materials flow out of the region to be managed and other materials flow into the region.)

The facilities and their locations are mapped out in Appendix 6.

TABLE 10. SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TYPES IN EACH COUNCIL AREA (IN 2015/2016)

COUNCIL AREA

RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTRES

MRF REPROCESSOR LANDFILL

DROP-OFF TRANSFER STATION

INTERCHANGE

Ararat Rural City Council14

9 7


5

City of Ballarat 6 2 1 6

Golden Plains Shire Council15

1 1 1

Hepburn Shire Council

3 1 1


3 4


7 3 1


3 1 1

Northern Grampians Shire Council16

5 1 2


2 4 1 0


7 0 0

Yarriambiack Shire Council17

10 0 4

Total 5 64 3 2 13 16

14 Includes seven combined resource recovery centres and landfill sites 15 Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) is owned and operated by the City of Ballarat but located in the Golden Plains Shire Council 16 Includes one combined resource recovery centre and landfill 17 Includes four combined resource recovery centres and landfill site



TABLE 11. SUMMARY OF RESOURCE RECOVERY AND REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE TYPES IN THE REGION (IN 2015) AND ASSOCIATED TONNAGES FROM 2013/2014

INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE NUMBER18 TONNES

CURRENTLY MANAGED

Resource Recovery

Drop off 5 25,000 RRC/TS Stand Alone Council 42

RRC/TS Co-located at Landfill (Council)19 12 RRC Paper/Cardboard 4 12,000 RRC Metals 4 18,000 RRC Wood/Timber 2 N/A RRC Interchanges 3 N/A MRF 2 11,000

Reprocessor Organics 5 30,000 Reprocessor Paper/Cardboard 0 N/A Reprocessor Glass 0 <100 Reprocessor Plastics 1 2,000 - 3,000 Reprocessor Tyres / Rubber 0 N/A Reprocessor Metals 0 N/A Reprocessor Aggregate, Masonry and Soils 4 18,000 Reprocessor Textiles 0 N/A Reprocessor E-Waste 1 <500 Energy from Waste (EfW) Anaerobic Digestion/Other 2 N/A Total 87 Source: Compositional data from Sustainability Victoria 2015 Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3, Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015 Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operators Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report and Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment.

TABLE 12 WASTE MANAGED IN THE REGION BY SECTOR (TONNES) 2013/2014

2013/2014 MANAGED RECOVERED SENT TO LANDFILL20

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) 311,000 70,000 241,000

Commercial and Industrial (C&I) 228,000 26,000 202,000

Construction and Demolition (C&D) 149,000 31,000 118,000

Total 688,000 127,000 561,000

Source: Compositional data from Sustainability Victoria 2015, Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3, Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment and direct information from LGAs and Reprocessors

18 Note that some RRCs and reprocessors manage multiple materials. 19 At co-located sites RRC/TS volumes managed only; no landfill volumes considered. 20 Tonnes sent to landfill are derived from landfill levy data supplied by EPA and do not include prescribed industrial waste (PIW). There has been no allowance for daily cover which must be considered when comparing figures with those in earlier drafts of the State Infrastructure Plan. Previously landfill figures were adjusted to remove a 15 per cent allowance for daily cover.


4.1.1 WASTE MANAGED IN THE REGION Waste materials are managed from the point of collection. They then pass through or are handled or managed at one or more facilities, including RRCs/TSs, MRF’s reprocessors or landfills in the region. They then progress to either a final state of reprocessing or are sent to landfill. Further information on the region’s waste and resource recovery infrastructure and network and its relationship to “managed waste” is outlined in this section.

Based on data obtained and outlined in Table 12, approximately 688,000 tonnes of waste were managed in the Grampians Central West region in 2013/2014, representing approximately 7 per cent of the state’s total.

Of this, 561,000 tonnes (81.5 per cent) of residual waste was sent to landfills in the region21, which included significant inflows from the metropolitan region (State Infrastructure Plan 2015).

The remaining 127,000 tonnes (18.5 per cent) of material resources were recovered.

MSW is the largest producing sector, with around 311,000 tonnes per annum managed in the region and representing 45 per cent of all waste.

C&I sector waste, encompassing waste from offices, factories, schools, government agencies and small to medium enterprises, produces approximately one-third of the waste managed in the region (228,000 tonnes); however, it only recovers a small portion (26,000 tonnes or 11 per cent) of the materials.

C&D sector waste equates to about one-fifth of the waste managed, and, of that amount, recovers a further 20 per cent of materials. C&D waste, by nature of its heavy composition of waste materials (for example, aggregates, masonry and soil), comprises a significant portion of the tonnages recorded despite it being a smaller industry sector in this region.

The sent-to-landfill figure for the Grampians Central West region of 561,000 tonnes, represented in Table 12, includes approximately 440,000 tonnes of material that is disposed of at the Maddingley Brown Coal landfill site. (Previously mentioned being mostly specialised residual material predominantly transported from the metropolitan region.)

The four major landfills located across the region each handle between 17 per cent and 39 per cent of the total landfill volume managed in the region.

This amount of waste is expected to grow continuously in line with population growth projections at around 16 per cent over the next 10 years to over 756,000 tonnes (and to more than 982,000 tonnes by 2044/2045).

It is anticipated that a range of new council resource recovery systems, innovation and technology advances for industry and more receptive community education programs will increase the amount of material recovered into the future.

21Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment

4.1.2 MATERIAL STREAM SUMMARY Of the more than 688,000 tonnes of waste material managed in the region in 2013/2014, it is estimated that only around 127,000 tonnes was managed and recovered through facilities in the region for recycling and reprocessing.

The composition (by weight) of the type of material recovered and the breakdown of what residual went to landfill in the region is shown in Figure 11. Further detail and information on key materials is outlined in their respective categories in Section 4.

Figure 11 illustrates that of the recovered materials in the region, “organics all” (which combine food, garden, wood/timber and other) represent approximately 36 per cent. It is expected that the introduction of the garden waste collection in Ballarat during 2016 and further council interest in this material will result in an increase in the recovery of organics. Other key materials recovered include metals 54 per cent, aggregates, masonry and soil 18 per cent and paper/cardboard 8 per cent.

The recovery of materials such as cardboard, glass, textiles, plastics, aggregates, masonry and soils are lower. There is potential to improve some of the rates of recovery for certain materials and to significantly increase the recovery of textiles, plastics, wood and timber, and other materials through the promotion of existing services, aggregation and bulking, and working with local industries to develop markets.

Table 14 presents the data on recovered materials that were reprocessed in the region. It is evident, and similar to the information in Figure 11, that the reprocessing of organics and metals occurs at a reasonable rate. There are absences in the recovery and reprocessing of plastics, glass, textiles and paper/cardboard to name a few. These gaps provide the potential opportunity for further recovery of these materials and their reprocessing in the region if they prove viable.

This data has identified that there is a potentially significant commercial value for the resources that are being sent to landfill and a considerable percentage of those resources could and should be recovered provided there is a viable final market.

To place this in perspective, the market for recovered resources should be stimulated and investment occur to maximise the amount of waste diverted from landfill.

While it is highly unlikely to recover 100 per cent of every material, the landfill levy savings would be substantial. These savings, when calculated with total commercial activity, including landfill gate fees, corporate profit margin and transport costs, suggest there is capacity to invest into resource recovery as the value of the market potential for recovery becomes significant and worthy of further feasibility and investigation. Any investment in resource recovery may be brokered on the initial payback from a reduction in total volumes sent to landfill and subsequent landfill levy savings.



Figure 12 indicates the projected volumes of materials that will need to be reprocessed over the next 30 years and is based on utilising the current volumes of waste managed at facilities in the region and BAU trends. The baseline does not include materials currently reprocessed in other regions and not all reprocessing may occur in this region due to the requirement to establish suitable volumes for viable recovery. The volumes of waste managed have a direct correlation to the future capacity of resource recovery and reprocessing facilities and the resultant viability. Further investigation of the current and future capacity of reprocessors and resource recovery facilities will need to occur.

This will include determining capacity based upon site size, resource capability, and commercial desire to expand.

The aim would be to build new capacity or expand the capacity and function of existing facilities (including those outside the region) to process additional material streams from the municipal and commercial sectors.

Materials are sold from resource recovery and reprocessing operators in the form of a number of products. Table 15 outlines the three main products for each material type sold on by reprocessors. Some of these products will be used by manufacturers to produce other products further down the supply chain.

FIGURE 11. MATERIAL MANAGED BY TYPE THROUGH FACILITIES IN THE REGION: RECOVERED AND SENT TO LANDFILL (2013/2014)

Source: Compositional data from Sustainability Victoria 2015 Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3, and Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment.

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Recovered Landfilled


TABLE 13. MATERIAL STREAMS MANAGED, RECOVERED AND SENT TO LANDFILL (TONNES) IN THE REGION 2013/2014

MATERIAL CATEGORY MANAGED22 RECOVERED SENT TO LANDFILL23

Organics

Food 42,000 15,000 27,000 Garden Waste 10,000 3,000 7,000 Wood / Timber 9,000 3,000 6,000 Combined N/A N/A N/A Other 9,000 9,000 <500

Paper/ Cardboard 142,000 12,000 130,000 Glass 15,000 N/A 15,000 Plastics 115,000 3,000 112,000 Rubber incl. tyres N/A N/A N/A Metals 34,000 18,000 16,000 Aggregates, Masonry and Soil 97,000 17,000 80,000 Textiles 44,000 N/A 44,000 PIW 60,000 N/A 60,000 E-waste <500 <500 N/A Other 63,000 4,000 59,000 Total 640,000 84,000 556,000 Kerbside Recyclables (transported out of the region) 43,000

Source: Compositional data from Sustainability Victoria 2015 Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3, Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operators – Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report and Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment.

FIGURE 12. PROJECTED VOLUMES OF MATERIALS REQUIRING REPROCESSING FOR THE PERIOD 2015 – 2045 (BUSINESS AS USUAL)

Source: Compositional data from Sustainability Victoria 2015 Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3 and Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment.

22 Modelled data and rounded figures. 23 Tonnes sent to landfill are derived from landfill levy data supplied by EPA and do not include prescribed industrial waste (PIW). There has been no allowance for daily cover which must be considered when comparing figures with those in earlier drafts of the State Infrastructure Plan. Previously landfill figures were adjusted to remove a 15 per cent allowance for daily cover.



TABLE 14. SUMMARY OF KEY PRODUCTS PRODUCED FROM RECOVERED MATERIALS

MATERIAL TYPE PRODUCT 1 PRODUCT 2 PRODUCT 3

Aggregates, Masonry and Soil Crushed concrete Other undifferentiated products N/A Glass Packaging glass Cullet Sand substitute

Metals Metal / steel Secondary aluminium casting alloys

N/A

Organics Stock feed Manufactured soils/landscaping soils

Furniture, flooring, construction timbers and general lumber

Paper and Cardboard Cardboard packaging (baled) Printing papers Other paper packaging products Plastics Timber replacement products Mixed plastic packaging (baled) PE-HD (2) Rubber N/A N/A N/A Other Disassembled E-waste N/A N/A

4.2 RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE – STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT

To ensure sustainable and viable resource recovery, the Grampians Central West region must ensure that each infrastructure facility and service is strengthened by a positive business case, has access to a market for recovered materials and goods, has economies of scale, and that it facilitates improved outcomes for the environment and human health. The community and industry have a significant role to play in resource recovery and both must continue to participate conscientiously.

This will lead to a range of mechanisms to support and prioritise viable resource recovery as an instrument to divert materials from landfill. Subject to economies of scale and viability (including transport distances), in some cases, materials may be transported directly out of the region to be recovered. This is a satisfactory outcome.

It may be perceived that cross regional flows are reducing the materials managed in the region and its resultant economic benefits are passed on, however, it continues to reduce the need for landfill and contributes towards a more viable integrated statewide resource recovery network.

4.2.1 COLLECTION SYSTEMS A waste collection system involves services picking up waste where it is generated and transporting it to facilities for processing or disposal. Councils provide these services to households and some businesses, while most businesses have their waste collected by commercial operators. Collection services play an important role in aggregating materials for recovery and appropriate management as well as protecting human health and the environment.

4.2.1.1 MUNICIPAL KERBSIDE COLLECTION

Municipal kerbside collections provide an essential community service through the regular removal of waste materials from households and residential properties. These services include the collection of commingled recyclables, organic garden waste (in some localities) and residual waste (garbage). Some councils provide a service to small and medium enterprises.

Kerbside services are provided by councils via private contractors and in-house providers that are paid for by ratepayers through rates and waste levies. All councils deliver weekly residual waste collection services other

than the Golden Plains Shire, which provides a fortnightly collection and larger receptacle. Rural properties are generally provided with an optional service subject to being on an acceptable route or in a reasonable density. Recycling collections occur across all councils, generally on a fortnightly basis, but not in outlying rural areas.

Limited organics garden waste collections occur in some councils. The Pyrenees Shire Council has a fortnightly collection and the Central Goldfields Shire Council has an opt-in fortnightly service. Organics garden waste collections commenced in Ballarat in July 2016 for the urban areas, which covers a total of over 33,000 residences. This leaves 75 per cent of councils and a significant number of households in the region without an organics garden waste collection service.

This results in a considerable tonnage of a viable waste material being sent to landfill. The gap in kerbside organics recovery is an opportunity for the region.

Municipal collections provide a secure supply of feedstock for reprocessors. Efficiency, transport and environmental performance have improved through technological advances such as global positioning guidance and tracking systems, cameras, improved emission standards, and low-entry and high-visibility collection vehicles.

Future Needs and Opportunities

There is capacity for councils to investigate a number of opportunities including

ongoing assessment and extension of kerbside collection routes for new developments and rural areas (or alternate solutions)

expansion of organics garden waste services to council areas that do not currently offer kerbside services – should be examined through feasibility investigations and procurement processes

investigation of food waste to be incorporated into organics kerbside services

analysis and review of forthcoming kerbside contracts and investigation for suitable size (larger) commingled recycling receptacles, smaller (general waste) receptacles and optimal frequency of collection

continuing to increase the quality of recovered materials by a number of methods from education to better infrastructure.


The City of Ballarat’s commitment to continued investment in the kerbside collection and street-cleaning fleet, with a rolling program of updating its fleet on a three- to five-year cycle, is an example of strategic asset renewal for kerbside collections.

This will continue whether the collection system remains in-house or is managed by external contractors. The City of Ballarat is also investigating a central location for residual MSW to be consolidated and transferred to walking floor trucks for bulk hauling to landfill.

Municipal kerbside collections need to be adaptable to changing residential requirements, which means more tailored services.

4.2.1.2 COMMERCIAL SECTOR COLLECTION

Commercial premises and not-for-profit organisations (non-residential) customers are generally required to seek, manage and fund their own waste and recycling requirements through commercial contractors.

C&I waste will generally include material generated from activities associated with education and health as well as manufacturing, governments and related agencies, restaurants, factories and offices, and other small to medium business enterprises. These often occur through the provision of a range of different-sized skip bins. Source separation in this sector is growing, with cardboard, shrink wrap and plaster-only skips offered.

C&D waste is largely made up of solid inert materials, many of which are heavy and can be recovered. Again, like C&I waste, these materials are collected in skip bins or trucks and conveyed to landfill or recovered.


There is capacity for GCWWRRG to work with industry and councils to investigate a number of opportunities, which include

extending council kerbside collection routes to incorporate a user-pays recycling service for small to medium business enterprises, and, in the long-term, expand it to include garden waste and, ultimately, food waste

exploring resource recovery opportunities with industry via waste stream mapping and resource availability awareness schemes

understanding and addressing the challenges commercial proprietors face such as

limited reprocessors to receive mixed industrial waste

the distance to reprocessing facilities

the cost to transport waste materials for recovery

source separation of material for collection

commercial-in-confidence matters

physical space to accommodate a range of resource recovery receptacles.

24 Victorian Local Government Annual Survey trend data provided by Sustainability Victoria

4.2.1.3 HARD WASTE COLLECTION

The majority of councils do not provide a kerbside hard waste collection, which is a service for households to dispose of items not normally accepted or possible to fit into garbage bins – for example, white goods and furniture – and residents are encouraged to utilise resource recovery centres. Two councils provide landfill vouchers for disposal of a limited range of hard waste materials. The Central Goldfields Shire Council operates a hard waste collection on request (twice monthly) and the Pyrenees Shire Council has committed to move from an annual hard waste collection to a triannual collection commencing from 2016/2017.

Information from councils generally indicates that kerbside hard waste collection is not a preferred recovery method because

it is expensive due to collection costs more than double on a per household and per-tonne basis24

it has extensive risks associated with its operations

it provides poor public amenity

materials recovered have decreased significantly from 22 per cent to 9 per cent25, which is likely due to

people collecting valuable material before the contractor arrives at the kerbside (reducing the ability to offset collection costs with revenue from recovered items)

collection processes, such as the use of compactor trucks, damaging items.

4.2.2 RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTRES AND TRANSFER STATIONS Resource recovery centres and transfer stations (RRC/TS) represent an important link in the infrastructure chain and are the most common waste and resource recovery infrastructure facility type across the region.

RRC/TSs are facilities that have been established with the primary purpose of receiving a range of materials, some of which are not collected through kerbside services, as well as providing residents who do not have a kerbside service with a facility to dispose of their waste. They focus on recovering, sorting, aggregating and/or consolidating recyclable materials for transport to other reprocessing facilities and consolidating residual waste for transport to landfills. They also include drop-off facilities. Some RRC/TSs have infrastructure for more problematic materials and products such as E-waste, mattresses and tyres. The RRC/TS facilities within the Grampians Central West region total 69 and operate on a range of scales; some are stand alone, others are co-located with a landfill. The majority of the RRC/TSs are owned and operated by councils. A number of landfills have closed in recent decades and many of these have been converted to transfer stations.

Councils have realised the lower costs and operational efficiencies of managing RRC/TSs compared to landfills, and therefore encourage the sorting of recyclable materials via pricing structures.

25 Victorian Local Government Annual Survey trend data provided by Sustainability Victoria



There are a total of ten privately owned RRCs who receive, sort and consolidate a single material stream or multiple streams for sale or transport to a reprocessor. These include scrap metal yards, paper/cardboard collectors and demolition and salvage facilities.

There is currently an equitable distribution of RRC/TSs across the region that accept a range of materials for disposal or resource recovery within a reasonable radius of the majority of populated townships. This distribution provides reasonable access for everyone across the region – refer to the maps in Appendix 6.

Improving the ability to recover more resources and manage the RRC/TSs to best meet the needs of the local community (such as opening hours) is an opportunity to ensure the facilities provide the best value for councils, maintain reasonable access for the region’s communities and recover more resources.

Council-managed RRC/TSs are detailed in Table 16 with their current managed annual tonnages. Stockpiles at RRC/TSs are generally uncontrolled and amounts are very much estimated. Some material may be segregated at rural facilities but stockpiled for long periods. This material may biologically degrade (for example, garden organics) and reduce in volume over time. The reasons for stockpiling include that it may be financially unviable to transport some materials to reprocessing facilities or for mobile equipment to process the material on site. As data on recovered material is often not captured until it leaves the site, information on stockpiled materials may be missing from regional data.


RRC/TSs are considered to have sufficient capacity to meet growth in demand over the next 10 years, subject to some general infrastructure and equipment upgrades, increased collection frequency of skips, and storage to manage additional recovered materials.

Many centres require upgrades to improve the function, safety, recovery rates and operational performance so that they meet best practice guidelines26, which may include hardstand areas, shelters, accessibility and circulation, and signage. RRC/TS facilities also need to be flexible and adaptable to the changed material types that could be expected to be managed.

Councils are constantly investigating and analysing the need to rationalise and consolidate RRC/TSs to create viable economies of scale to reduce costs, while improving operations, service and efficiency. One such situation is the desire of the Ararat Rural City Council and the Northern Grampians Shire Council to rationalise their existing transfer stations by developing a centralised combined transfer station facility for their respective municipalities.

26 Sustainability Victoria 2009, Guide to Best Practice at Resource Recovery Centres 27 Sustainability Victoria/SRU, 2015 Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations - Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report

It is worth noting that, anecdotally, in the central and eastern end of the region, people have generally suggested that the existing RRC service and distances are suitable whereby the community does not wish to drive more than 10–20 kilometres to dispose of their waste materials. This is also a typical distance between many smaller country towns. For example, the majority of residents within the Central Goldfields Shire live within 15 kilometres of one of the shire’s four RRCs. If consolidation was to occur, this would increase to a travel distance of around 20–25 kilometres and the shire would only need two RRCs. Therefore, councils need to consider the balance between the level of service to residents and the proximity in conjunction with the cost of multiple operations. In the western section of the region, townships are often more than 30 kilometres apart and the RRCs in the vicinity are 30–50 kilometres away from each other. An analysis of what is viable in relation to reasonable and equitable access is also needed in the west.

All councils continue to provide improved information and education to residents on the location of their nearest RRC and encourage their use.

RRCs generally benefit from resale centres. There is continual progression at medium and larger sites to provide resale shops. Examples of recent resale centre improvements include a shed expansion at the Carisbrook Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre (Central Goldfields Shire Council) and a new structure at the City of Ballarat Transfer Station.

With the use of social media, events and education campaigns across the region, councils have been able to stimulate interest and awareness in resale centres at RRCs and two case studies are presented on page 11.

The 10 private RRCs manage a cross section of material streams and service the breadth of the region. There are at least six RRC facilities managing paper and cardboard. These facilities managed approximately 12,000 tonnes in 2013/201427. Well over half of all the paper and cardboard managed in the region is by two RRCs, with two of the smaller specialised paper and cardboard RRCs managing the remainder.

Around 18,000 tonnes of metals were managed in 2013/201428 by a few facilities that aggregate metal materials, with the vast majority managed by one RRC. Metal is one of the materials with a higher percentage recovered and has reasonable recovery activities compared to state averages.

28 Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations - Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report


Council Case Studies Some councils have investigated and audited a number of their RRCs such as the West Wimmera Shire Council’s Rural Resource Recovery Centres’ Best Practice Review and Priority Improvements Program for the Kaniva and Edenhope RRCs respectively. The City of Ballarat, given the limitations to the existing local TS facility, is considering a new TS site within the next four years, which will be required to have adequate infrastructure to manage the revised operations. The new site is planned for the Ballarat West Employment Zone. The city’s existing compactor fleet deliver individually to the Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) site, and it is proposed to build a central receivable point for compactor delivery, and to transfer daily kerbside collection to the Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) site via the city’s articulated vehicle. This proposed change to the City of Ballarat’s operations will deliver significant efficiencies to the kerbside collection system, improve resource recovery and related industries, and enhance quality control across the waste management system generally. The Pyrenees Shire Council’s endorsed Municipal Waste Management Plan demonstrates the local commitment to continuous improvement at RRCs. Some of the recommendations in the plan include that

Council initiates a redesign of existing transfer stations to include “best practice” guidelines and detail cost estimates.

Council makes early submission to GCWWRRG for inclusion of upgrade works funding at Beaufort, Avoca and Snake Valley transfer stations as part of the regional planned works for subsidy funding from Sustainability Victoria’s infrastructure grants when they are reinstated.



TABLE 15. COUNCIL-MANAGED RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES

COUNCIL FACILITY TYPE TONNES CURRENTLY MANAGED

(ANNUALLY)

Ararat Rural City Council

Ararat RRC 100 - 200 Elmhurst RRC <100 Lake Bolac RRC <100 Moyston RRC <100 Pomonal RRC <100 Streatham RRC <100 Tatyoon RRC <100 Willaura RRC <100


Bealiba TS <100 Carisbrook TS 1000 - 5000 Dunolly TS <100 Talbot TS <100

City of Ballarat Ballarat TS 5000 - 10000 Golden Plains Shire Council Rokewood TS <100

Hepburn Shire Council Creswick TS and Resale 1000 - 5000 Daylesford TS and Resale 1000 - 5000 Trentham TS and Resale 500 - 1000


Dimboola TS 500 - 1000 Jeparit TS 100 - 200 Kiata Depot DO <100 Netherby Depot DO <100 Nhill TS 500 - 1000 Rainbow TS 100 - 200 Yanac Depot DO <100


Horsham TS and RRC 1000 - 5000 Jung TS and RRC <100 Mt Zero (Laharum) TS and RRC <100 Pimpinio TS and RRC <100 Quantong TS and RRC <100 Toolondo TS and RRC <100

Moorabool Shire Council Bacchus Marsh TS 1000 - 5000 Ballan TS 1000 - 5000 Mt Egerton TS 200 - 300

Northern Grampians Shire Council Halls Gap TS <100 St Arnaud TS and LF 300 - 400 Stawell TS 500 - 1000


Avoca TS 200 - 300 Beaufort TS 1000 - 5000 Carranballac DO <100 Crowlands DO <100 Landsborough TS <100 Snake Valley TS 300 - 400


Apsley TS <100 Chetwynd TS <100 Dergholm TS <100 Edenhope TS 100 - 200 Goroke TS <100 Harrow TS <100 Kaniva TS <100


Beulah TS and RRC <100 Hopetoun TS and RRC <100 Minyip TS and RRC <100 Murtoa TS and RRC <100 Patchewollock LF and RRC <100 Rupanyup TS and RRC <100 Speed/Tempy LF and RRC <100 Warracknabeal LF and RRC <100 Woomelang TS and RRC <100 Yaapeet LF and RRC <100

Source: Compositional data from Sustainability Victoria 2015, Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3, Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment and Council information


“Hepburn Hot Trash” Facebook and Instagram Sites Launched

Council is excited to announce the launch of new Facebook and Instagram sites to facilitate the sale of goods through its tip shops at Daylesford, Creswick and Trentham transfer stations. The "Hepburn Hot Trash" Facebook and Instagram sites will be used to promote the sale of unusual and/or sought-after products in all three sites. Hepburn Shire Council CEO Aaron van Egmond said “Reducing waste to landfill, and the environmental benefits that come from that reduction, is a priority for Council. This initiative is just another way we are diverting waste from landfill.” “We look forward to seeing the popularity of the sites grow as people become aware of them. We will be working with interested community groups and the administrators of other sites focused on recycling to promote these pages,” Mr van Egmond said. The sites will also be used to engage with the community by highlighting educational blogs and blogs that relate to recycling, upcycling and waste management. Source: Hepburn Shire Council Media Release 23 March 2016

Yarriambiack Tip Treasure Hunt Taking a very different approach to engaging its community about diverting material from landfill and increasing awareness of local opportunities to recycle and re-purpose household items, Yarriambiack Shire Council produced its first Op Shop Tour brochure in 2012. The brochure highlights the range of op shops and second-hand shops that can be found in nearly all the small towns across the shire, from the Wheatlands Warehouse in Warracknabeal through to Flutterbys at Beulah. While many of these shops have the dual purpose of raising funds for charities, they are an effective way of encouraging the residents of Yarriambiack Shire to recycle, re-use and re-purpose. After refurbishing their transfer stations in 2014 with new resale sheds with funding from Sustainability Victoria, the council also created the “Tip Treasure Tour”. Again, another innovative promotion to encourage local residents to take advantage of the old maxim, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Source: Yarriambiack Shire Council



TABLE 16. PRIVATE RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTRES

BUSINESS NAME PRIMARY FACILITY TYPE OTHER MATERIALS

REPROCESSED COUNCIL AREA

Downes Recycling Paper / Cardboard Ararat Rural City Council

Dunolly Second-hand Timber Yard Organics Wood Timber Central Goldfields Shire Council

Ballarat Regional Industries Paper / Cardboard Organics Wood Timber

City of Ballarat

Ballarat Scrap Metal Recyclers Metals

Kings Marine Stores Metals Beverage Containers

Onesteel Recycling Metals

Paper Freight Australia Paper / Cardboard Plastics, Glass

Manhari Metals Metals Horsham Rural City Council

Grampians Recycling Paper / Cardboard Northern Grampians Shire Council

St Arnaud Recyclers EcoSwish Recyclables

Disclaimer: Every effort was made to identify all private RRCs, but this does not guarantee that all were identified.

4.2.3 MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITIES

There are two materials recovery facilities (MRFs) (Table 19) within the region located at Ballarat and Daylesford; which are respectively private and Council-operated.

MRFs receive commingled recyclables from MSW and C&I waste streams that have been collected by councils or private contractors. The recovered material is sorted and sent to reprocessors. Non-recoverable materials are sent to landfill. Materials leaving facilities include

aluminium

steel (ferrous metals)

plastic – sorted by plastic types 1-7

plastic – mixed

glass – mixed cullet

paper and cardboard.

These materials usually originate from packaging. MRFs are not commonly designed to recover non-packaging materials like steel or plastic from toys, or furniture, or soft plastic like foils or plastic bags.

Recent closure of MRFs in Horsham (WasteBusters) and Stawell (Vatmi) occurred due to lack of viability.


Future potential to expand or re-establish a MRF to sort and process recyclables in the region may depend on a number of factors, including but not exclusive to

the willingness of councils and operators to run a MRF and the associated timing of council tenders for waste services contracts

how well such facilities compete with large-scale facilities, especially from those outside the region.

If recovery of industrial waste was enhanced, it would improve overall recovery outcomes. Pre-sorting of residual waste prior to it being disposed of at landfills would also recover additional recyclable materials from all sectors that could provide feedstock to MRFs, thereby contributing to the economy and reducing the reliance on landfill.

Relatively small quantities of some of the sorted materials are aggregated; this can create a barrier since markets demand minimum quantities. In these circumstances, aggregation over long periods of time may be required to reach marketable quantities.

Community Resource Recovery and drumMUSTER Campaign Approximately 21,000 agricultural chemical drums have been collected per annum at various receival locations across the Hindmarsh Shire Council. Community and not-for-profit organisations have erected multiple receival points, collecting over 18,500 drums each year and claiming a financial benefit for each drum. The shire’s transfer stations provide an alternative collection point and have collected almost 2,500 containers over the last 12 months. Cardboard is collected and transported from Nhill and Rainbow to the Dimboola Lions Club depot for packaging. The Jeparit Angling Club packages cardboard at Jeparit for recycling. The Hindmarsh Shire Council subsidises these organisations for transportation costs from their facilities to the recycling facility. Local sporting and service clubs also collect newspapers for recycling. Source: Hindmarsh Shire Council


TABLE 17. MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITIES

COUNCIL / OWNER FACILITY TYPE MATERIALS MANAGED

Hepburn Shire Council Daylesford MRF Mixed Waste / Recyclables

KKC Recycling Ballarat MRF C&I / C&D

TABLE 18. REPROCESSING FACILITIES (PRIVATE)

BUSINESS NAME PRIMARY FACILITY TYPE OTHER MATERIALS

REPROCESSED COUNCIL AREA

Ballarat Concrete Recycling Aggregates, Masonry & Soil

City of Ballarat

Berrybank Farm (CIFE) Organics Other

Castlegate James Organics Food

Chris Bev Pty Ltd Aggregates, Masonry & Soil

Garden Recycling Centre Organics Garden Aggregates, Masonry & Soil; Mixed Recyclables

Repeat Plastics Australia Plastics Paper / Cardboard

Western Gypsum Aggregates, Masonry and Soil Golden Plains Shire Council

Davo's Worm Farm Organics Garden Hepburn Shire Council

Axis Worx E-waste Plastics

Horsham Rural City Council Horsham Green Waste Processing Organics Garden

WestonVic Waste Aggregates, Masonry & Soil

Calleja Transport Organics Garden Organics Wood/Timber/Other; Metals; Paper/Cardboards; Aggregates, Masonry and Soil


Beaufort Hospital Bioenergy Plant Organics Wood Timber Pyrenees Shire Council

Disclaimer: Every effort was made to identify all reprocessors, but this does not guarantee that all were identified.

4.2.4 REPROCESSING FACILITIES

Reprocessing facilities receive recyclable materials that have been either separated at the source or have been sorted into separate material streams at a recovery facility. Reprocessors change the physical and/or chemical structure of materials to manufacture either end products or feedstock materials to be used in other manufacturing processes.

There are a range of reprocessing facilities in the region recovering a range of materials. There are currently 13 private reprocessing facilities (listed in Table 20 and mapped in Appendix 6). Many of the reprocessors manage a primary material but also recover and/or reprocess a number of secondary material streams. The existing pathways for reprocessing as identified by SV’s 201529 reprocessor survey have been analysed accordingly.

The survey30 found that approximately 20 per cent of recyclate stays within the region and 80 per cent is sent elsewhere for reprocessing.


There are a number of material streams that are not reprocessed in the region or the existing capacity is limited.

For some material streams, local management solutions may not be feasible – for example, due to lack of local markets, or the need for specialised treatment technologies. Further investigation needs to occur with regard to respective material streams to determine if there is potential to establish or expand reprocessing for some materials within the region.

Some material may be recovered from the waste stream and stockpiled on site; it is not reprocessed or otherwise managed, and is not reflected in regional waste and material data. Material types that are often stockpiled on site for long periods include garden organics, tyres, metals, concrete, bricks and tiles.

Resource recovery and reprocessing have largely been driven by a “push” to divert waste from landfill, which has been strongly supported by the community’s desire to recycle.




This push for supply of materials has not always been matched by consumer and industry “pull” or demand for products made from recovered resources. This imbalance in supply and demand of recovered resources can result in stockpiles of these materials, which can reduce the viability of some resource recovery industries.31

Councils are also an important influencer in the acceptance of recycled materials in civil projects such as pavement and trench construction. They are both an end-user on their own capital works projects and a specifier in instances such as subdivisional works, which are often contracted out to civil construction companies.

Councils that are proactive about recycling are not simply supporting the collection of materials from kerbside; they are actively specifying and procuring recycled materials for civil applications, which include pavement and trench construction.32

All proponents of relevant resource recovery facilities should, at the commencement of planning, direct project information to GCWWRRG and the EPA for reference. At the appropriate time, the EPA will receive an application for works approval from the proponent, which should align with and be determined to be generally consistent with the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

4.2.4.1 ORGANICS

Organic wastes are presented in a variety of forms:

Food organics, which include food waste from domestic and industrial sources (for example, food manufacturers).

Garden organics, which include grass clippings, prunings, plants and leaves.

Wood and timber (excluding treated timber, which cannot be recycled due to its impregnation with substances such as copper-chrome-arsenate).

Other organics, such as biosolids, straw and other material from agricultural processes.

Different types of organic wastes require different technologies and treatment systems; hence, not all reprocessors can accept all types of organic waste, with some facilities specialising in one or more types. Data from the region33 estimates that more than 30,000 tonnes of organics were managed in the region in 2013/2014. This included food organics (around 50 per cent), garden organics (around 11 per cent), wood/timber (around 9 per cent) and other organics (around 31 per cent, which included biosolids, greasetrap waste, sludges, etc.).

There are at least five facilities in the region accepting, aggregating and/or reprocessing organics. Castlegate James, which manages around 40–50 per cent of the organics total and is the only facility which accepts food waste, and Calleja Transport (40–45 per cent of the organics total) are the major reprocessors of organic materials.

The Horsham Garden Recycling Centre, Davos Worm 31 Sustainability Victoria, 2016 Victorian Market Development Strategy 32 Sustainability Victoria, 2016 Victorian Market Development Strategy 33 Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations

Farms and the Garden Recycling Centre (Ballarat) manage significantly smaller volumes. The Central Goldfields Shire Council currently operates an in-vessel composting facility, which manages the garden waste from its voluntary kerbside organics collection. The facilities produce a range of composts, soil conditioners and biodiesel. Community expectations around the operation of facilities are likely to minimise the establishment of open windrow composting.

A number of RRC/TSs and landfills stockpile garden organic waste, which is not included in data on the amount of organics managed in the region as it does not leave the site where it is deposited.

This organic material is either mulched and utilised by councils in horticultural practices at parks and reserves (or occasionally offered to the community), used for daily cover or rehabilitation of landfills, and, as a last resort, disposed of using alternative methods.

Consequently, there are higher amounts of this material available for reprocessing than is accounted for in the data.


Organic waste management solutions should be tailored to meet the needs of the respective locality, in recognition of local challenges, topography, distance, service needs and opportunities. Consideration must also be given to scale and viability of proposed solutions.

Appropriate sites for facilities to manage organic material locally and more broadly, will be needed in the region.

The Victorian Organics Resource Recovery Strategy34 states that:

Identify appropriate co-location sites, through the development of regional waste and resource recovery implementation plans (RWRRIPs) that have the appropriate buffers and social licence to operate to receive, process or treat organic waste.

This directive is built into the actions of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

There is a need and an opportunity to increase the collection and reprocessing of organics garden waste across the region. This occurs at some councils but not the majority, and the existing and proposed facilities could cater for this additional demand.

The City of Ballarat commenced an organics garden waste kerbside collection service in July 2016. Reprocessing of the collections will be managed locally at the proposed Mt Wallace composting facility located within the Moorabool Shire Council. This facility and other prospective facilities enhance the region’s prospects of having sufficient capacity to strengthen respective local and regional markets.

Many industries are significant generators of organic material and accurate organics data may never be captured as the material may be used for economic benefit without further reprocessing.

- Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report 34 Sustainability Victoria, 2015 Victorian Organics Resource Recovery Strategy


There is potential for improved solutions for garden organics currently being processed. It is worth noting that organics are recovered and re-used in the region in a number of other ways, which include the following:

Councils chip garden and woody waste to produce a raw mulch, which does not have an end market, but is utilised in their own horticultural practices and in some locations made available to residents as mulch.

Mulch is used in combination with soil as a weekly or daily cover at some landfill sites

Aquatic plant material harvested from Lake Wendouree is made available to residents and the community to take as they wish for domestic horticultural use such as mulch.

A wide range of materials is composted into certified composts and soil additives.

The wine industry utilises some compost as mulch.

The re-use of clean timber in MDF and particle board.

The continuation of this organic material re-use for other beneficial outcomes is admirable and should wherever practicable and viable be promoted.

Councils have advised that their issues with garden organics relate to contamination by way of what impurities are included when the material is received, the ability to chip garden organics down to a smaller size for composting, managing the stockpile, and the ability to functionally dispose of or sell the end material.

It may be warranted for relevant stakeholders in the region to continue to examine potential agricultural sources for organics reprocessing such as wheat protein, stubble and any other suitable by-products.

4.2.4.2 PLASTICS

There is one reprocessing facility in the region which manages plastics. This facility managed around 2,000–3,000 tonnes of plastics in 2013/2014.

There are differing types of plastics, and reprocessors may focus on managing only one or a few different forms or resin types. Reprocessor survey reports (Sustainability Victoria 2015c) indicated that the types of plastics reprocessed in the region included timber replacement products, mixed plastic packaging and high-density polyethylene.

Consultation sessions with councils and the waste industry have identified a potential issue with flexible plastics used in agricultural enterprises across the region. Flexible plastics are an issue and a priority material identified in the Victorian Market Development Strategy35:

There is no specific data on the generation or recovery of flexible plastics. However, the volume disposed of to landfill in Victoria annually is thought to be in the range of 74,000–108,000 tonnes in 2011/2012.

Grampians Central West is one of the largest agricultural regions in Victoria. A large volume of flexible plastic is used, which includes silage wrap, grain bags, and bunker liners and twine just to name a 35 Sustainability Victoria, 2016 Victorian Market Development Strategy

few. However, while the usage of these products in agriculture is well known, there is little or no data on the disposal of these plastics in the region. It is possible that farmers may be disposing of flexible plastic products on their own property.

There are instances of councils considering, or even accepting, material from farms, despite the fact that they had not been able to identify an end market. A number of community organisations and private operators have also collected and baled flexible plastics, but viable end markets, again, have not been established.

Plasback, the voluntary product stewardship program for the flexible plastic industry, has estimated that less than 200 tonnes of this material has been recycled in Victoria each year since 2008. This is largely due to a decline in market price of 70 per cent, making it uneconomic to collect.

This waste stream represents an opportunity in the region for potential resource recovery, and further investigation into opportunities to recover this material stream at a local and regional level is required.


There will be opportunities to grow processing capacity and the range of plastics recycled if viable local markets for these products are developed.

The existing plastics reprocessor in the region has been successful because of the available market niche. There are opportunities to grow the sector by targeting specific types of plastics (utilised by industry in the region), which include problematic plastics such as silage wrap; baling twine; irrigation pipe; mattress foam, other hard plastics; and plastic films, particularly from the C&I and agricultural sectors. The larger agricultural region provides an opportunity to investigate further resource recovery solutions, which may include the feasibility examination of a reprocessor if feedstock can be secured.

The region should continue to be involved with any relevant stewardship programs for these materials and their products.

4.2.4.3 PAPER AND CARDBOARD

There is no reprocessing of paper and cardboard within the region.


There may be opportunities to explore the capacity to increase the volume of paper and cardboard recovered and ultimately managed in the region, subject to viability.

4.2.4.4 AGGREGATES, MASONRY AND SOIL

Around 17,500 tonnes of aggregate materials were managed in the region in 2013/201436 by five reprocessors. There is adequate reprocessing and resource recovery capacity in the region to manage projected quantities of aggregates, masonry and soil, which are mainly recycled or managed through non-landfill means.

36 Sustainability Victoria/SRU, 2015 Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations - Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report




There is an opportunity to further investigate market opportunities for VicRoads-certified recycled products like road base from crushed concrete to be used on farm tracks and trails. Crushed bricks and concrete can be re-used by councils within their civil works programs for walking paths and trails.

Recent closure of concrete reprocessors in Stawell (Stawell Concrete Repository) and Ballarat (David Eldridge Pty Ltd) have occurred generally due to lack of viability, and/or business direction changes.

While there is sufficient existing capacity to manage aggregates, masonry and soil in the long term, the current low rate of recovery suggests that there are opportunities to significantly increase recovery. Some of this material is currently stockpiled at transfer stations or is sent directly to landfill. In order to achieve further recovery, there is an opportunity to establish residual waste treatment and recovery prior to landfill. Infrastructure that could be used includes mobile crushing equipment (to process stockpiled material at sites across the region) and infrastructure to sort C&D waste (for example, at a “dirty” MRF in a treatment and recovery precinct).

This could potentially form part of a treatment precinct – for example, incorporating a dirty MRF with the proposed Ballarat energy from waste facility. Further investigation of the feasibility of this EfW facility would need to be undertaken.

4.2.4.5 E-WASTE

There is only one E-waste reprocessor known to operate in the region – Axis Worx – which is based in Horsham and operates as a social enterprise. In 2013/2014, they managed around 200 tonnes of E-waste37. Axis Worx is keen to manage and reprocess more E-waste from the region.


As previously mentioned, the Victorian Government has committed to banning E-waste from landfill, which would increase the need for sorting and processing solutions and infrastructure. There is a need to encourage Axis Worx initially, as the sole E-waste reprocessor, to ensure the future viability and capacity to service and retain an E-waste solution in the region.

The region should continue to be involved with any relevant stewardship programs for this materials and its products.

4.2.4.6 GLASS

There is currently no glass reprocessing in the region. There is only one facility that indicates it may recover glass as a secondary item – Paper Freight Australia (based in Ballarat). It primarily reprocesses paper and cardboard and undertakes a small glass collection activity, which manages around 10 tonnes of glass waste per year. The glass is collected and transported to outside the region.

Whilst there have been some previous efforts to provide a facility to deal with crushed glass to be used as part of the mix in pavement or road base, to date none has come to fruition.

37 Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015, Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operations


The cost versus benefit of smaller-scale glass crushing needs to be evaluated as there may be opportunities for viable products to use this material as in road base and pipe bedding.

Further investigations of local reprocessing options for glass are required in the longer term.

4.2.4.7 RUBBER (TYRES)

There is no regional reprocessing of rubber (tyres). Councils source collection and processing services from tyre reprocessors in the metropolitan Melbourne region.

Recycled tyre rubber can be used to manufacture new products or as an alternative fuel for the cement and paper-manufacturing industries. However, due to the high cost of transporting tyres from regional or remote locations to reprocessing facilities, many end up in stockpiles. Stockpiled tyres are a considerable fire risk and provide a breeding ground for vermin and mosquitoes.

New and innovative ways to increase the recovery and recycling of tyres from landfill and stockpiles is continually being explored due to the significant volume. These include portable manufacturing plants capable of processing end-of-life tyres at their location before transporting the tyre chip back to a main location for reprocessing into powders and granules for new products. Whilst there are mobile shredders available from the commercial market, these machines reduce tyres in size by tearing them apart with force and, as a result, the output is only suitable for landfill.

Within the Northern Grampians Shire Council area, the Used Tyre Recycling Corporation (UTRC) is responsible for a site with an estimated stockpile of anywhere from 500,000 to 10 million tyres. An economic, social, environmental and technical analysis of mechanisms to tackle the stockpile across four streams – shredding to landfill, licenced containment, mechanical treatment and thermal treatment – was completed. Shredding to landfill and mechanical treatment (crumb rubber) proved to be the better options, respectively, and the shire is investigating further options.

The Country Fire Authority has issued a Fire Prevention Notice and is working with the UTRC to ensure it takes the appropriate measures to reduce the risk of a fire at the site. The key focus will be on segregating the piles of used tyres and ensuring that the on-site emergency management plan is fully implemented.

The UTRC is seeking to expand its facility to operate a tyre reprocessing (pyrolysis) plant and is currently sourcing additional works approvals, applications and permits through the EPA and the Northern Grampians Shire.


Continue to investigate improved methods to recover and reprocess rubber (tyres) regionally, including collective procurement opportunities. The region should continue to be involved with any relevant stewardship programs for this materials and its products.

- Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group Regional Report


4.2.4.8 METALS

There is no reprocessing of metals within the region. Metal materials are collected and aggregated at a number of facilities and transported to the metropolitan region for reprocessing.


Continue to investigate improved methods to recover metals including scrap metal procurement opportunities.

It is acknowledged that metals may be one of the commodities that is most volatile when it comes to financial markets and pricing and, therefore, it needs to be flexible and adaptable to the trends of reprocessing in good times and stockpiling in poorer financial periods.

4.2.4.9 TEXTILES

There is no reprocessing of textiles within the region. Manufacturers’, post-industry and retail textiles are mainly recycled via charities although some, such as faulty rolls and imperfect productions (exact quantities are not known), go directly to landfill. Further work needs to occur to identify resource recovery opportunities and volumes.

Mattresses and their textile materials are generally transported to outside the region for reprocessing.

The City of Ballarat is currently working with SV to establish a recycling and research facility to manage mattresses and other difficult-to-dispose-of items such as soft furnishings. The council is looking to do this in partnership with Ballarat Regional Industries (BRI), which will deliver further employment opportunities for people with disabilities.


There may be opportunities for niche facilities to reprocess materials such as textiles, although the feedstock availability and feasibility of such facilities is uncertain with manufacturing decline.

GCWWRRG needs to continue to foster partnerships to undertake research and investigate improved methods to recover and reprocess textiles that include collective procurement opportunities (mattresses). This material resource activity should also explore the potential for social enterprise employment opportunities as the operational aspect may be aligned to this manual process.

4.2.5 ENERGY FROM WASTE

The Grampians Central West region has been innovative over the years in relation to energy from waste (EfW). A number of projects of varying scale (outlined below) demonstrate the investigations and resultant solutions that have proved beneficial to operators and communities.

There have been a number of investigations undertaken on the feasibility of establishing an EfW facility in the Ballarat area, including at the Ballarat West Employment Zone. Investigations to date have included establishing a facility that would accept MSW, C&I and C&D residual waste streams and recover materials (for example, through establishment of a “dirty” MRF) and produce energy, which would include electricity.

The City of Ballarat has done extensive investigative work in this area, including establishing a memorandum of understanding with an offtake partner to receive one of the end products – electricity – and identify a designated site immediately adjacent to the proposed transfer station to provide for synergy between these two uses. The Ballarat City Council envisages private sector investment and continues to explore partnerships with potential parties, with the aim of developing a facility over the five-year timeframe. Should this facility be established, it may have implications on the broader infrastructure managed by council, in particular the Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) site.


There is a need to continue to investigate the range of EfW technologies, determine local and regional solutions, if practicable, and embrace them where viable, especially considering the availability of broader-scale agricultural waste and resources. This may require the development of feasibility studies and the acquisition of data relating to industrial/agricultural waste generation and energy needs (for commercial biogas or other local energy solutions).

A number of councils are supportive of EfW investigations, with improved sorting and feedstock production and GCWWRRG should continue to work with them. For example, the Pyrenees Shire Council Waste Management Plan recommends that the Council promote the introduction of regional solutions with GCWWRRG, including the reintroduction of regional garden waste shredding, soil conditioner production and use, and an investigation into EfW systems. Many of the smaller councils are enthusiastic to learn what may be suitable for their local towns and industry.

The Hepburn Shire Council is progressing the planning and implementation of a local-level EfW facility. This project will convert organic garden municipal and commercial waste into a slurry. This slurry would then be used as feedstock for a number of processes including

conversion into bioenergy through an anaerobic biodigester and then incinerated for electricity and heat

conversion into compost other potential uses.

The intention is that the converted organic waste becomes electricity and heat at the point of consumption, such as in council community buildings, (offices, aquatic centre, library, etc.). This project will also investigate the potential to replicate the infrastructure to create a network of EfW micro-power stations to power community buildings across six neighbouring regional councils. The output would be equivalent to a 6MW co-generation power plant, and the network would divert up to 43,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tonnes (equivalent to 20,000 cars) and saving a council up to $9.5 million per year. This EfW micro-power station network has recently received funding from the state government towards further development of a business case and a feasibility study.

Three regional case studies of energy from waste are outlined on the next page.



Beaufort Hospital Bioenergy Project Like most small rural hospitals, the Beaufort hospital is facing the challenge of rising costs and shrinking budgets. The hospital currently uses LPG for heating and hot water, and this fuel currently costs the organisation around $60,000 per year. The Central Highlands Agribusiness Forum (CHAF) and the Pyrenees Shire Council identified the hospital as an ideal demonstration site for bioenergy. The Regional Bioenergy Project was developed as a result. A heating study of the hospital was commissioned and a boiler specification was prepared. Tenders were then sought to provide a biomass boiler system to heat the hospital based on these specifications. In July 2013, a New Zealand company, Living Energy, was appointed to carry out the boiler installation. The new boiler is a 110 kW Hargassner boiler manufactured in Austria. It is housed in a modified shipping container which is both a boiler house and a fuel store. The containerised system enabled the installation to proceed quickly, with minimal impact on hospital operations. It also gives the flexibility of being relocatable should the need arise. Fuel for the boiler is supplied from the Pyrenees timber sawmill at nearby Chute. The installation is complete and viewing windows allow the public to see it in operation. The project received an IPWEA 2015 Finalist Excellence Award and a 2016 LGPro Excellence Award. Source: Beaufort Hospital Bioenergy Project Investment Case Study, Sustainability Victoria

Kaniva Biodiesel Project Kaniva farmer Steve Hobbs has developed a biodiesel plant that uses a small-scale gasification plant and the processing of waste through pyrolysis. It works by turning beans and legumes into diesel to run machinery. What began as simply a process to produce renewable fuel has now become something more. He says that:

Agriculture is facing its biggest challenge in history – to produce as much food in the next 50 years as has been produced in all of history. Increased climate variability aside, for food to remain cheap, agriculture has to source the energy to grow food from affordable sources. People don’t stop to think that everything we grow on the farm is a source of energy; we just have to work out how to use that energy more effectively. The crops we grow are effectively break crops that would not be used for food. At the same time, I am producing a high-quality feed for my sheep and reducing the financial risk associated with growing higher-risk crops such as legumes.

Source: Bioenergy and Agriculture Case Study Series 1.3, Victorian Government

Berrybank Farm, Windermere Project: A waste management system consisting of an anaerobic digester that turns piggery effluent (waste) into

biogas to generate electricity energy, potting mix and an odourless organic fertiliser. The nutrient-rich water is also recycled for irrigation purposes.

Objectives: To minimise waste and convert effluent into energy and fertiliser. In addition, to alleviate pollution concerns

and provide savings and steady returns to the company. Status: Has been operating since 1989. Outcomes: Energy and water savings, revenue diversification and positive community amenity. Challenges: A large-scale, innovative project that uses knowledge and machinery not readily available in Australia at the

time. Next Steps: Look for more opportunities to maximise energy use such as a cooling system for the piggery. Source: Berrybank Farm Investment Case Study, Sustainability Victoria


4.2.6 ASBESTOS

Asbestos is a prescribed industrial waste (PIW), which is a category of waste that is beyond the scope of this plan. However, given that asbestos is a waste that is relevant to so many across the region, a short analysis of its current status has been included. Managing asbestos safely is a major regional and statewide priority.

Asbestos is a silicate mineral made up of tiny fibres that form a dust when disturbed. Asbestos fibres breathed into the lungs can cause a range of health problems, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos was previously used extensively in building products in Australia. All use, importation or manufacture of asbestos was banned completely in Australia by 2003. The landfills accepting asbestos are noted in Table 24 in the Infrastructure Schedule (Section 6 Part B), with the Dooen Landfill, the Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) and the Statewide Waste Regional Landfill accepting small quantities of domestic asbestos as well as commercial quantities.


The disposal locations for domestic asbestos are in reasonable proximity to the three key regional centres, but for many people located in rural areas, disposal sites are often more than 100 km away. This issue with distance contributes to inappropriate disposal such as illegal dumping and concealment of asbestos materials in domestic waste, which is a risk to the community, as well as to landfill or transfer station staff, and is a cost to councils.

Accepting asbestos-bearing material through appropriate infrastructure at transfer stations and the subsequent transfer to a licenced landfill for disposal is a mechanism to address these problems. The Domestic Asbestos Working Party38 developed the 2011 Managing Domestic Non-Friable Asbestos at Resource Recovery Centres guidelines for facilities receiving non-friable asbestos from domestic sources. GCWWRRG supports these guidelines and compliance with relevant regulations to promote the greater availability of responsible and accessible disposal options at transfer stations, education and training, as well as requiring councils to obtain appropriate insurance coverage.

Councils have specific responsibilities in emergencies, such as bushfires, that are outlined in municipal emergency management plans. They should have a human health emergency management sub-plan that outlines specific human health issues that could arise in their area and how to manage them.

4.3 LANDFILL INFRASTRUCTURE

Landfills are an important part of Victoria’s and the region’s current waste management and resource recovery infrastructure network for disposal of materials produced by society that are unable to be recovered.

Whilst disposal of materials to landfill is the least preferred option for waste management and resource recovery is recommended, landfills will continue to be required to manage those wastes that cannot practically be removed from the waste stream.

38 Prepared on behalf of the former Association of Victorian Regional Waste Management Groups, and with representation from EPA, WorkSafe Victoria, SV, Department of Health, Municipal Association of

The Waste Management Policy (Siting, Design and Management of Landfills) requires that the development and use of landfills be minimised, but it is a role of this implementation plan to ensure sufficient landfill airspace is available to meet the requirements of the Grampians Central West region for the disposal of residual waste.

Many factors impact on how much landfill airspace will be required to meet the region’s needs. A key factor is the plan’s objective to increase recovery so that only materials that cannot be viably recovered are disposed of to landfill. With changes in technologies and improved markets for goods made from recovered materials, many of the materials currently going to landfill may be recovered in future.

To achieve this and to produce the schedule, GCWWRRG undertook a process in accordance with the ministerial guideline Making, Amending and Integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans and the Outline of Process: Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Scheduling document, which assessed and determined the region’s landfill airspace needs. As part of this process, GCWWRRG has committed to undertake regular future reviews of the plan in accordance with the Act and relevant guidelines.

Former landfills can pose significant risks to the environment, human health and local community amenity if they are not well sited, constructed, managed and rehabilitated after they close. The sources and levels of risk posed by landfills change with their age, the phase of their lifecycle, their siting and construction standards, the types of waste accepted and the management controls in place. Good management requires landfill risks to be identified, assessed and managed in a timely and cost effective manner during both their open and closed phases.

This Grampians Central West Implementation Plan seeks to reduce reliance on landfill, with the recovery of organics being one element. A reduction in the amount of organic material going to landfill has a direct influence on the impact of landfills by reducing the generation of methane and leachate.

Older active or closed landfills can pose risks, which is a legacy of being sited and built to the standards that were accepted as good practice at that time, but are less stringent than the standards that have applied since 2010. Consequently, recent work has focused on improving the infrastructure located at existing landfills by retro-fitting monitoring structures and constructing new landfill cells to industry best practice standards. Whilst more resource intensive and regulated, these works ensure landfills are developed and managed to protect human health, public amenity and the environment.

Figure 13 indicates the approximate locations of each of the licensed landfills as well as the councils which use them. Generally, the three licensed putrescible landfills act as regional landfills for neighbouring councils. Moorabool and Golden Plains shire councils send some of their putrescible waste to the metropolitan region.

Refer to Section 6 Part B and Table 33 in the Infrastructure Schedule for all landfill information.

Victoria, Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support Incorporated and the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council



FIGURE 13. LANDFILLS USED BY EACH COUNCIL

Source: Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment

The four main licenced landfills and the 12 landfills exempt from licensing in the region (Table 32, Section 6 Part B and Appendix 6) take varying amounts of residual waste and consequently have different roles in the region.

Landfills serving more than 5,000 people are required to hold a licence from the EPA to operate. Landfills serving smaller populations (fewer than 5,000) are exempt from licensing; however, they are required to meet all relevant guidelines and conditions.

It should be noted that the landfill levy is classified into two categories – metropolitan/provincial and rural. In the region, four councils are located within 100 km of Melbourne. Two councils are categorised as “metropolitan/provincial” – the City of Ballarat and the Golden Plains Shire Council.

39 EPA Victoria June 2015, Calculating the Landfill Levy and Recycling Rebates Publication 332.6

The Hepburn and Moorabool shire councils are categorised as “rural” and therefore attract lower levies.39

The data on the volumes of waste managed at the small exempt from licensing landfills is varied and sometimes not available, especially at the smaller remote/rural landfills. However, the tonnages accepted at these landfills are likely to be very small. Their small volumes should be considered when determining their viability and future options.

Current airspace, throughput and characteristics for each of the landfills in the region have been analysed via a landfill needs assessment. A number of scenarios were modelled to examine the different impacts on landfill airspace requirements over the 10-year life of this plan. Table 21 outlines the modelled scenarios and outcomes identified.


Landfill Needs Assessment

To determine landfill airspace needs, GCWWRRG considered the following:

1) Projected tonnages of residual waste likely to be sent to landfill in the next 30 years, taking into consideration

a) regional population and catchment growth

b) business-as-usual (BAU) recovery rates as worst-case scenario

c) the potential impact of recovery initiatives that could divert material from landfills (which are most likely to go ahead or have commenced since the baseline data year)

d) knowledge of the region

e) information from the waste and resource recovery industry

f) the future of other existing landfills (including consideration of capacity needed to compensate for landfills planned for closure).

2) Information from the owners and operators of individual existing landfill sites including

a) compaction rates (if not available, then a default low compaction rate was used)

b) the amount of daily cover

c) site survey results where available

d) future plans

e) airspace availability (for example, quarry void space)

f) land use planning and EPA works approval status of the available airspace.

3) Tonnes currently going to individual landfills including

a) details of the landfill levy and council-sourced data

b) specific factors that may have influenced the data collection year (for example, a major event such as a flood that caused more waste to be sent to landfill than in a typical year)

c) tonnages expected to be sent to landfill under contracts and the duration of these contracts

d) flows to or from other regions or interstate (including feedback from the generating WRRG in relation to long-term prospects of these flows continuing).

4) Contingency requirements including

a) natural disasters

b) unexpected closure of facilities including those that may be located in other regions that provide a service (landfill or recovery) to the Grampians Central West.

5) The management, accuracy and verification of information provided by third parties and the impact of data gaps on the assessment. If data was unavailable, a conservative approach was taken.



TABLE 19. OPERATING LANDFILLS IN 2015/2016

LANDFILL NAME FACILITY OWNER ANNUAL

TONNAGES MANAGED (2013/14)

AVAILABLE SPACE

(YEARS) ARARAT RURAL CITY COUNCIL

Elmhurst Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 3

Lake Bolac Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 2

Moyston Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 0

Pomonal Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 3

Streatham Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 3

Tatyoon Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 3

Willaura Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Ararat Rural City Council N/A 2

GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL

Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) City of Ballarat 62,000 20

HORSHAM RURAL CITY COUNCIL

Dooen Landfill Horsham Rural City Council 27,000 30

MOORABOOL SHIRE COUNCIL

Maddingley Brown Coal Maddingley Brown Coal Pty Ltd 440,000 19

NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE COUNCIL

Statewide Waste Regional Landfill Statewide Recycling Services Pty Ltd 31,000 20

St Arnaud Transfer Station and Landfill Northern Grampians Shire Council N/A 2

YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE COUNCIL

Patchewollock Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Yarriambiack Shire Council N/A 10

Speed/Tempy Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Yarriambiack Shire Council N/A 10

Warracknabeal Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Yarriambiack Shire Council N/A 10

Yaapeet Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Yarriambiack Shire Council N/A 10

Source: Sustainability Victoria 2015, Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD) v3, Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment and direct information from Landfill Duty Holders. Notes: Likely closure dates (available space) reflect the year in which the site is likely to cease receiving waste. They are estimated based on modelled tonnage projections and airspace available and may include potential void space at quarry-based landfill sites as identified by owners and operators. These timeframes will be dependent on commercial decisions made by site owners and operators, waste flows and the site obtaining the appropriate approvals.

TABLE 20. SCENARIOS MODELLED FOR LANDFILL PROJECTIONS

SCENARIOS OUTCOMES

1 “Business as Usual” (BAU) using existing per capita generation and recovery rates

The model is used as a baseline and acts as a conservative figure

2

Availability of regional landfill capacity changes, including early completion of existing landfills, development of additional capacity and/or new private landfills.

The impact of a new landfill or closure of a site would impact only in the long term by extension of the life of the region’s landfills each by approximately 1-2 years and a reduction in the life of the region’s smaller landfills by 4-5 years respectively

3 The City of Ballarat’s proposed EfW development comes to fruition

No impact in the short term May extend the life of the nearest landfill, Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale), by approximately 2-3 years

4 Diversion of garden and food organics

May extend the life: Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) by approximately two years Statewide Regional Waste Landfill by one year No impact on Dooen’s or Maddingley Brown Coal’s lifespan

Source: Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment


Findings of the Landfill Needs Assessment

The scenario modelling was undertaken to look at the range of issues that could happen under various circumstances and to be able to actively plan and invest now to ensure that the region’s capacity to manage landfill airspace was sound for the foreseeable future.

Any relevant scenario modelled is expected to have only a minor effect by extending or diminishing the life of any respective landfill for one to five years. Thus, with the estimated lifespan of all landfills in the region having the capacity to operate well beyond 2030, there is adequate airspace to cater for the region’s needs and there is no need for additional landfill airspace for at least the next 10 years40 (the period of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan). The continuation of landfills is subject to all relevant approvals being granted and adhered to.

This assessment informs the Infrastructure Schedule (Section 6 Part B) – Proposed Sequence of Filling (Table 34). Section 50BB(c)(iv) of the EP Act sets out a required minimum timeframe for a landfill scheduling table of 10 years. Whilst this plan is for a 10-year period, the schedule provides an indication of the extent to which the existing landfills may contribute to meeting the needs of the region for a 30-year period. This is to provide clarity to operators, decision-makers and the community. The schedule is subject to review.

Some minor amounts of residual waste generated in the region are managed outside the region. This includes a portion from the Moorabool and Golden Plains shire councils being deposited in landfills located in the metropolitan region. These landfills, which are external to the region, have ample capacity to service this need. It is appropriate then, that these be included in their respective Regional Implementation Plans.

For reference, the region has considered the potential to utilise landfill airspace available in surrounding regions and has concluded that, in any scenario, there is no reliance on that airspace.

It should be noted that none of the modelled scenarios take into account the direct impact of natural disasters or episodic climatic events. Major bushfires, floods and other natural disasters have been experienced in recent years across Victoria and the state is likely to experience similar events in future, potentially with increased recurrence due to climate change. These events can generate the equivalent of as much as 15 years’ waste in a single event. If this waste is sent to landfill, it may significantly inhibit remaining airspace availability and impact on regional planning scenarios.

The risk of these events is deemed low to medium and would not have any significant long-term implications on the region’s airspace and landfill needs. However, due to climate change41, these occurrences have the potential to increase, and GCWWRRG will continue work with councils to test the impacts and plan for the future.

It is acknowledged that all licenced landfills will, as demand requires, continue to plan and apply for further cell development on their existing land use planning approved sites. This typically takes a minimum of 18 to

40 Blue Environment 2016, Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment.

24 months in advance of the cell being required. The design and construction of a landfill cell requires EPA cell approval, which is different to a works approval. It is estimated that additional cells are required every two years at most regional landfills.

Landfill airspace availability and progress of works approvals will be monitored regularly and reviewed every three to five years to ensure that planning, consultation and development requirements for any new required landfill airspace is undertaken in a sufficient timeframe.

A number of councils and industries currently rely on the nearest accessible landfill for their MSW and residual waste needs. If a closure were to occur at one or more of these sites, then there is a risk that the affected councils and industries would be required to transport their waste a further distance to the next available landfill, subject to its capacity and availability, which would potentially incur significantly greater costs.

Landfill Needs Assessment Review Process

GCWWRRG is committed to repeating the landfill needs assessment in three to five years (by 2021/2022). This will ensure that any gap in the availability of landfill airspace to meet the needs of the region will be identified and addressed with adequate time to

determine the most appropriate solution(s)

schedule new infrastructure in accordance with the statewide process (if required) and allow sufficient time for planning and construction.

Other factors which could trigger an earlier review or change to the schedule include

a direction from the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change

unexpected closure or filling of a landfill (significant emergency event/dramatic change) resulting in an immediate need

a request from another region to manage residual waste in one of the landfills in the Grampians Central West region following a thorough landfill needs assessment

a scheduled landfill not receiving approvals for scheduled expansions.

In addition, there will be a high-level contingency review undertaken by the state’s WRRGs every 12 months. This will include consideration of the impact of emergency events.

41 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, November 2015, Climate-Ready Victoria Grampians Factsheet http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0010/320887/Grampians.pdf



The purpose of the landfill infrastructure schedule is to

identify options for future landfill capacity within the region if the need is apparent and justified

ensure the Grampians Central West region has an adequate amount of landfill capacity to safely manage waste that is not recoverable

minimise the development and use of landfills for the management of waste in Victoria

propose a sequence of filling available for at least 10 years

provide estimates on intended or likely closure dates for landfills in the region

report on the rehabilitation status of closed landfills

ensure future landfill capacity needs are planned for to enable appropriate buffers to be determined and defined42.

The landfills listed in the schedule (Table 33) are existing landfills that are operating and accepting waste for disposal in the Grampians Central West region.

This schedule is required to cover at least a 10-year period. To provide greater transparency and certainty for land use planning decisions, this schedule extends to 30 years.

The proposed sequencing of the filling of available landfill sites are outlined in Table 34. It contains the proposed sequence for the filling of available landfill sites for a 10-year period and estimated closure dates (which may be beyond the 10-year period). The likely closure date for existing landfills is an estimate of how long it would take to fill the maximum possible airspace available at each site. Providing the likely closure date is a statutory requirement of the schedule. The actual timeframes and closure dates will depend on a number of factors including, but not exclusive to, business decisions made by owners and operators, and whether the appropriate approvals are granted.

It includes only existing landfill sites. The table indicates the potential lifespan; however, site operators may decide to close a landfill earlier.

It is acknowledged that all existing licenced landfills will, as demand is required, continue to plan and apply for further cell development to expand and develop new cells on their existing land use planning-approved sites. The design and construction of each landfill cell requires further authorisations, such as an EPA cell approval and licence amendment upon construction completion. It is estimated that an additional cell is required every two years at some regional landfills.

There is no reliance on landfill airspace availability in other regions.

The identification of a new or expanded landfill in Part B of this schedule does not guarantee that the landfill capacity will become operational. A proponent wishing to establish a landfill will need to obtain all necessary permits and approvals before establishing the landfill. This may include obtaining a planning permit from the relevant planning authority and obtaining a works approval and licence from EPA Victoria.

Subject to limited exceptions, EPA Victoria must refuse to consider an application for a works approval in 42 Ministerial Guideline: Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans, DELWP, 2014

relation to any new landfill not included in this schedule under Section 50C (2) of the EP Act.

If a landfill site, prior to being issued a works approval, planning permit and licence, is found, through the infrastructure scheduling process (Part B) to no longer be the most suitable option to service the needs identified by GCWWRRG, then it can be removed from the schedule and be replaced by suitable alternatives (assuming new infrastructure is still required). This review will be undertaken as part of the periodic revision of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

However, GCWWRRG does not consider that there is a demonstrated need for additional landfill airspace and does not intend to schedule any new or expanded landfill at this time. This matter, though, will be reviewed within three to five years. No other WRRGs have advised GCWWRRG for the need for additional landfill in the Grampians Central West region. No additional landfills exempt from licensing will be required following closures as all waste will be diverted to existing regional landfills.

Many of the sites in the region are small landfills servicing only the local area. An extensive number of landfills (105) have closed over the years and they are listed in Table 35 with their known rehabilitation status. In most cases, these pose a negligible risk to the community, environment and to human health.

GCWWRRG expects the duty holders of all closed landfills to meet their EPA Victoria obligations and to communicate effectively with adjoining communities on the progress of rehabilitation and possible future uses of the site.

GCWWRRG, in conjunction with the EPA, will facilitate and develop a process to work with and build the capacity of any duty holder(s) of former landfills. This will be based on the risk posed of adverse impacts to the community, human health and the environment.

When a landfill site closes, it may receive clean fill and soils for the purposes of final contouring, capping, revegetation and rehabilitation after ceasing to accept waste. This activity on the site is managed by the duty holder and EPA Victoria through Post Closure Pollution Abatement Notices (PC PANs).

Resource recovery activities may occur on a landfill site after a site ceases to accept waste for disposal providing the necessary approvals are authorised.


The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan landfill position is as follows:

The Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group does not consider that there is a demonstrated need for additional landfill airspace, based on the data analysis conducted in 2015/2016, and, therefore, does not intend to proceed with expressions of interest for landfill at this point in time. This matter is to be reviewed within three to five years. No other Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group has advised GCWWRRG of the need for landfill in this region.


With a risk approach, evidence base and a viability framework, GCWWRRG will work with respective councils to continue to investigate the feasibility of rationalising small exempt-from-licensing landfills and replacing them with adequate resource recovery facilities or providing reasonable access to these facilities (often in rural areas).

The landfills in the region are suitably located in relation to planning schemes and minimal encroachment potential is likely to occur. However, the potential for encroachment will be monitored over time in consultation with the relevant planning authorities

Maddingley Brown Coal Landfill Site

Maddingley Brown Coal Pty Ltd’s landfill in Bacchus Marsh receives a substantial amount of its waste (largely inert waste) from the metropolitan region and a small amount from the Grampians Central West region (approximately 10 per cent). This facility is the only landfill in the state permitted to receive shredder floc from the car and whitegoods recovery industries, which is why it is important to the statewide waste network and a hub of state significance.

This landfill provides a significant service to the metropolitan area; however, it still has an important role in servicing the Grampians Central West region. Therefore, Maddingley Brown Coal will continue to play a pivotal role in landfill provision with its extensive long-term airspace capacity. It also provides an additional source of regional employment and economic development.

Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) Site

The Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale) is a key piece of regional waste infrastructure and is a regional hub. It currently manages residual MSW waste from the City of Ballarat through kerbside collection; street sweeping and street bins; and the transfer station. It also receives a significant portion of commercial waste from the City as well as managing domestic and commercial residual waste from a number of neighbouring councils.

The City of Ballarat has significant commitments to infrastructure, maintenance and upgrades over the ensuing 10-year period to the Smythesdale site, which include

landfill cell construction on an ongoing basis to accommodate 65,000 tonnes per year

video surveillance at the entrance for quality control of received waste

an expanded leachate receivable and treatment facility

a new wetland facility to treat stormwater exiting the site

perimeter security fencing

the progressive rehabilitation of cells as they are filled.

Statewide Waste Regional Landfill Site

This privately run landfill operated by Statewide Recycling Services Pty Ltd near Stawell, a regional hub, is licensed to accept commercial loads of waste including putrescible MSW, general residual waste from

the C&I sector, asbestos and category C soil. Other waste types may be able to be accepted subject to approval. This landfill, due to its central location within the Grampians Central West region and being accessible to the Barwon South West region, may be attractive to some operators and industries to transport their residual waste to this facility. It is currently accepting some waste from the western end of the Barwon South West region.

Dooen Landfill Site

The Dooen Landfill is operated by the Horsham Rural City Council and is the only major landfill in the far west of the region servicing a number of small communities across a large area. As a regional hub, it receives waste from the shires of Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.

Dooen Landfill is at the smallest end of the scale to which the rigorous requirements of the Best Practice Environmental Management (BPEM) guidelines apply.

This means that there is a reduced economy of scale to fund the higher standard of works required to meet the guidelines, in particular when compared against much larger landfills. The Horsham council is about to undertake a comprehensive risk assessment for the site, incorporating groundwater and air impacts. This risk assessment will lead to a better understanding of the site and may substantiate the application of the lower BPEM standards for the site’s construction and operations.

The council is also developing strategies to reduce the volume of material disposed at the Dooen landfill and endeavouring to cap the waste intake to fewer than 20,000 tonnes per year, which may also enable application of the lower BPEM standards. The Horsham council has recently received enquiries regarding the potential to dispose of waste at Dooen from outside the Grampians Central West region.

Should this disposal commence, it may be in conflict with the objective of reducing the volumes received at this landfill, but may provide an improved economy of scale of operations at the site. Managing these conflicting priorities and maintaining viability presents a challenge to the Horsham council, whilst intending to ensure that the cost of future landfill development is a balanced approach.

Landfills Exempt from Licensing

Of the 12 operating landfills exempt from licensing, plans are in place to close eight of them in the ensuing years, which would leave only those in the Yarriambiack Shire operating. The townships affected by these closures will be serviced by the major regional landfill sites. It will also be important to ensure the availability of adequate resource recovery centres as these local landfill facilities close.

Closed Landfill Sites

There are 105 closed landfills in the Grampians Central West region, all with varying ages, history and rehabilitation status. It is important that closed landfills are identified and any potential impacts to the community, human health and the environment are managed and reduced. The potential of adverse impacts depends on a range of factors including the size, types of waste accepted, geology and natural



features of the site, and how the landfill was constructed and rehabilitated on closure. The requirements for the rehabilitation depend on the risk of adverse impacts.

Smaller landfills typically pose significantly lower risks and therefore rehabilitation, monitoring and maintenance are less stringent than for larger landfills. With the trend towards larger landfills, the rehabilitation requirements have changed in recent years, with current operational landfills needing to undergo more stringent guidelines when being rehabilitated.

The responsibility for the management and rehabilitation of closed landfill facilities solely lies with the entity known as the “duty holder” of the site. In most situations this is the current landholder. The EPA manages and regulates this process. Further information on landfill requirements, from planning through to rehabilitation, can be found on the EPA’s website. Specific related documents include Best Practice Environmental Management – Siting, Design, Operation and Rehabilitation of Landfills, and the Landfills Exempt from Licensing 1999 and 2014 guidelines.

There is likely to be a number of landfills in the region that are closed but have not yet been rehabilitated to required standards.

Some councils have indicated that they have closed landfills which were suitably capped and remediated at that point in time; however, they may not have documented EPA authorisation that it is “satisfactory and approved”. Obtaining this assurance is important for councils from a long-term strategic, operational and financial perspective. Some councils also wish to continue to further rehabilitate sites by adding vegetation for amenity and environmental benefit.

In recognising that there may be some community concern about these landfills and their environmental or social impact, information should be available from the duty holder at all times.

As outlined in Priority Action 5, GCWWRRG proposes to assist the rehabilitation process for these closed landfills by facilitating work between duty holders (mostly councils) and the EPA to develop agreed risk-based assessment processes for rehabilitation of closed landfills that take into account the local context.

If applicable to the respective site, the risk-based assessment and any identified actions may adequately reduce environmental and human health risks of these landfills more efficiently than approaches that have occurred in the past.

Introducing more locally appropriate risk-based approaches may also reduce the cost of rehabilitation and therefore reduce the burden on local councils while still achieving good human health and environmental outcomes. Many closed landfills are undergoing rehabilitation and some have completed remediation.

The closed landfill sites in some instances have been used to accommodate a RRC/TS. Some rehabilitated sites have also become freeways, open space, sports facilities or land which has been sold to private parties.

Private (Own Waste) Landfills

There are a number of private (own waste) landfills in the region that can be categorised differently because they generate and deposit waste exclusively from a single source (arising from their own on-site activities), usually the owner/generator. They are not currently included in the scope of the State Infrastructure Plan and therefore do not fall under the scope of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

The private (own waste) landfills, listed in Table 21, are required to operate under relevant EPA licences/works approvals. The exception is for mining operations that solely deposit mining wastes in accordance with the relevant legislation (Extractive Industries Development Act 1995 and Mineral Resources [Sustainable Development] Act 1990) and hold management licences issued by the Department of Health.

Private (own waste) landfills that are regulated by the EPA will have a licence, which can be viewed on the EPA website or by requesting a copy from the owners of the facility.

These private landfills do not play a direct part in the regional waste and resource recovery network. However, it should be noted that these sites are subject to change by way of the nature of corporate operations. This may mean that there is a risk that if these corporations close their landfilling activity on their private sites, or want to deposit additional waste materials, they will need to source an alternative location for material disposal or upgrade approvals, licences and permits respectively. The corporations concerned would be required to undertake all necessary investigations and would need to meet any EPA requirements associated with the proposed licence amendment and, if required, complete a works approval to the satisfaction of the EPA.

There are also closed private (own waste) landfills licensed by the EPA. Some of these facilities are referenced in Section 6.

TABLE 21. PRIVATE (OWN WASTE) LANDFILLS IN THE REGION

SITE NAME COUNCIL AREA LOCALITY OWNER

Bamganie Landfill Golden Plains Shire Council Lethbridge All Vet Waste Pty Ltd

Bunkers Hill Sago Hill Waste Facility

City of Ballarat Bunkers Hill FMP Group (Australia) Pty Ltd

Iluka Resources Douglas Mine Site

Horsham Rural City Council Kanagulk Iluka Resources

Selkirk Bricks City of Ballarat Scotchman’s Lead Selkirk Group of Companies


4.4 WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY HUBS

The concept of a hubs and spokes strategic framework has been introduced into the State Infrastructure Plan. The hubs are important locations where materials are managed and the supporting spokes are the means by which materials are transported for resource recovery. Together, they form a system that supports the aggregation of materials within a network for efficient resource recovery and management of waste materials.

The initial identification of a hub is the starting point to begin a discussion of its future; over the implementation phase, the future of hubs in the region will be explored, which will include their alignment with local planning schemes as appropriate.

Recovery and reprocessing infrastructure follows a model of local, regional and state hubs as indicated in the following table:

State Hubs State hubs service local, regional and state areas, receiving consolidated material streams and undertaking higher-order recovery, reprocessing or management

Regional Hubs Regional hubs service both local and regional areas, receiving materials from surrounding local hubs. They are usually more infrastructure intensive and are likely to include one or more facilities that sort, recover and possibly reprocess materials received

Local Hubs Local hubs are the first point of recovery for the community and include transfer stations, resource recovery centres and resale shops. Sorting and consolidation activities are likely to be incorporated at these facilities in future; for environmental and economic reasons, landfills are likely to be excluded

Source: Sustainability Victoria 2015 Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015 – 44

As defined in the State Infrastructure Plan:

An ideal hub has appropriate buffers between the waste and resource recovery facilities and incompatible uses to support the activities undertaken at that location. It has well-established feeder-spokes and good access to transport networks. It is co-located or in close proximity to complementary activities that provide feedstocks or markets for the products and services, or share and utilise the same buffers. It is [economically] viable, minimises community, environment and human health impacts and contributes to the local and state economy.

According to the State Infrastructure Plan43, the Grampians Central West region has two existing hubs of state importance:

Maddingley Brown Coal Landfill

Statewide Waste Regional Landfill.

The Grampians Central West region’s waste and resource recovery state and regional hubs are listed in Table 24. Any facility not listed in the hubs table may only be considered a local hub. It would be anticipated that council waste management plans would address all local hubs in detail.

43 Sustainability Victoria 2015, Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015-44



TABLE 22. WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY HUBS

WASTE AND RESOURCE

RECOVERY HUB

STATE/ REGIONAL

DESCRIPTION OF HUB LOCATION STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT INCLUDING

KEY ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Maddingley Brown Coal Precinct

S

Location: On the outskirts of Bacchus Marsh (Moorabool Shire) utilising open space and existing brown coal mine open-cut site. Close proximity to the metropolitan region and reasonable access to regional freeway Landfill: Operating solid inert Resource Recovery: Organics composting, concrete and aggregate crushing, soil screening and mulch; Proximity to Bacchus Marsh Transfer Station Buffers: Special Use Zone with two-kilometre buffer distance for composting

Strategically located on the edge of the region and adjacent to the metropolitan region

Long-term airspace availability (future stage 3 includes 4 million m3 of airspace)

Future putrescible EfW composting EPA research Nearby industrial park Impacts of truck movements Proximity to Bacchus Marsh Transfer

Station

Statewide Waste Regional Landfill

R

Location: Five kilometres south west of Stawell (Northern Grampians Shire) utilising a previous quarry site. Close proximity and reasonable access to regional highway Landfill: Operating putrescible Resource Recovery: Nil Buffers: Reasonable buffer distance

Long-term airspace availability Central to the region Rubber (tyres shredded) landfill cell Consider pre-sort and recovery prior to

disposal Proximity to UTRC

Ballarat Regional Landfill (Smythesdale)

R

Location: On the edge of Smythesdale, a rural town 20 kilometres south-west of Ballarat (Golden Plains Shire) situated on the Glenelg Highway Landfill: Operating putrescible Resource Recovery: Nil Buffers: Reasonable buffer distance

Long-term airspace availability Central to the growth area of the region Properties within buffer zone and proximity

to waterway

Dooen Landfill R

Location: 15 kilometres north-east of Horsham (Horsham Rural City Council) adjacent to the Henty Highway Landfill: Operating Putrescible Resource Recovery: Nil Buffers: Reasonable buffer distance

Long-term airspace availability Central to the Wimmera region Transport cost challenges Clay for capping challenges

Ballarat South Precinct (Ballarat Transfer Station, Garden Recycling Centre, Castlegate James, Chris Bev Pty Ltd)

R

Location: South-western side of Ballarat in an industrial area bounded by the saleyards, Victoria Park and a growth area Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: Transfer station; Organics garden; Organics Food; Aggregates, masonry and soil Buffers: Buffer distance relative to individual sites

Located in industrial precincts; however urban growth projected for Ballarat south-west growth corridor

Opportunity to enhance precinct with changes to the area such as the removal and redevelopment of the Ballarat saleyards

Wendouree Precinct (Onesteel, KKC, Paper Freight Australia, Ballarat Regional Industries)

R

Location: Northern side of Ballarat located in an industrial area adjacent to the Western Freeway Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: Metals; Aggregates, masonry and soil, Paper/cardboard, Organics wood/timber, Buffers: Buffer distance relative to individual sites

Located in industrial precincts and adjacent to major freeway

Some located adjacent to Ballarat West Employment Zone

Area built out so no encroachment issues

Repeat Plastics Australia

R

Location: South-eastern side of Ballarat Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: Plastics; Paper/cardboard Buffers: Reasonable


TABLE 22. WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY HUBS continued

WASTE AND RESOURCE

RECOVERY HUB

STATE / REGIONAL

DESCRIPTION OF HUB LOCATION STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT INCLUDING

KEY ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Horsham (Axis Worx, Horsham Green Waste Processing, WestonVic Waste, Horsham TS)

R

Location: South-western side of Horsham Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: Organics garden; E- waste; Aggregates, masonry and soil Buffers: Reasonable in industrial areas

Located on a major route through the region Located in Industrial precincts

Daylesford (MRF, RRC and TS)

R

Location: Northern side of Daylesford Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: MSW Buffers: Reasonable

Co-location of sites

Western Gypsum R

Location: Rural area of Golden Plains Shire on reasonable road network Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: Aggregates, masonry and soil Buffers: Reasonable

Rural area

Proposed Hub Ballarat West Employment Zone

R

Potential future precinct for EfW, transfer station and associated industries Location: Western side of Ballarat with access to major road and rail networks and likely freight node Landfill: Nil Resource Recovery: Ability for a range of resource recovery industries Buffers: Planned and reasonable

State of the art new industrial, commercial and employment precinct with associated freight hub and transport network



4.5 FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE

The sustainability of infrastructure in the Grampians Central West region shall be required to consider the

the balance of the risks of environmental harm against the likelihood of environmental benefit

the balance of the financial returns and opportunities against the financial costs and risks.

Environmental protection measures have in recent years driven improvements in waste management and resource recovery infrastructure. The cost of improved landfill engineering and management practices has resulted in a trend of rationalisation of landfills, with the establishment of larger regional landfills and the replacement of smaller landfills with transfer stations. This trend is expected to continue for at least the next 10 years in the region, with pressure to discontinue using landfills that are exempt from licensing.

The industry trend is towards establishing advanced waste treatment and resource recovery technologies as an alternative to landfill disposal. This includes technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion and other technologies, which recover resources and generate energy from waste. The use of such technologies can reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions generated by landfills. The technologies suited to MSW treatment require large amounts of waste to justify the large capital outlay involved, and generally require annual throughputs in excess of 100,000 tonnes to warrant capital investment of over $30 million for most systems. These technologies are likely to be more feasible when considered on a regional scale, where access to sufficient feedstock may allow economies of scale to be achieved.

There are also some opportunities for development of small-scale technologies targeted to particular waste streams with high calorific value and suitable for condensed local populations (for example, anaerobic digesters treating wet organics and energy generation from combustion/gasification of dry organics). This is more feasible when dealing with C&I waste streams close to the point of generation where there is on-site demand for energy or other outputs.

The Beaufort hospital is a good regional example of this, where timber off-cuts are used to fuel a biomass boiler system to heat the hospital.

The development of waste and resource recovery hubs can establish precincts which minimise environmental and community impacts and facilitate investment in local infrastructure. Such development would need to be supported through local zoning and planning frameworks as well as access to transport networks.

Conversely, transporting materials over sometimes long distances (to regional and state hubs) can have subsequent impacts on energy resources (mostly using non-renewable fossil fuels) and road networks, and present accompanying health, safety and environmental risks. Where feasible, local solutions for re-use and reprocessing can reduce the environmental footprint of waste management and resource recovery and reduce accompanying risks.

A study completed for the Department of the Environment (DoE) in 2009 explored the impact of waste and recycling on employment and found that for every 10,000 tonnes of waste sent to landfill, 2.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs were created; if the same amount of waste were recycled, 9.2 FTE jobs were created. In addition to direct employment, indirect jobs are also created as a result of the additional economic activity of recycling. The DoE 2009 study cited US data that indicated indirect employment varied according to the type of recycling undertaken; the largest employment multipliers were for (in descending order) plastics, aluminium, other metals, liquid paperboard, glass, wood and other paper.

However, while there are clear environmental benefits for increased resource recovery (such as resource efficiencies, reduced use of virgin materials, reduced energy use, and reduced greenhouse emissions, to name just a few), the economic feasibility of resource recovery facilities in regional areas can be more complex and subject to a combination of a number of issues and barriers, including but not exclusive to

capability and consistency of policy settings, regulatory requirements and procurement practices

land-use planning and availability of sites that meet benchmarks for community amenity and environmental protection

local approaches and risks in each council area

the ability to attract sufficient material volumes and quality to reach viable economies of scale

sourcing the large capital necessary for investment in infrastructure and equipment

consumer and business demand for reprocessed materials and low cost/revenue margins in the resource recovery sector

access to local, national or international markets and fluctuating commodity prices on an international market

low re-manufacturing base in Australia

transport costs and extensive distribution networks

cross government coordination to support sector investment

investor and government awareness of opportunities

investor access to accurate sector data and information

financial assistance for new technologies or relevant to the project scale

the community’s willingness to pay for recycling/resource recovery services

market support for purchase of materials made from recycled materials.

There are many factors influencing the performance of waste and resource recovery infrastructure and the potential effects vary across infrastructure type, location and size.

Other factors that also influence the environmental and financial performance of infrastructure include market economics, policy settings, economies of scale, and the community’s willingness to pay, Some of these factors are detailed in Table 25.


4.5.1 PERFORMANCE AND INVESTMENT Infrastructure that is both strategic and enabling supports regional industries to innovate, build resilience, and improve their adaptability to changing economic and environmental conditions. Investment in infrastructure solutions that demonstrate significant business and environmental sustainable outcomes in regional and rural areas is critical to providing a competitive environment where existing and emerging industries can operate.

At the same time, such investment helps lift industry standards and creates or enhances the conditions for the region’s growth.

Strategic infrastructure delivers innovative solutions that have multiple beneficiaries and the potential to enable existing regional industries to expand. It also attracts new investment into regional communities, improves market access, creates new jobs and secures existing employment.

Investment in enabling infrastructure recognises that access to efficient and sustainable management of key resources is critical to the long-term viability and economic success of regional Victorian industries. The Grampians Central West region must harness its key regional strengths to improve the productivity and liveability within the 12 council areas.

There must be aspirations and a commitment to invest in major infrastructure projects and services to create or enhance the conditions for economic growth, and to build diversified and sustainable regional economies within this region that are resilient to change.

It is the desire of GCWWRRG and its stakeholders to advance investment in waste and resource recovery infrastructure to foster innovation, job creation and improved liveability. The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan provides a strong strategic foundation to guide planning and ultimately work towards leveraging private investment and facilitating the creation of jobs across the region.

44 Sustainability Victoria Investment Facilitation Strategy and Service http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/our-

The implementation of the priority actions from the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan will assist the region to undertake valid assessments and position itself for industry and councils to apply for government funding when available. It will also facilitate private investment enactment and progress towards a more vibrant regional economy.

GCWWRRG will work with SV’s Investment Facilitation Service to assist with the delivery of the Investment Facilitation Strategy as it relates to investment opportunities within the Grampians Central West region. The strategy44 provides a consistent and coordinated long-term approach to attract, inform and facilitate waste and resource recovery investment by

identifying and addressing key barriers to investment in Victoria’s waste and resource recovery infrastructure to reduce risk and increase the likelihood of success

promoting the type of advanced infrastructure identified in the State Infrastructure Plan that increases resource recovery to realise environmental, community and economic benefits

assisting the delivery of projects with improved technologies to increase resource recovery and effectively manage Victoria’s waste flows

identifying target investor groups and inbound investment markets that have the advanced technological, operational and financial expertise needed to achieve our objectives

utilising existing government investment attraction and facilitation services and networks to raise awareness of potential opportunities.

priorities/statewide-waste-planning/2015-2020-priorities/investment-facilitation-framework



TABLE 23. FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE

ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL FACTORS IMPACTING ON PERFORMANCE

NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

RRC/TS/Drop-off

Councils operate RRC/TS facilities based upon a service focus rather than a commercial profit motive Economies of scale RRC/TS infrastructure requires significant volumes of material usually achieved through council contracts to be viable and justify investments to upgrade facilities, install automated equipment or implement rehabilitation post closure management Low population density and subsequent lower volumes makes it harder to achieve economies of scale Competition with other facilities, particularly those in metropolitan Melbourne, which have automated systems, handle bulk volumes of multiple material streams Market conditions Insufficient end markets for materials including timber, polystyrene and mattresses impacts performance of this infrastructure and are not as string in regional areas Further cost pressure may come from potential material landfill bans (for example: E-waste) or the requirement for pre-sorting The need to transport materials long distances and their cost of handling may be greater than the market value The low price of scrap metals is leading to operators “hedging” through stockpiling as they wait for higher prices. This is also because many metals collectors are requiring greater volumes of material to justify transport expenses Management of emissions and amenity Noise and odour associated with putrescible waste and on site processing of organic waste can be an issue for facilities close to residential development or sensitive uses; Noise issues associated with both scrap metal yards and centralised processing facilities (shredders mainly) have been noted within the industry Stockpiles of some materials, such as timber, garden waste and rubber (tyres), could be a fire risk if not managed appropriately Compliance with best practice guidelines for RRCs

To investigate economies of scale within the region Consolidation/rationalisation opportunities Advances in materials handling and transport efficiencies Emergence of product stewardship schemes for materials such as rubber (tyres) and mattresses may improve conditions for these commodities

MRF

Economies of scale Generally, more manual operations than automated processes in regional areas Able to secure volumes through MSW kerbside recycling contracts Market conditions Significant falls in commodities prices are impacting profitability (for example. plastics, metals and glass) Many commodities separated at MRFs may be dependent on export markets which have contracted in the last few years due to stricter controls on waste imports Management of emissions and amenity Main concerns are with odour and noise from operations Sustainability Separation and recovery of materials provides an environmental benefit

Increase volumes and utilise social enterprises Improve sorting efficiency and quality of recovered products (tied to the ability of the operator to secure MSW contracts and access capital) Increase volumes of recyclables by facilitating aggregation of C&I with existing MSW flows Reduce contamination (and associated disposal costs) through community and business education (Victorian Waste Education Strategy) The business model for MRF operators may change with ongoing commodity price risk Monitor end market conditions and their relationship to commodity prices


TABLE 23. FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUED

INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE



Reprocessor

Higher standards for the siting and operation of composting facilities Market conditions Products sold on include crushed concrete, asphalt, bricks, packaging, glass, metal, steel, aluminium cans, paper and cardboard, and plastics. Many of these markets have contracted in recent years A significant barrier to the growth of the organics waste industry has been the absence of mature markets (for example, broadacre agricultural, viticulture, horticulture) and sustainable prices for products45 The need to transport materials long distances to a reprocessor and their cost of handling may be greater than the market value, especially for aggregates, masonry and soil Consumers are often unwilling to pay the true cost of recovery, instead opting to use kerbside hard waste collections or seek lower rates at transfer stations There are limited opportunities for recovery and processing of textiles primarily because costs are high and the value of end products generally low Metals reprocessors are subject to fluctuations in overseas commodities prices for scrap metal End market conditions for organics are intrinsically linked to contamination and quality of end products and products designed for specific uses. Gross contamination from household waste remains an issue Economies of scale Access to high quantities of clean material is a key factor. Around two thirds of paper/cardboard is generated in the C&I sector. Tendering of MSW contracts can provide access to the remaining third of feedstock Management of emissions and amenity Noise and dust associated with reprocessing aggregates, masonry and soil can be an issue for facilities Stockpiling of material for reprocessing or illegal storage constitutes significant risks for surrounding communities and the reprocessing facility in terms of potential fire and the associated impacts on air and waterways. Recent changes in legislation have been made to prevent this occurring

In undertaking land use planning, it is important consideration is given to maintaining separation distances and compatible land uses to avoid site closure and restrictions to operations, and the need for significant facility upgrades There is a need to develop sustainable and viable markets (for example, for organics), rather than stockpiling material Expansion of existing garden waste kerbside services or new collection services in a number of councils, including potential introduction of food waste, may present an opportunity There is an opportunity to use compost and mulch as landfill rehabilitation and as a refuse derived fuel or as a feedstock for any future EfW facilities Paper/cardboard that is highly contaminated is also an option for EfW Pursue greater (kerbside and industry) garden/food waste collection and reprocessing Continue to investigate EfW opportunities Utilise social enterprise opportunities where viable Work with councils and VicRoads to seek opportunity for recycled materials to be utilised in civil projects Work underway within the industry to develop a product stewardship approach may influence recovery of mattresses Improving local markets is a focus of the newly formed Tyre Stewardship Australia

45 Sustainability Victoria 2015, Victorian Organics Resource Recovery Strategy



TABLE 23. FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUED

INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE



Landfill

Recent changes in regulation such as Landfill Best Practice Environmental Management (BPEM) and stricter licence conditions have had a significant impact on the cost of waste and resource recovery Financial Regulation Increased operational and compliance costs: The breakeven cost of landfill has risen significantly due to higher landfill design, post-closure management standards and increased landfill levies. Legacy issues: There may be a considerable delay between the newly introduced BPEM requirements and an overall reduction in environmental risk from landfill facilities Councils are increasingly recognising the benefits of transferring financial, operational and regulatory risk to the private sector by procuring waste services in line with strategic objectives Market conditions The challenges in some resource recovery markets continues to drive material being sent to landfill (for example timber, polystyrene and plastics) Management of emissions and amenity Amenity issues relating to odour and wind borne litter as well as the management of leachate. Odour complaints can peak from time to time, generally resulting from increased rainfall and poor management practices Compliance and monitoring requirements adds complexity and cost to landfill management but is generally aimed at improving environmental outcomes including managing greenhouse gas emissions The disposal of shredder floc is limited to one licensed landfill and the presence of oils and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the material offers some potential environmental risk

In undertaking land use planning, it is important consideration is given to maintaining separation distances (buffers) and compatible land uses to avoid site closure and restrictions to operations, and the need for significant facility upgrades The increasing costs of landfill construction and operational requirements is a potential opportunity that may favour local and regional resource recovery solutions To improve long-term planning and timing for cell development to reduce construction and design costs There is an opportunity to strategically review the waste delivery model in the region, as part of a wider plan to consolidate/privatise infrastructure Investigate opportunities to pre-sort materials prior to being sent to landfill Investigate improved whole-of-life costing of landfill Improving environmental management (particularly odour and litter) and community engagement Improving leachate management Co-location of resource recovery facilities in general at landfills should also be considered

Closed Landfill

Gap in financial assurance (Operating Landfills): The financial security (or funds set aside) by Councils to address the increasing compliance expenses and to cover the cost of remediation, rehabilitation and site post-closure management may be insufficient Duty holders, generally councils, bear the responsibility for complying with the EPA standard for rehabilitation.

The EPA has recently released updated guidelines for the calculation of financial assurance for landfill operators, which will, if implemented fully, ensure that landfill operators are making suitable provisions for long-term rehabilitation and post-closure management There is a need to ensure landfills are progressively rehabilitated using a risk-based approach


In summary, there are a number of other risks that affect the financial performance of the resource recovery sector and its related infrastructure and they include, but are not exclusive to

the cost of transport and transport logistics

sources of funding for infrastructure

private industry interest and investment in resource recovery

trends towards larger resource recovery contractors resulting in difficulty in developing local markets/opportunities

market and commodity prices and the overall dynamics, viability and potential failure of one or many of the material’s markets

waste service cost increases (for residents and council contracts)

commercial operators undercutting council operations

stockpiles and their management

infrastructure reaching capacity or asset failure

the capacity of facilities to match growth/expansion

the capacity of facilities to expand and accept new resource recovery material streams

variation in community support for material separation and waste initiatives.

There is a greater range of environmental benefits from resource recovery compared to landfilling. It may include the diversion of carbon-producing materials destined for landfill, which in turn reduces the volume of methane emissions from landfill.

Many factors influence the environmental performance of infrastructure, including the management of emissions, amenity, the post-closure rehabilitation of landfill sites and having a social licence to operate.

The management of emissions is a key factor affecting environmental performance and the resultant effect on local amenity is the biggest issue for a community. Odour is often linked to landfills and organic-reprocessing facilities. Most facilities may also be subject to noise and dust issues that are the result of operations within the site and from transport vehicles accessing the site. This is most evident with high-impact machinery that uses crushing and grinding processes.

Leachate generation at many landfill sites contributes to odour issues and the continuous treatment and discharge of leachate is an ongoing management challenge.

All duty holders and operators must ensure that they have an adequate compliance and monitoring framework to ensure their environmental performance is satisfactory. Utilising relevant guidelines assists operators to implement management controls, which are monitored accordingly through licences and independent site inspections.

The management and rehabilitation of closed landfills, acknowledging the extensive and undocumented history and associated costs, must reasonably ensure that the ongoing administration occurs with due consideration of the post closure standards required under the EP Act to protect the environment, human health and communities.

Local community attitudes to waste and resource recovery infrastructure are important in ensuring that sites have a social license to operate. Inappropriate siting, inadequate environmental protection, poor site management or other social amenity issues can all result in community pressures on existing or proposed infrastructure, potentially impacting on the regional infrastructure network. Therefore, to gain community acceptance of such sites may require a level of trust and mutual understanding to be developed between all parties.

The community must understand that waste and resource recovery is an essential service that must be located and operate in suitable locations for growing and changing populations.

GCWWRRG is working with landfill operators to find the best ways to engage with the local community on their operations and ensure there are open lines of communication between landfill operators and local communities to help improve acceptance of these sites.

The findings of the environmental and financial performance analysis were considered when determining the needs and opportunities and related actions for material streams and infrastructure types.

4.6 LAND USE PLANNING AND THE TRANSPORT NETWORK

4.6.1 LAND USE PLANNING The Planning and Environment Act 1987 establishes a framework for planning the use, development and protection of land in Victoria for the present and long-term interests of all Victorians.

The successful development and operation of resource recovery and waste facilities is highly dependent on the facilities being located in places which enable them to operate viably, with long-term certainty and in compliance with regulations without unduly impacting on local communities, human health and the environment. This dependency is highly linked to land-use planning.

It is critical that the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan aligns with all relevant planning policies, statutory planning controls, regional growth plans, precinct structure plans and strategic planning documents. GCWWRRG must continue to work closely with councils on appropriate land-use planning measures.

This will promote consistent decision-making by local councils and the state government and ensure waste and resource recovery facilities and hubs are planned and protected accordingly so that they can meet the region’s needs for the long term.

The instances where infrastructure provision will interact with land-use planning systems are where

the continued operation of existing infrastructure could become restricted by virtue of encroaching incompatible land uses

it is proposed to intensify or enlarge existing infrastructure

there is a projected need for specific infrastructure in a specific location



there is a projected need for additional infrastructure but the specific location is not known or is flexible

a planning scheme (or associated amendment) or other strategic planning document provides an opportunity for new waste and resource recovery infrastructure. For example, provision of industrial-zoned land with good separation distances from sensitive land uses.

The Victorian Planning Provisions (VPPs), upon which all Victorian planning schemes are based, require all stakeholders involved in planning, which includes councils, to consider a number of relevant statutory policies such as state environment protection and waste management policies as well as other state government policies relating to, or impacting on, waste management and resource recovery.

Clause 19.03-5 of the VPPs, which relates specifically to waste and resource recovery, identifies that it is an objective of planning in Victoria to avoid, minimise and generate less waste to reduce damage to the environment caused by waste, pollution, land degradation and unsustainable waste practices. This clause states that planning decision-makers must consider any relevant regional waste management plans such as the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

Sound strategic and statutory planning for the zoning of land will ensure waste hubs are protected from sensitive land uses and residential areas by sufficient buffers at an appropriate distance. The circumstances of each location will need to be considered in developing the most appropriate land use planning response. It is important to maintain buffer distances for current and future sites.

Securing strategic sites for waste and resource recovery facilities by reserving them under regional planning schemes or respective methods must be based on evidence. The schemes may ensure adequate land is available when and where it is needed for development of waste and resource recovery activities.

The strategic plans across the region have some consideration for waste and resource recovery infrastructure and associated planning; however, they should over time, and when reviewed, be strengthened to ensure all the principles and directions outlined in the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan and other publications such as the State Infrastructure Plan are embraced and included accordingly.

Specifically, GCWWRRG will

work with councils and state authorities to ensure they consider the Infrastructure Schedule in their strategic planning and can use a range of planning tools to align the schedule with the planning scheme

work with infrastructure proponents, councils and communities to ensure future infrastructure developments are in line with the Infrastructure Schedule, that best practice community engagement is demonstrated and that the proposed site is appropriately zoned and protected

work with councils, planning authorities, SV, EPA Victoria and communities to implement buffer protection measures around infrastructure sites considered to be important hubs

identify any existing or future sites where it is known or suspected that planning controls may need to be reviewed (for example, sites not in a commercial or industrial zone, or located close to residential areas) so as to facilitate the appropriate planning process.

4.6.2 THE TRANSPORT NETWORK The Transport Integration Act 2010 creates a framework for providing an integrated and sustainable transport system that contributes to an inclusive, prosperous and environmentally responsible state.

The road network across the region connects key regional cities and rural communities and includes a major interstate route. Respective local road networks in the vicinity of waste and resource recovery facilities must be suitable to cope with current and future demand to and from relevant sites. Most facilities in the region have adequate access, with little or no congestion, but continual upgrade is required.

Transport is a significant cost and challenge to reprocessors as much of the material that is reprocessed in the region has to be transported large distances. Economies of scale and distance to travel may be a barrier to implementing cross regional initiatives and programs, where the benefits are outweighed by the costs of transporting materials from small populations across extensive distances. Another barrier is the competition from higher-value products which command higher freight pricing.

Innovation and new technologies will provide opportunities to develop partnerships within the region or with other regions to ensure there are sufficient volumes to ensure financial viability or the development of micro-solutions that are better suited to small populations. Consequently, planning now considers transport and logistic efficiencies to ensure that optimal outcomes are achieved for all.

Due to safety concerns and public amenity, the management of traffic volumes in, around and between waste and resource recovery facilities must be considered and implemented to the best practicable extent.

The hours of operations, vehicle noise, road grime (mud/dust), increased cost of road maintenance, and movement of trucks on local roads may be a concern to local residents and councils. Planning and the introduction of controls can alleviate many of these problems such as upgrading roads, restricting operating hours and speeds, careful location of access points, infrastructure to reduce mud and dust, and traffic management.

The Grampians Central West transport network is focussed on road transport as the major mode of transportation, but concedes that the region could be better connected to other transport options both within and external to the Grampians Central West region such as rail and ports.


It is acknowledged that any alternative methods to reduce transport costs and impacts, such as rail, would require significant capital investment to set up the appropriate infrastructure and logistics.

Transport costs are critical factors in considering the viability of recovering a number of material streams and that viability is tested when transport costs (to the reprocessor and to the end user) may exceed the cost of reprocessing or the value of the products. Heavy

organic material is affected by transport costs. Lighter or bulky material, such as mattresses and polystyrene, are also impacted by transport inefficiencies.

The dual challenge of distance and low populations for the western part of the region means that local reprocessing facilities find it harder to achieve suitable economies of scale for the collection, sorting and reprocessing of many materials, and may no longer be financially viable46.

TABLE 24. COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLANS AND CHALLENGES, NEEDS AND OPORTUNITIES

COUNCIL CURRENT SITUATION CHALLENGES, NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Ararat Rural City Council Ararat Economic Strategy 2014 Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 2014

Western Highway duplication Regional rail linkage Renewable energy hub Proximity to Ballarat Industrial development sites Strong manufacturing sector


Central Goldfields Workforce Development Strategy Loddon Mallee Regional Growth Plan 2014

Close proximity to Ballarat and Bendigo Established workforce Steady population growth

City of Ballarat

IBM Smarter Cities Report The Ballarat Strategy Ballarat West Employment Zone Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 2014

Major regional centre Major rail and road transport routes Significant industrial activity Planning for new industrial precincts and

employment zones Population growth area Proximity to major cities of Melbourne and

Geelong

Golden Plains Shire Council Golden Plains Economic Development Strategy Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 2014 G21 Regional Growth Plan 2013

Population growth area Populations generally based towards Geelong

and Ballarat Comparative advantage in agricultural sector

Hepburn Shire Council Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 2014 Strong tourism sector Diverse population Proximity to Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo

Hindmarsh Shire Council Hindmarsh Economic Development Strategy Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan 2014

Strong agricultural sector Road and rail transport infrastructure Decreasing and aging population

Horsham Rural City Council Wimmera Development Association Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan 2014

Regional hub Strong agricultural sector Road and rail transport infrastructure

Moorabool Shire Council Growing Moorabool Strategy Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 2014

Population growth area Populations generally based towards

Melbourne and Ballarat Comparative advantage in agricultural sector


Municipal Strategic Statement Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan 2014

Strong agricultural sector Strong tourism sector Road and rail transport infrastructure Static population

46 Sustainability Victoria/SRU 2015 Survey and analysis of regional re-processors and materials recovery facility operators

– Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Regional Report.



TABLE 24. COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLANS AND CHALLENGES, NEEDS AND OPORTUNITIES continued

COUNCIL CURRENT SITUATION CHALLENGES, NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Pyrenees Shire Council Pyrenees Shire Growth Strategy Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 2014

Strong agricultural sector Industrial land zone Duplicated Western Highway Rail infrastructure Decreasing and aging population

West Wimmera Shire Council West Wimmera Economic Development Strategy Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan 2014



Yarriambiack Economic Development and Tourism Strategy Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan 2014


Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) and Transport Planning

The BWEZ is the region’s engine room for jobs and economic growth over the next 20 years.

Stage 1 of the BWEZ is being developed by the Victorian Government and the City of Ballarat and is supported by $30.2 million of funding. It includes

an initial release of up to 60.1 hectares of industrial land in flexible lot sizes to suit a range of business needs

the construction of the main boulevard entry road and internal roads within Stage 1

the provision of all services including, gas, electricity, water, sewerage, data and telecommunications.

The Stage 1 subdivision works commenced in November 2015 and are targeted for completion mid-2016. The first land sale in Stage 1 was completed in October 2015 with Broadbent Grain, purchasing a site of 10.7 hectares for the construction of a $24 million export grain-handling facility.

The Ballarat Link Road Stage 1A is complete and has opened. The precinct shall also comprise a freight hub with a 24-hectare land release supported by High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV) ready roads, and its location is only one kilometre from the Western Freeway, which will enable quicker access to rail, ports and airports.

The BWEZ Freight Hub is zoned for

freight and logistics, warehousing or wholesale

manufacturing – for example, food and fibre, beverages, agricultural value-adding.

The BWEZ Freight Hub is an excellent location for freight and logistics enterprises. They should be able to capitalise on exceptional access to road, broad-gauge rail and aviation infrastructure at a strategic location within the freight network that links Melbourne, regional and rural Victoria, Adelaide and the Ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Portland.

The freight hub will have customers on its doorstep and connectivity with the wider region supported by

road, rail and intermodal transport operations that include truck parking, weighbridge and other public or shared facilities

freight handling, storage, de-consolidation and consolidation activities including containerisation of goods

manufacturing activities producing significant quantities of outbound or inbound freight that could benefit from access to the freight hub.

Source: http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/project/ballarat-west-employment-zone/

Major Projects Website – Victorian Government


4.7 MARKET SOUNDING (REQUEST FOR INFORMATION) AND INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULING

The Grampians Central West and Barwon South West WRRGs undertook a joint regional Market Sounding (Request for Information) process, together with a resource recovery scheduling application and evaluation process, to inform the development of this plan (including the infrastructure schedule). In total, 21 proponents (organisations) made submissions, proposing infrastructure to include in the schedule; eight were deemed to be both applicable and suitable for inclusion in the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

It is acknowledged that additional unidentified waste sector operators/providers may exist or have an interest in operating in the region but did not respond to the market sounding process. The opportunity for them to have input occurred through the consultation process for this plan.

Following a detailed evaluation process by an independent panel, seven proposals were recommended for inclusion in the infrastructure schedule plus one existing facility to be scheduled, which are listed in Table 27 as well as being detailed in Section 6.

There were two additional proposals listed in Table 28 for facilities to service the Grampians Central West region, but as they were not located within the region, they have not been included in the infrastructure schedule. these facilities are located in the adjacent Barwon South West region and their operations are for materials that are currently not readily reprocessed within the Grampians Central West region.

TABLE 25. INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULING APPLICATION PROCESS (RESOURCE RECOVERY)

PROPONENTS LOCATION TYPE OF PROPOSALS DESCRIPTION PRODUCTS

Australian Renewable Energy Parks

Maryborough New infrastructure Energy from waste facility Energy

Ararat Rural City Council Ararat Existing Facility with changed or expanding waste and/or resource recovery.

Upgrade Transfer Station facilities to accommodate further materials for resource recovery

Multiple materials including polystyrene

Calleja (Maddingley Brown Coal)

Bacchus Marsh Existing Facility with changed or expanding waste and/or resource recovery.

Expansion of organics processing and C&D waste processing

Organics, C&D


Flagstaff New infrastructure Land for potential energy from waste facility

Energy

Golden Plains Shire Council Rokewood Existing Facility with changed or expanding waste and/or resource recovery.

Processing of organics on a closed landfill site

Organics Garden

Horsham Rural City Council Horsham Transfer Station

Existing Facility with changed or expanding waste and/or resource recovery.

Upgrade Transfer Station N/A


St Arnaud Existing Facility with changed or expanding waste and/or resource recovery.

Landfill closure and transfer Station upgrade

N/A

Pyrenees Shire Council Carranballac / Crowlands

Existing Existing facilities to be scheduled

N/A

Source: Barwon South West and Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Market Sounding – Evaluation Report, Landell 2016

TABLE 26. INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULING APPLICATION PROCESS (RESOURCE RECOVERY): RECOMMENDED PROPOSALS TO SERVICE THE REGION

PROPONENTS LOCATION TYPE OF PROPOSALS DESCRIPTION PRODUCTS

Sustainable Clean Energy Little River New infrastructure

Facility to treat tyres, mattresses, plastic, treated timber, grease trap waste via pyrolysis

Energy

The Mattress Recycler Moolap

Existing Facility with changed or expanded waste and/or resource recovery

Diversion of mattresses and lounge suites from landfill

Metals, fabrics, foam and timber for further processing.

Source: Barwon South West and Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Market Sounding – Evaluation Report, Landell 2016

RISK AND CONTINGENCY

PLANNING


5. RISK AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING WRRGs are required to factor risk and contingency planning into the assessment of landfill and waste recovery needs. Industry and councils are required to factor risk management into their waste and resource recovery planning, management and operations.

Planning for, and allocating contingency allowances, ensures that sufficient recovery, reprocessing or landfill capacity is available if an adverse or emergency event occurs, new waste and resource recovery infrastructure is not delivered, or if existing infrastructure becomes unavailable.

Contingency planning is required for the following potential scenarios:

An adverse environmental event, within, near or outside of the region, such as a flood or bushfire, which may produce large quantities of waste requiring immediate disposal (or to be recovered) at short notice, may disrupt collection systems or limit access to facilities.

An adverse event that closes a landfill in the short term. Examples include police operations, on-site fires, equipment failure, extreme wind/rain events and on-site accidents.

Closure of significant waste and resource recovery infrastructure (for example, through emergency event/industry or business failure).

Failure of the landfill industry to progressively plan for the development of existing sites (for example, landfill cells) to meet contractual and industry demands

Delays in the planning and development of proposed facilities against expected timeframes, resulting in non-commissioning or abandonments of such developments entirely.

Failure of existing reprocessors to obtain required planning permits and/or works approvals.

Failure of industry to operate, monitor and report landfill as permitted, licensed and/or contracted, which can inadvertently result in immediate closure and/or stockpiling of materials

A biosecurity event or incursion47, such as

o agricultural or veterinary chemical contamination of livestock or agricultural produce

o exotic animal disease outbreaks (including in fish and bees)

o plant pest or disease outbreaks (including plague locusts)

o invasive plant and animal incursions

o rapid and significant increases in established pest populations (vertebrate pests and plagues)

that would require limitations to be placed on the movement of respective materials or on-site treatment processes.

47 Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources 2016 Part 7: Emergency Management Manual Victoria Emergency Management Agency Roles

Such an event may require the controlled disposal of mass mortalities which may place pressure on landfill capacity. The aftermath may result in significant economic and reputational damage to high-value industries if not managed appropriately in an integrated way.

Any event that would close major transport routes/links (noting this would also have wide-reaching impacts on the broader transport network, community and economy).

5.1 CONTINGENCY PLANNING – LANDFILL

Emergency events and disasters can create an immediate need to safely dispose of large quantities of waste in landfill sites. In these circumstances, if there is not enough landfill to meet supply, serious environmental and human health impacts may eventuate. Not having available airspace would be expected to slow the management of a clean-up effort and could cause significant delays in the demolition and removal of debris. This could potentially risk human and environmental health in both the short term and long term.

There are operational challenges to providing contingency airspace in the case of an emergency event. Sites with available airspace that are scheduled to accept the type of waste produced may not be readily able to receive the waste at short notice nor have the capacity internally to manage it. This may be due to procurement delays, contractual obligations, restrictions in cell airspace availability and availability of plant and equipment to work and prepare the landfill. However, in general, there is a sufficient geographic distribution of landfills across the region with the capacity to accept material. If required, this would need to occur at the EPA’s discretion to ensure disposal requirements can be managed at short notice.

GCWWRRG has developed guidelines for developing a disaster waste management plan for councils. A statewide waste and resource recovery contingency planning group has been proposed that would include stakeholders such as EPA, DELWP, SV and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) to further investigate the waste management requirements caused by emergency events and the process of decision-making regarding waste management. The Grampians Central West Disaster Management Plan for Waste will be updated to reflect the outcomes of this work.



5.2 RISKS – RESOURCE RECOVERY

The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan relies on the progressive development of new resource recovery infrastructure (approved and constructed in a timely manner) to lessen the reliance on landfill as outlined in Section 6. If required infrastructure is not established, continuing landfill disposal options may be required. To mitigate this risk, GCWWRRG intends to undertake a review in three to five years, which will include an assessment of council commitments, and a report on the progress of alternative waste treatment technology in order to gauge the likelihood of the delivery of new infrastructure as planned.

The EP Act and the complementary Waste Management Policy on Landfill document promote resource recovery rather than disposal. However, in managing landfill capacity, the infrastructure schedule must allow for additional capacity to provide flexibility and ensure additional contingency airspace capacity is available if and when needed. This plan has taken this into consideration as outlined in Section 6.

There are a number of risks that affect the financial and environmental performance of the resource recovery sector and its related infrastructure and these are outlined in Section 4.5. All of the priority actions contained in the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan will monitor the risk situation and guide how GCWWRRG might assist and/or intervene accordingly to reduce and minimise some of the risks that are listed in Table 29.

5.3 CONTINGENCY PLANNING – RESOURCE RECOVERY

This plan outlines the contingencies in place in the region for a range of circumstances. A risk-based approach was used to identify the potential scenarios for which contingency measures may be required, some of which are shared across the state. Some contingency (or mitigation) measures are similar across the state, whilst others are specific to the Grampians Central West region.

GCWWRRG utilises a risk management framework for organisational risk and has integrated these broader risks into this framework.

Mitigation strategies have only been developed for the 10-year life of the plan. Risk rankings are based on risks at the time of writing the plan. Risks are likely to change as mitigation strategies are implemented over time and circumstances change.


TABLE 27. GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN RISK REGISTER

RISK CAUSE(S) POTENTIAL IMPACT MITIGATION STRATEGY MITIGATION ADDRESSED

IN PLAN? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

RISK STATUS

Failure (negative change) of markets for end products from recovered materials Similarly, markets may fail to develop as expected

Immature markets (the demand for many products from organic materials is still developing)

Variable feedstock low viability and demand market price fluctuations products not meeting updated

specifications or standards changes in costs to bring

products to market changes in perception of

products competition, etc.

Can vary from short-term stockpiling to changes in the acceptance of materials, resulting in disposal to landfill and higher costs

Increased cost Recovery rate Compliance action Environmental impact Reputational risk Products may not meet needs

or expectations

The Victorian Market Development Strategy for Recovered Resources outlines the statewide approach

Work with industry and state government to develop local markets; monitor use of new technologies

Y WRRGs support the

uptake of recovered materials within the region

High

A facility/infrastructure fails or closes unexpectedly or is no longer available Landfill/s unable to accept waste

The waste system on which the region depends can fail if one element of the chain is disrupted without notice. This could include: Service contractor goes into

administration Key transport route or

accessible thoroughfare (bridge) is unavailable

Service disruption due to dispute

Landfill or key facility closure due to fire, flood, biohazard or other event

Regulatory issue

Market or business failure

Episodic climatic events

Cell timing of construction and approvals

Increased cost and additional resources to overcome impact situation

Recovery rate decline; Compliance action and time to comply

Environmental impact; Reputational risk (political and/or commercial)

Public and business inconvenience

Time delays in servicing, collection, transport and delivery

Investigate/establish if alternative options exist so that the region is not dependant on one company/facility

Alternative arrangements for key waste management activities may be identified and reflected in service contracts

Adequate capacity and availability of landfill is considered as part of the region’s Infrastructure Schedule development and its regular review

Divert waste to other landfill Engage with owner/operator

and regulator

Y

Councils (or businesses where relevant), establish contracts with suitable clauses

WRRGs work with councils at tendering stage and support inclusion of relevant clauses in tender specification documents and contracts

WRRGs may need to undertake an initial review of the inclusion of such arrangements may be required

WRRGs and stakeholders consider potential contingency measures when scheduling and undertake an annual contingency plan review

High

Financial viability of regional landfills

Increasing development, operational and rehabilitation costs are making small-medium landfills unviable

Increased cost of sending waste elsewhere

Divert waste to alternative landfills Y

Councils to be conscious of changing markets and facility viability.

Medium



TABLE 27. GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN RISK REGISTER CONTINUED



RISK STATUS

Ability to deal with emergency events

Emergency events include but are not limited to: natural disasters such as flood,

fire chemical spills biosecurity incursions

resulting in significant volumes of waste to be disposed of

Can impact the waste system and services at a sub-regional, regional or even statewide level

A sudden and increased volume of waste requiring disposal following an emergency event is typically required and additional landfill airspace may be required for the short-term

Increase in waste sent to landfill reducing cell life capacity, alternative transport to other facilities required; potential health impacts

The utilisation of this airspace can impact on capacity availability in the region beyond the event

Work with state government departments (EPA, DELWP, EMV) to further investigate the waste requirements caused by emergency events

Enhance guidelines for Developing a Disaster Waste Management Plan

Determine options for the diversion of waste during an emergency

State Emergency Plans, prepared by the Victoria State Emergency Service, could consider potential waste needs and agreed options for management and be informed be statewide annual contingency planning process

Municipal Emergency Management Plans (MEMPs) should include local responses for waste management and disposal options as they are updated

Following emergency events, changes to the projected fill rate of utilised landfills should be monitored and inform discussions with operator re changes to timing of applications for approvals and annual contingency planning, as relevant

Y

EMV coordinates this process

SV can facilitate links between the EMV and annual contingency planning undertaken by WRRGs

Councils (with others) prepare the MEMPs

WRRGs support councils to include waste management as relevant

WRRGs monitor changes to landfill sequencing as a result from events (in or beyond the region) and take action as appropriate

High





RISK STATUS

Poor planning impacting on waste and resource recovery infrastructure

Waste and resource recovery infrastructure not well located

Not supported in local planning schemes

Urban or sensitive use encroachment

Change in demographic Inadequate buffer zones Proponents extending

operations without consideration of planning requirements

Increased cost Stockpiling Environmental risk Community

opposition/complaints

Work with councils on advancing their respective planning schemes, growth areas, precinct structure plans,

Effective community engagement

Adequate buffers appropriately reflected in local planning schemes to maintain required distances and reduce impacts on community

Y

Councils/planning authorities play a critical role in preserving and maintaining buffers

WRRGs work with councils to support use of available planning tools to protect buffers (such as those being identified through the Local Buffer Support Program)

WRRGs support establishment of statewide approach to buffers and integration of the regional plans in the Victorian planning system

Medium

Policies or regulations not producing desired outcomes

Regulatory failure Failure to meet strategic

direction Increased cost

Work across state government to ensure policies are clear and realistic

Y

WRRGS work with councils/industry to inform and advocate for any future policies or regulations

Medium

State or federal regulatory schemes and stewardship programs do not adequately consider regional implications

Regulatory failure Planning to manage legislative

change

Failure to meet strategic direction

Increased transport costs Inadequate budgets to manage

infrastructure and resource requirements

Stockpiling

Work with relevant government bodies to ensure schemes consider all impacts

Y

WRRGS work with councils/industry to inform and advocate for any future schemes and stewardship programs

Low

Significant increases in transport costs

Increased fuel prices based upon global oil prices

Taxes or freight fees

Increased cost Recovery rate Market failure Reputational risk Stockpiling

Identify alternative options where possible

Improve waste aggregation and transport efficiencies

Y High

Contravention of competition law

Failure to notify ACCC of collaborative exercises

Contravention of competition law

Fine

Competition law assessment Legal advice Encourage Councils to notify

ACCC

Y Councils Medium






RISK STATUS

Adaptiveness of infrastructure and services to climate change

Climate change will place additional pressure on the waste and resource recovery system with more extreme weather events, such as heat waves and rain events

Climate change and episodic climatic events may restrict opening hours of facilities, reduce the functionality of facilities or impact on collection systems

Potential impacts on the system to be understood and managed Y

WRRGs and the portfolio to work with Councils, government, industry to identify risks

Medium

Infrastructure planning and delivery timeframe delay

Delays in planning and/or approvals, construction or non-compliance to regulations

The region’s waste management system may rely on significant new or expanded infrastructure becoming available at key points in time

May result in infrastructure not being available when required such as additional transport costs to go to another facility, reduced resource recovery because waste goes to landfill, etc.

Continuous communication with regulatory authorities

Facility operators commence planning, procuring and construction with adequate time allowances

Regular (annual) monitoring of the progress of infrastructure planning and delivery (including individual landfill cells) to identify potential timing risks to be addressed

Y

Facility operators are responsible

WRRGs support operators to commence planning and communication in adequate timeframes

Continuous liaison with the EPA and planning authorities

WRRGs inform each other regarding unexpected delays that may have implications

WRRGs liaise with operators regarding progress of planning infrastructure to inform annual contingency planning

Low





RISK STATUS

Inadequate social license to operate

This may occur due to: encroachment of sensitive uses

into buffers resulting in impacted communities

changes in operations that do not meet regulatory requirements

changes in expectations and community amenity, such as noise, odour, dust, vibrations, etc.

Planned or existing facilities are impacted by changing community attitudes and inadequate social license to operate, reducing capacity to operate, expand or establish

Operators undertake effective community engagement at key facilities and in other facilities during periods of change

Adequate buffers appropriately reflected in local planning schemes to maintain required distances and reduce impacts on community

Y

Operators are responsible for establishing and maintaining a social licence for facilities

WRRGs facilitate operators’ use of available tools to engage effectively

Council as planning authorities play a critical role in preserving and maintaining buffers

WRRGs work with Council to support use of available planning tools to protect buffers (such as those being identified through the Local Buffer Support Program)

WRRGs support establishment of statewide approach to buffers and integration of the regional plans in the Victorian planning system

Medium

Notes: Risk Status has been developed utilising a Risk Matrix, Consequence and Likelihood Table.

INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULE


6. INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULE

The EP Act requires that a schedule be developed of the existing and required waste and resource recovery infrastructure within the region. The purpose of a schedule is to holistically plan for the management of waste and, where viable, make infrastructure decisions that prioritise resource recovery over sending waste to landfill.

This schedule enables strategic planning to be undertaken to identify the gaps in the existing infrastructure required to meet the strategic objectives for the Grampians Central West region and plan for future needs. In developing this schedule, GCWWRRG worked with the other WRRGs to ensure consistency and alignment with the infrastructure schedules across the state.

This schedule has been developed with reference to the Ministerial Guideline Making, Amending and Integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans48, and the SV document, Outline of Process: Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Scheduling49.

The schedule consists of two parts:

Part A: Resource recovery infrastructure

The purpose of Part A of the Infrastructure Schedule is to identify where existing resource recovery and reprocessing infrastructure in the region is currently located (Table 31) and the potential future requirements for resource recovery and reprocessing infrastructure (Table 32).

The information contained in Part A is aimed at informing future planning, including land use planning on where land should be made available to conduct and, where appropriate, expand current resource recovery activities and establish new facilities. This is to ensure appropriate land use planning is undertaken to minimise the impact of these activities on the environment, human health and amenity of the surrounding community.

Part B: Landfill infrastructure

The purpose of Part B of the Infrastructure Schedule is to ensure that there is an adequate amount of landfill capacity planned to ensure the safe and sanitary disposal of residual wastes for at least the next 10 years.

48 Ministerial Guideline: Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2014

Part B lists the current and future landfill needs, including where current landfill activities are undertaken (Table 33), the proposed sequence for the filling of available landfill sites for at least the next 10 years and their intended or likely date of closure (Table 34), along with closed landfills and their respective rehabilitation status (Table 35).

Whilst Part B of this schedule only includes landfill capacity in the Grampians Central West region, it has been developed in consideration of waste flows that may enter this region from other regions within the state. The landfill component of the Infrastructure Schedule is designed to enable appropriate buffers to be defined, which will facilitate sound planning decisions for land development in the vicinity of any new landfills that are listed in the schedule.

It should be noted that listing a site or general location in this schedule does not imply or guarantee that the location or site will be developed. Relevant planning and regulatory approvals need to be granted before the infrastructure can be developed.

Future reviews of this plan (including landfill needs assessments) may identify that the need and or location of future resource recovery and landfill infrastructure listed in the schedule is no longer the preferred option for the region. If this is the case, then the schedule will be amended.

Aligning the infrastructure schedule with planning schemes

Aligning this plan with relevant local planning schemes is important to achieve the objectives of the framework. Considering the “agent of change principle”, the following steps will facilitate this alignment for new infrastructure. Current infrastructure has the benefit of existing use rights.

1. Inform councils

Advise councils in the Grampians Central West region that the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan (and its Infrastructure Schedule) is the Plan referred to in Clause 19.03-5 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and that councils should give it due consideration when exercising their planning responsibilities.

2. Facilitate planning approvals

Work with relevant councils and proponents to inform and facilitate planning approvals, where required, to implement new or expanded infrastructure.

3. Facilitate effective buffers

Work with councils to resolve encroachment of sensitive uses into buffers for existing infrastructure.

49 Outline of Process: Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Scheduling, Sustainability Victoria 2015



TABLE 28. LAND USE PLANNING AND WASTE PLANNING FRAMEWORK INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORISATION

SWRRIP and Regional Plan Infrastructure Type

Victorian Planning Provision (VPP) Definitions (Clause 74) Clause 52.10

REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE Other reprocessors INDUSTRY - Materials Recycling

Land used to collect, dismantle, treat, process, store, recycle, or sell, used or surplus materials

Advanced resource recovery technology facility Commercial and Industrial materials recycling Construction and demolition materials recycling Used metals treatment or processing Used paper and cardboard treatment or processing Used plastics treatment or processing Other resource recovery or recycling operations

REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE Organic reprocessing facility

Composting and other organics materials recycling

REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE Waste to energy facility

Renewable Energy Facility Land used to generate energy using resources that can be rapidly replaced by an ongoing natural process. Renewable energy resources include the sun, wind, the ocean, water flows, organic matter and the earth’s heat. It includes any building or other structure or thing used in or in connection with the generation of energy by a renewable resource. It does not include a renewable energy facility principally used to supply energy for an existing use of the land

Combustion, treatment or bio-reaction of waste to produce energy

RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE Resource Recovery Centres/ Transfer Stations (RRC/TS)

INDUSTRY – Transfer Station Land use to collect, consolidate, temporarily store, sort or recover refuse or use materials before transfer for disposal or use elsewhere

Refuse and used material storage, sorting and recovery in a transfer station: Accepting organic wastes; Other

RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) DISPOSAL INFRASTRUCTURE - Landfill INDUSTRY – Refuse Disposal

Land used to dispose of refuse, by landfill, incineration or other means

Sanitary and garbage disposal in landfill DISPOSAL INFRASTRUCTURE – Incinerator #

Notes: Clause 74 of the VPP lists terms used in relation to the use of land. All waste and resource recovery activities are nested under the headline use of ‘Industry’, Clause 52.10 lists uses with amenity impacts, some of which are relevant to the waste and resource recovery activities # Disposal Infrastructure – Incinerator: This infrastructure type was not considered in the development of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan or this Schedule.


FIGURE 14. INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULING PROCESS5051

50 Ministerial Guideline: Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2014

51 Sustainability Victoria 2015, Outline of Process: Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Scheduling.

Regional assessment of Infrastructure Options Identification of the most suitable options for the management of the projected waste and material streams in the region

Collection of data and assessment of the current and projected waste and material streams generated and managed in the regions including: The collection of regional data from industry and

councils Projections of tonnes likely to be managed in the

region in line with the statewide projection modelling

Collection of data and assessment of the current infrastructure and its capacity to manage the projected waste and material streams in the region including: Consultation with industry to estimate current capacity Estimation of current and future capacity at exiting landfill

sites Identifying and mapping current infrastructure

Identification and assessment of the options to manage projected waste and material streams that best meets the priorities of the region and support an integrated statewide system including: Maximising the ability to divert materials from landfill for viable recovery Consultation with the industry to identify future options such as a market

sounding process Consideration of infrastructure in other regions

Scheduling resource recovery infrastructure The scheduling of resource recovery infrastructure that is, or could be expected

to be, undertaking recovery activities in the region

Assessment of the capacity of existing landfills to meet the airspace needs of the region for the scheduling period including: Consideration of the likely diversion rate of waste from

landfill for viable recovery (determined in stage 1) Consideration of the land use planning and EPA works

approval status of identified landfill airspace Consideration of landfill airspace available in other regions Identification of any remaining gap:

o No gap was identified in the Grampians Central West region

The type, location and general information on

current resource recovery infrastructure

in the region

Scheduling landfill infrastructure The schedule of landfill airspace that provided the best options to meet

the projected needs of the reign over the scheduling period

The type and general location of new

infrastructure likely to be needed by the

region

Sequencing of fill of the scheduled landfill airspace to meet the needs of

the regional over the scheduling period

Schedule of all existing operational landfills in the

region



PART A. RESOURCE RECOVERY INFRASTRUCTURE TABLE 29. EXISTING RESOURCE RECOVERY AND REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE

SITE NAME OWNER / OPERATOR GIS

LOCATION ADDRESS TOWN / SUBURB COUNCIL

PRINCIPAL MATERIAL STREAM

ACCEPTED52 Resource Recovery Drop-off Facility

Carranballac Drop-off Pyrenees Shire Council -37.700261 143.161541

Darlington Carranballac Road Carranballac Pyrenees Shire Council Domestic sources

Crowlands Drop-off Pyrenees Shire Council -37.146136 143.115156

Spring Flat Road Crowlands Pyrenees Shire Council Domestic sources

Kiata Depot Hindmarsh Shire Council -36.364485 141.786363

Reserve Road Kiata Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic sources

Netherby Depot Hindmarsh Shire Council -36.106224 141.642858

Netherby Baker Road Netherby Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic sources

Yanac Depot Hindmarsh Shire Council -36.126679 141.452183

Netherby Yanac Road Yanac Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic sources

Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) or Transfer Station (TS)

Apsley Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -36.974928 141.070452

Off Apsley - Langkoop Road Apsley West Wimmera Shire Council

Domestic sources, Solid Inert

Ararat Resource Recovery Centre Ararat Rural City Council -37.297078 142.929638

Surface Hill Road Ararat Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

Avoca Transfer Station Pyrenees Shire Council -37.087216 143.482997

Russell Street Avoca Pyrenees Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

Bacchus Marsh Transfer Station Moorabool Shire Council -37.691544 144.423131

Moore Street South Bacchus Marsh Moorabool Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

Ballan Transfer Station Moorabool Shire Council -37.60205

144.269757 Montville Lane Ballan Moorabool Shire Council


Ballarat Regional Industries Ballarat Regional Industries -37.516269 143.804161

6 Neerim Crescent Wendouree City of Ballarat Paper / Cardboard

Ballarat Scrap Metal and Recycling Ballarat Scrap Metal and Recycling

-37.589066 143.827465

8-18 Kossuth Street Sebastopol City of Ballarat Metals

Ballarat Transfer Station City of Ballarat -37.566292 143.814864

Gillies Street Ballarat City of Ballarat Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

Bealiba Transfer Station Central Goldfields Shire Council

-36.794912 143.547063

Whitehills Road Bealiba Central Goldfields Shire Council


Beaufort Transfer Station Pyrenees Shire Council -37.42504 143.39575

Racecourse Road Beaufort Pyrenees Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

52 Further information on waste and material streams accepted and managed at the facility can be found on the respective Council or Company website.


TABLE 29. EXISTING RESOURCE RECOVERY AND REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE continued



PRINCIPAL MATERIAL STREAM53

Beulah Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre

Yarriambiack Shire Council -35.931123 142.441291

Birchip - Rainbow Road Beulah Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Carisbrook Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


-37.064722 143.791748

Potts Lane Carisbrook Central Goldfields Shire Council


Chetwynd Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -37.278912 141.382666

Chetwynd Cemetery Road Chetwynd West Wimmera Shire Council


Creswick Transfer Station and Resale Centre

Hepburn Shire Council -37.414729 143.886057

32 Anne Street (off Ring Road) Creswick Hepburn Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Daylesford Transfer Station and Resale Centre


Ajax Road Daylesford Hepburn Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

Dergholm Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -37.368648 141.218439

Off Casterton - Naracoorte Road Dergholm West Wimmera Shire Council


Downes Recycling Downes Recycling -37.274516 142.935056

2 McLean Street Ararat Ararat Rural City Council Paper / Cardboard

Dimboola Transfer Station Hindmarsh Shire Council -36.441219 142.020489

Dimboola - Warracknabeal Road Dimboola Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

Dunolly Second-hand Timber Yard Dunolly Demolition Salvage -36.872558 143.749033

96 - 1060 Betley Road Dunolly Central Goldfields Shire Council

Wood / Timber

Dunolly Transfer Station Central Goldfields Shire Council

-36.88062 143.751477

Maryborough Dunolly Road Dunolly Central Goldfields Shire Council


Edenhope Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -37.038263 141.279649

Moss Street Edenhope West Wimmera Shire Council


Goroke Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -36.721414 141.465108

Kylie Street Goroke West Wimmera Shire Council


Grampians Recycling Grampians Recycling -37.052389 142.764994

9 Haughton Street Stawell Northern Grampians Shire Council

Paper / Cardboard

Halls Gap Transfer Station Northern Grampians Shire Council

-37.130377 142.544589

4300 Ararat - Halls Gap Road Halls Gap Northern Grampians Shire Council


Harrow Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -37.135337 141.594073

Off Nhill / Harrow Road Harrow West Wimmera Shire Council


Hopetoun Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


Hopetoun - Yaapeet Rd Hopetoun Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Horsham Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre

Horsham Rural City Council -36.741434 142.190929

Kenny Road Horsham Horsham Rural City Council


Jeparit Transfer Station Hindmarsh Shire Council -36.130898 141.99624

Jeparit East Road Jeparit Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert

53 More information on materials managed at facilities such as RRC/TS sites can be found on respective Council websites







Jung Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


Jung Recreation Reserve Road Jung Horsham Rural City Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Kaniva Transfer Station West Wimmera Shire Council -36.384723 141.225702

South Lillimur Road Kaniva West Wimmera Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Kings Marine Stores Kings Marine Stores -37.570212 143.851089

Corner South and Skipton Streets Ballarat City of Ballarat Metals

Landsborough Transfer Station Pyrenees Shire Council -37.023621 143.1248

Ararat St and St Arnaud Road Landsborough Pyrenees Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Manhari Metals Manhari Metals -36.737979 142.204591

52 Henty Highway (Hamilton Road) Horsham Horsham Rural City Council Metals

Minyip Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


Minyip - Rich Avon Road Minyip Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Mt Egerton Transfer Station Moorabool Shire Council -37.631535 144.106686

Corner Ballan Egerton Road and Yendon Egerton Road

Mount Egerton Moorabool Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Mt Zero (Laharum) Transfer Station and Resource Recovery


Wonwondah - Dadswells Bridge Road (SW Corner Winfields Road)

Laharum Horsham Rural City Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Murtoa Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


Murtoa - Rupanyup Road Murtoa Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Nhill Transfer Station Hindmarsh Shire Council -36.318595 141.663464

Netherby Road Nhill Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Onesteel Recycling Onesteel (Arrium Limited) -37.52725

143.847137 5 - 7 Coronet Street Wendouree City of Ballarat Metals

Paper Freight Australia Paper Freight Australia -37.535915 143.813114

28 Grandlee Drive Wendouree City of Ballarat Paper /

Cardboard Pimpinio Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Facility


Banyena Road Pimpinio Horsham Rural City Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Quantong Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


SW Corner Hutchinson Road and Lanes Avenue

Quantong Horsham Rural City Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Rainbow Transfer Station Hindmarsh Shire Council -35.908306 141970568

Off Rainbow - Nhill Road (Rainbow Rises Road)

Rainbow Hindmarsh Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Rokewood Transfer Station Golden Plains Shire Council -37.912242 143.714996

Meadows Road Rokewood Golden Plains Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert

Rupanyup Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


Dyer Street Rupanyup Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic, Solid Inert







Snake Valley Transfer Station Pyrenees Shire Council -37.62084

143.550339 Snake Valley - Morchup Road Snake Valley Pyrenees Shire Council


Stawell Transfer Station Northern Grampians Shire Council

-37.07058 142.800328

Lavett Road Stawell Northern Grampians Shire Council


St Arnaud Recyclers EcoSwish EcoSwish -36.62671

143.266859 10 Phillips Court St Arnaud


Domestic sources, Multiple Streams

Talbot Transfer Station Central Goldfields Shire Council

-37.166119 143.709014

Rockyflat Road Talbot Central Goldfields Shire Council


Toolondo Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Facility


Telangatuk East Road Toolondo Horsham Rural City Council


Trentham Transfer Station and Resale Centre


Trentham Blackwood Road Trentham Hepburn Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Woomelang Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre


Off Church St and Duthies Road South

Woomelang Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) co-located with a Landfill Elmhurst Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Ararat Rural City Council -37.191022 143.251242

McKay Street Elmhurst Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Lake Bolac Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill


Rubbish Tip Road Lake Bolac Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Moyston Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill


Off Moyston West Road Moyston Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Pomonal Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill


Pomonal East Road Pomonal Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert St Arnaud Transfer Station and Landfill


-36.590533 143.327382

329 Old Wedderburn Road (Hard Hills Road)

St Arnaud Northern Grampians Shire Council


Streatham Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill


Nerrin - Floodway Road Streatham Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Tatyoon Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill


Off Porters Bridge Road Tatyoon Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Willaura Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill


Wickcliffe - Willaura Road Willaura Ararat Rural City Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Patchewollock Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre


Hopetoun - Walpeup Road Patchewollock Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Speed/Tempy Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre


Sunraysia Highway Tempy Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert








Warracknabeal Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre


Golf Links Road Warracknabeal Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Yaapeet Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre


Off Rainbow - Yaapeet Road Yaapeet Yarriambiack Shire Council Domestic sources,

Solid Inert Resource Recovery Interchange Facility City of Ballarat Green Waste Interchange Facility

City of Ballarat -37.512167 143.783926

(Western Side) Ballarat Airport, Airport Road

Mitchell Park City of Ballarat Kerbside Organics

Garden

Recycling Interchange Facility Ace Metals -37.52725

143.847137 5 - 7 Coronet Street Wendouree City of Ballarat

Kerbside Recyclables

Stawell Interchange Wheelie Waste -37.052355 142.764150

11 Haughton Street Stawell Northern Grampians Shire Council

Kerbside Recyclables

Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

Daylesford MRF Hepburn Shire Council -37.334377 144.130618

Ajax Road Daylesford Hepburn Shire Council Kerbside

Recyclables

KKC Recycling KKC Property Pty Ltd -37.52866

143.847068 3 Hammer Court Wendouree City of Ballarat

Aggregates, Masonry and Soil

Reprocessor – Organics

Calleja Transport Calleja Transport (Maddingley Brown Coal Pty Ltd)

-37.702770 144.435411

East Maddingley Road Bacchus Marsh Moorabool Shire Council Organics Garden

Castlegate James (James and Son) Castlegate James Australia Pty Ltd

-37.570511 143.809236

4 Wiltshire Lane Delacombe City of Ballarat Organics Food

Davo's Worm Farm Davo's Worm Farm -37.379105 143.905744

54 Henders Road Broomfield Hepburn Shire Council Organics Garden

Garden Recycling Centre Garden Recycling Centre -37.567453 143.809877

154 Learmonth Street Alfredton City of Ballarat Organics Garden

Horsham Green Waste Processing Horsham Green Waste Processing

-36.739019 142.19043

Golfcourse Road Horsham Horsham Rural City Council

Organics Garden

Reprocessor – Plastics

Replas Repeat Plastics Australia -37.583846 143.873733

50 Elsworth Street Ballarat City of Ballarat Plastics







Reprocessor – Aggregate, Masonry and Soils

Ballarat Concrete Recycling Ballarat Concrete Recycling -37.579591 143.848181

3 Tannery Lane Ballarat City of Ballarat Aggregates, Masonry and

Soil

Chris Bev Pty Ltd Chris Bev Pty Ltd -37.573796 143.820391

Wallis Street Delacombe City of Ballarat Aggregates, Masonry and

Soil

Western Gypsum Western Gypsum -37.806752 143.603428

2265 Scarsdale - Pitfield Road Cape Clear Golden Plains Shire Council Aggregates, Masonry and

Soil

WestonVic Waste WestonVic -36.740451 142.195221

8 Turnbull Drive Horsham Horsham Rural City Council Aggregates, Masonry and

Soil Reprocessor – E-waste

Axis Worx Community Axis Enterprises Incorporation

-36.737625 142.19116

134 Golf Course Rd Horsham Horsham Rural City Council E-waste

Energy from Waste – Anaerobic Digester

Berrybank Farm CIFE -37.462110 143.710254

Hendersons Road Windermere City of Ballarat Organics -

Other Energy from Waste – Other

Beaufort Hospital Bioenergy Plant Beaufort Skipton Health -37.431691 143.382470

Walker Street Beaufort Pyrenees Shire Council Wood / Timber

To the best of the knowledge of the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group, all relevant existing facilities have been included on this schedule. Please note that inclusion of an existing facility in this schedule should not in any way be construed as a warranty or representation as to the quality, compliance (approvals and permits), effectiveness or suitability of the facilities included. Whilst Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group has made every effort to compile this information accurately and completely, the list of facilities included, information and comments in the ‘other considerations' section are not exhaustive, and are provided to generally facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic). Further information about individual facilities should be sought from the Environment Protection Authority, or (where appropriate) owners or operators of facilities.




TABLE 30. FUTURE RESOURCE RECOVERY AND REPROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE

PROPONENT GENERAL LOCATION

MATERIAL STREAMS MANAGED REASON FOR NEED TIMEFRAME (LIKELY

COMMENCEMENT/NEED DATE)

New Infrastructure

Australian Renewable Energy Parks Maryborough Residual Waste including Organics New EfW facility Estimated within 5 years

Central Goldfields Shire Council Flagstaff Residual Waste including Organics Land for proposed EfW facility Estimated within 5 years

City of Ballarat Ballarat MSW and a range of materials including Organics

New Transfer Station with major shed structure due to relocation from existing constrained facility

Estimated within 5 years

Hepburn Shire Council Daylesford / Hepburn Springs

Organics Anaerobic Digestion of Organics to provide a new micro EfW facility for community building energy savings

2017/2018

Northern Grampians Shire Council / Ararat Rural City Council

Within Shires Mixed

Development of a new centralised combined Transfer Station facility and associated Transfer Station rationalisation to aid in resource recovery and cost efficiency


Pinegro Products Pty Ltd Mt Wallace Organics New aerated composting facility 2016/2017

Pyrenees Shire Council / Golden Plains Shire Council / Corangamite Shire Council

Snake Valley Organics Garden New Organics Garden facility / combined Transfer Station to aid in resource recovery


Used Tyre Recycling Corporation Stawell Rubber Tyres New tyre shredding facility and proposed pyrolysis to manage existing tyre stockpile

2017/2018

Existing Facility with changed or expanding waste and/or resource recovery

Ararat Rural City Council Ararat Multiple materials including polystyrene

Upgrade Transfer Station facilities to accommodate further materials for resource recovery to aid in resource recovery


Calleja (Maddingley Brown Coal) Bacchus Marsh Organics Garden and timber, Concrete and aggregates

Expansion of organics processing and C&D waste processing


Golden Plains Shire Council Rokewood Organics Garden Processing of organics garden on a closed landfill site. To re-use site and provide localised service.


Horsham Rural City Council Horsham Transfer Station

Mixed Upgrade Transfer Station to aid in resource recovery Estimated within 5 years

Northern Grampians Shire Council St Arnaud Mixed Landfill closure and Transfer Station upgrade 2017/2018

Pyrenees Shire Council Avoca, Beaufort and Snake Valley

Mixed Transfer Station upgrades with essential services, traffic circulation, OH&S, fire safety and infrastructure to aid in resource recovery

Ongoing program over next 5 years

West Wimmera Shire Council Kaniva and Edenhope

Mixed Transfer Station upgrades with essential services, traffic circulation, OH&S, hardstands, fencing and drainage infrastructure to aid in resource recovery

Ongoing program over next 5 years

Notes to the Schedule: It is expected that all infrastructure technologies considered in this Schedule will not be inconsistent with those detailed in the State Infrastructure Plan.


PART B. LANDFILL INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULE

This schedule should be read in conjunction with the landfill infrastructure analysis outlined in Section 4.3. No new landfills are proposed in this schedule.

TABLE 31. EXISTING LANDFILLS

LANDFILL NAME EPA

LICENCE NUMBER

ADDRESS LGA GIS

LOCATION FACILITY OWNER

WASTE TYPES ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED

UNDER CURRENT LICENCE

LIKELY CLOSURE

DATE

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS


12008

BMG Boral Gravel Pits, 1380 Glenelg Highway Smythesdale 3351

Golden Plains Shire Council

-37.624403 143.697984

City of Ballarat

Putrescible Solid Inert Asbestos waste (all forms) Tyres shredded into pieces <250mm Category C Contaminated soils

2042 / 2043 Previous Licence ES27678

Dooen Landfill 12067 81 Ladlows Road Dooen 3401


-36.607426 142.256346


Putrescible Solid Inert Asbestos waste (all forms) Tyres shredded into pieces <250mm Category C Contaminated soils

2044 / 2045 Previous Licence ES353

Maddingley Brown Coal

ES90 East Maddingley Road Bacchus Marsh 3340


-37.706473 144.439322

Maddingley Brown Coal Pty Ltd

Solid Inert Metal recycling shredder residue (floc) Paper pulp Pneumatic rubber automotive tyres shredded Potential and waste acid sulfate soils Category C Contaminated soils

2033 / 2034


74234

492 Pomonal Road (Stawell - Pomonal Road) Bellellen (Stawell) 3380


-37.099788 142.732292

Statewide Recycling Services Pty Ltd

Putrescible Solid Inert Asbestos waste (all forms) Tyres shredded into pieces <250mm Fly ash Category C Contaminated soils

2034 / 2035

Premises Ref No. 70183 Previous Licence ES39783



TABLE 31. EXISTING LANDFILLS continued

Landfills Exempt from Licensing #

LANDFILL NAME ADDRESS GIS LOCATION FACILITY OWNER WASTE TYPES

ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED

LIKELY CLOSURE

DATE Ararat Rural City Council

Elmhurst Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill McKay Street Elmhurst -37.191022 143.251242

Ararat Rural City Council Solid Inert 2018

Lake Bolac Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Rubbish Tip Road Lake Bolac -37.704218 142.8236


Moyston Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Off Moyston West Road Moyston -37.292028 142.735257


Pomonal Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Pomonal East Road Pomonal -37.195093 142.635344


Streatham Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Nerrin - Floodway Road Streatham -37.684394 143.040767


Tatyoon Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Off Porters Bridge Road Tatyoon -37.684394 143.040767


Willaura Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill Wickcliffe - Willaura Road Willaura -37.576825 142.73492



St Arnaud Transfer Station and Landfill 329 Old Wedderburn Road St Arnaud -36.591375 143.329314

Northern Grampians Shire Council Putrescible Solid Inert

2017


Patchewollock Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Hopetoun - Walpeup Road Patchewollock -35.371129 142.20475

Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible Solid Inert

2024 / 2025

Tempy/Speed Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Sunraysia Highway Tempy -35.359321 142.428256


2024 / 2025

Warracknabeal Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Golf Links Road Warracknabeal -36.226349 142.407726


2024 / 2025

Yaapeet Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Off Rainbow - Yaapeet Road Yaapeet -35.780134 142.044088


2024 / 2025


Notes to the Schedule: Landfills included in the above table are existing operational facilities in the region at the time of publication. Licenced sites can only accept wastes listed as per current EPA licence. # Landfill sites exempt from licensing, are landfills operated by a Council, serve less than 5,000 people but more than 500 people, which are the exemption categories specified in the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and Exemptions) Regulations 2007 (Vic). They can accept a range of wastes including putrescible and solid inert as per Waste Management Policy (Siting, Design and Management of Landfills) 2004 and the EP Act. Approvals status refers to land use planning approvals and EPA works approvals relevant to the site at the time of publication. Waste types able to be accepted as per licence conditions. Owners may choose to not accept materials within those licence conditions. Likely closure date reflects the year in which the site is likely to cease receiving waste. They are estimated based on modelled tonnage projections and airspace available and may include potential void space at quarry based landfill sites as identified by owners and operators. These timeframes will be dependent on commercial decisions made by site owners and operators, waste flows and the site obtaining the appropriate approvals. A listing in this table does not indicate or guarantee that all available airspace will be sequenced or approved.

For the avoidance of doubt, private landfills which are privately owned and will only receive wastes that consist of substances owned by the owner of the site (before the substances became wastes) referred to in Section 50C (3) of the EP Act are not included in the above table. Any need for a works approval for these sites will be assessed by the EPA without reference to this Implementation Plan, in accordance with Section 50C (3) of the EP Act.



TABLE 32. PROPOSED SEQUENCE OF THE FILLING OF AVAILABLE LANDFILL SITES* 2016 – 2046

This table should be read in conjunction with the landfill needs assessment outlined in Section 4.3.

LANDFILL NAME EPA

LICENCE NUMBER

SEQUENCING PERIOD - YEAR LIKELY CLOSURE

DATE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46


12008 2043

Dooen Landfill 12067 2045

Maddingley Brown Coal

ES90 2034


74234 2035

Moyston Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Exempt 2016

Lake Bolac Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Exempt 2017

St Arnaud Transfer Station and Landfill

Exempt 2017

Willaura Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Exempt 2017


TABLE 32. PROPOSED SEQUENCE OF THE FILLING OF AVAILABLE LANDFILL SITES* 2016 – 2046 continued

LANDFILL NAME EPA

LICENCE NUMBER

SEQUENCING PERIOD - YEAR LIKELY CLOSURE

DATE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

Elmhurst Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Exempt 2018

Pomonal Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Exempt 2018

Streatham Resource Recovery Centre and Landfill

Exempt 2018

Tatyoon Resource Recovery Centre Landfill and

Exempt 2018

Patchewollock Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre

Exempt 2026

Speed/Tempy Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre

Exempt 2026

Warracknabeal Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre

Exempt 2026

Yaapeet Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre

Exempt 2026

*As referred to in Section 50C (2) of the EP Act. Key:

Has all appropriate approvals including land use planning, EPA Works Approval, or exempt from licensing Land use planning approved but still requires EPA Works approval Airspace available subject to receiving appropriate approvals



Notes to the Schedule: The landfill airspace detailed in the above table has been classified according to its land use planning and works approval status at the time of publication of this implementation plan. Only sites with landfill airspace having the appropriate approvals are permitted (and where applicable, licenced) to receive waste. Inclusion of airspace still requiring either land use planning or EPA approvals is based on an assessment of the need and suitability in line with the statewide process. Where further approvals are required, the appropriate processes to achieve such approvals, must be undertaken and inclusion in the above table does not guarantee the granting of these approvals. Licenced landfills are sequenced over the ten-year period to indicate their potential to accept the wastes allowed under their current EPA licence. Landfills, exempt form licensing, are sequenced over the ten-year period to indicate their potential to accept wastes as per Waste Management Policy (Siting, Design and Management of Landfills) 2004 and the EP Act. Landfill sites exempt from licensing, are landfills operated by a Council, serve less than 5,000 people but more than 500 people, which are the exemption categories specified in the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and Exemptions) Regulations 2007 (Vic). They can accept a range of wastes including putrescible and solid inert as per Waste Management Policy (Siting, Design and Management of Landfills) 2004 and the EP Act. Likely closure date reflects the year in which the site is likely to cease receiving waste. They are estimated based on modelled tonnage projections and airspace available and may include potential void space at quarry based landfill sites as identified by owners and operators. These timeframes will be dependent on commercial decisions made by site owners and operators, waste flows and the site obtaining the appropriate approvals. Additional airspace may be sequenced in the future, if an assessment of airspace requirements in the region identifies a need in line with the statewide scheduling process. A listing on the above table does not guarantee the airspace will be scheduled in the future When landfills close they must go through a decommissioning phase which includes working with the EPA to establish a long term rehabilitation plan. During this time, they will cease to accept waste, but may continue to receive clean fill and soils to undertake appropriate capping, contouring and rehabilitation. The actual time required for this process may vary from site to site. Resource recovery activities may occur on site, after the site ceases accepting waste for disposal providing the necessary planning approvals are in place. Sequencing in this table has been done pursuant to the requirements of Section 50BB (c)(iv) of the EP Act. Landfill sites which are exempt from a requirement to obtain a works approval under in the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and Exemptions) Regulations 2007 (Vic) and the EP Act, are those which are occupied by a municipal Council and which serve less than 500 people. Those sites are not included in the table above.

For the avoidance of doubt, private landfills which are privately owned and will only receive wastes that consist of substances owned by the owner of the site (before the substances became wastes) referred to in Section 50C (3) of the EP Act are not included in the above table. Any need for a works approval for these sites will be assessed by the EPA without reference to this Implementation Plan, in accordance with Section 50C (3) of the EP Act.


TABLE 33. REHABILITATION STATUS OF CLOSED LANDFILLS

SITE NAME ADDRESS DUTY HOLDER

WASTES ACCEPTED

DURING OPERATION

YEAR LAND FILLING CEASED

REHABILITATION STATUS

CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE ON SITE

ARARAT RURAL CITY COUNCIL

Ararat Tip Queen St South and Surface Hill Road Ararat Vic 3377

Ararat Rural City Council Putrescible 2001 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance Transfer Station

Elmhurst Tip McKay Street Elmhurst Vic 3469

Ararat Rural City Council Putrescible 1998 Completed Transfer Station, Revegetation,

Hard Waste Landfill

Lake Bolac Tip Graham Road Lake Bolac Vic 3351


Hard Waste Landfill

Mininera Tip Mininera Vic 3351 Ararat Rural City Council Putrescible 2000 Completed Revegetation

Moyston Tip Moyston West Road Moyston Vic 3377


Hard Waste Landfill

Pomonal Tip Pomonal East Road Pomonal Vic 3381


Hard Waste Landfill

Rossbridge Tip Rossbridge Vic 3377 Ararat Rural City Council Putrescible 2000 Completed Revegetation

Streatham Tip Rubbish Tip Road Streatham Vic 3351


Hard Waste Landfill

Tatyoon Tip Camp Road Tatyoon Vic 3378


Hard Waste Landfill

Wickliffe Tip Rubbish Tip Road Wickliffe Vic 3379

Ararat Rural City Council Putrescible 1999 Completed Revegetation

Willaura Tip Wickliffe – Willaura Road Willaura Vic 3379


Hard Waste Landfill

CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS SHIRE COUNCIL

Bealiba Landfill Mount Road Bealiba Vic 3472

Central Goldfields Shire Council (Shire of Bet Bet)

Putrescible 1996 Completed Revegetation

Carisbrook Landfill 129 Williams Road Carisbrook Vic 3464

Central Goldfields Shire Council (Shire of Tullaroop)

Putrescible 2008 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance Transfer Station, Revegetation

Dunolly Landfill Off Dunolly- Maryborough Road Dunolly Vic 3472

Central Goldfields Shire Council (Shire of Bet Bet)

Putrescible 2005 Completed Transfer Station

Maryborough East Landfill

Off Argyle Road Maryborough Vic 3465

Central Goldfields Shire Council (City of Maryborough)

Putrescible 1970s Completed Revegetation

Maryborough West Landfill

Off Balaclava Road Maryborough Vic 3465

Central Goldfields Shire Council (City of Maryborough)

Putrescible 1983 Completed Revegetation



TABLE 33. REHABILITATION STATUS OF CLOSED LANDFILLS continued


WASTES ACCEPTED

DURING OPERATION




Talbot Landfill Rock Flat Road Talbot Vic 3472

Central Goldfields Shire Council (Shire of Talbot and Clunes)


VicGrain

Pt Ca 10 Sec H Parish of Barp, Birketts Lane Dunolly Vic 3472 Silo Address: Corner Thompson St and Desmond Street, Dunolly

Vicgrain Ltd N/A 2004 N/A N/A

CITY OF BALLARAT

Alfredton Tip Learmonth Street Alfredton Vic 3350

City of Ballarat (Shire of Ballarat)

Putrescible 1979 Completed Golf Driving Range

Black Hill Tip Chisholm Street Black Hill Vic 3350

City of Ballarat Putrescible 1982;

Possible minor dumping until 1994

Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance

Parkland

Buninyong / Sebastopol Tip

3 Whitehorse Road Mount Clear Vic 3350

City of Ballarat Putrescible 1996 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance Open Space

Bunkers Hill (Sago Hill Waste Facility)

726 Bells Road Bunkers Hill Vic 3352

FMP Group (Australia) Pty Ltd Asbestos PIW 2008 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance N/A

Long Point Tip Gilles Road North Ascot Vic 3364

City of Ballarat Putrescible 1982 Completed Parkland

Nerrina Tip Lofven Street Nerrina Vic 3350

City of Ballarat (Shire of Bungaree)

Putrescible 1995 Completed Parkland

Pennyweight Park Tip Otway Street South Canadian Vic 3350

City of Ballarat Putrescible 1970’s Completed Parkland

Sago Hill Inert Waste Facility

726 Bells Road Bunkers Hill Vic 3352

Chris Bev Pty Ltd SIW 2005 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance N/A

Sago Hills Road Tip Sago Hills Road Bunkers Hill Vic 3352

City of Ballarat (Shire of Grenville)

Putrescible 1980 Completed N/A

Trekardo Park Latrobe Street Redan Vic 3350

City of Ballarat Putrescible 1960’s Completed Sports Facilities, Open Space

Wendouree Tip Corner Gilles Road North and Western Freeway Mount Rowan Vic 3352

City of Ballarat Putrescible &

Solid Inert Industrial

1983 Completed Freeway On-Ramp, Farming

White Flat Oval Moyle Street Ballarat Vic 3350

City of Ballarat Putrescible Early 1900’s Completed Sports Facilities, Open Space




WASTES ACCEPTED

DURING OPERATION




GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL

Bannockburn Tip Bannockburn Bush Reserve Masons Road Bannockburn Vic 3328

Golden Plains Shire Council Putrescible Early 2000’s Completed Open Space

Meredith Tip Meredith State Forest off Meredith – Steiglitz Road Meredith Vic 3328

Golden Plains Shire Council Putrescible 1997 Completed Revegetation

Rokewood Tip Rokewood Common Meadows Road Rokewood Vic 3328

Golden Plains Shire Council Solid Inert 2015 Commenced Transfer Station

Teesdale Tip Shelford – Bannockburn Road Teesdale Vic 3328

Golden Plains Shire Council (Shire of Leigh)

Putrescible 2015 Commenced Open Space

HEPBURN SHIRE COUNCIL

Clunes Tip Albert Street Clunes Vic 3370

Hepburn Shire Council (Shire of Talbot and Clunes)

Putrescible 1998 Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance

N/A

Creswick Tip C/a 45a Parish of Creswick County of Talbot Creswick Vic 3363

Hepburn Shire Council Putrescible 2005 Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance

Transfer Station

Daylesford Tip / Landfill

Ca 62a and 63 Section 2b Ajax Road Daylesford Vic 3460

Hepburn Shire Council (Shire of Daylesford and Glenlyon)


Transfer Station, MRF, Car Park

Trentham Tip Cosmo Road Trentham Vic 3458

Hepburn Shire Council (Shire of Kyneton)


Transfer Station

HINDMARSH SHIRE COUNCIL

Dimboola Tip C/A 163m, Parish of Dimboola Dimboola – Warracknabeal Road Dimboola Vic 3423

Hindmarsh Shire Council (Shire of Dimboola)


Jeparit Tip Jeparit East Road Jeparit Vic 3423



Nhill Tip Nhill Netherby Rd Nhill Vic 3418

Hindmarsh Shire Council (Shire of Lowan)






WASTES ACCEPTED

DURING OPERATION




Poultry Abattoir Solids Disposal

Off McKenzie Avenue Nhill Vic 3418

The Luv A Duck Range Pty. Ltd. Poultry

Abattoir Solids Disposal

N/A N/A N/A

Rainbow Tip Off Rainbow – Nhill Road Rainbow Vic 3424



HORSHAM RURAL CITY COUNCIL

Clear Lake Landfill Bow Lake Road Clear Lake Vic 3409

Horsham Rural City Council Putrescible 2002 Completed Open Space

Dadswells Bridge Landfill

Western Highway Dadswells Bridge Vic 3385


Dock Lake Landfill Dock Lake Road Drung Vic 3401


Green Lake Landfill Green Lake Tip Road Bungalally Vic 3401


Jung Landfill Jung Tip Road Jung Vic 3401

Horsham Rural City Council Putrescible 2003 Completed Transfer Station

Kenny Road Landfill Kenny Road Horsham Vic 3402


Natimuk Landfill Corner Wyn Road and Kuhne Road Natimuk Vic 3409


Noradjuha Landfill Horsham Noradjuha Road Noradjuha Vic 3409


Pimpinio Landfill Banyena Road Pimpinio Vic 3401


Quantong Landfill SW Corner Hutchison Road and Lanes Avenue Quantong Vic 3401


Toolondo Landfill Telangatuk East Road Toolondo Vic 3401


Wail Landfill Roggs Road Wail Vic 3401


Wartook Landfill Sullivan Road Wartook Vic 3401





WASTES ACCEPTED

DURING OPERATION




MOORABOOL SHIRE COUNCIL

Bacchus Marsh Landfill

Side of Kerrs Road Maddingley Vic 3340

Oupan Resources Putrescible 2002 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance Open Space

Ballan Tip Montville Lane Ballan Vic 3342

Moorabool Shire Council Putrescible 2009 Ongoing Monitoring &

Maintenance Transfer Station

Mt Egerton Tip Corner Ballan – Egerton and Yendon – Egerton Roads Mt Egerton Vic 3352

Moorabool Shire Council Putrescible Unknown Completed N/A

Teleford Park Tip Darley / Bacchus Marsh Vic 3340 Moorabool Shire Council Putrescible Unknown Completed N/A

Darley Fire Brick Landfill

Grey Street Darley / Bacchus Marsh Vic 3340

Moorabool Shire Council Putrescible Unknown Completed N/A

Blackwood Tip Blackwood North Road Blackwood Vic 3458

Private Landholder Putrescible Unknown Completed N/A

NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE COUNCIL

Food Manufacturing Plant

Carapooee West South of Little Church Road St Arnaud Vic 3478

Goldfields Turkeys Pty Ltd N/A 2003 N/A N/A

Glenorchy Tip Arapiles Street Glenorchy Vic 3385

Northern Grampians Shire Council Putrescible 2000 Completed Open Space

Great Western Tip Salt Creek Road Great Western Vic 3377


(potential Highway bypass)

Halls Gap Tip Devils Garden Road Halls Gap Vic 3381


Marnoo Tip Auvergne Road Marnoo Vic 3387

Northern Grampians Shire Council Putrescible 2013 Commenced Community recycling

organisation operating partial site and own infrastructure

Navarre Road Liquid Waste Receival Site

C/A 5 Sect 150 Parish of Stawell County of Borung Stawell Vic 3380

Northern Grampians Shire Council Liquid Waste 1996 N/A N/A

Stawell (East) Landfill Lavett Road Stawell Vic 3380

Northern Grampians Shire Council Putrescible 1999 Completed Private operator uses partial site





WASTES ACCEPTED

DURING OPERATION



CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE

ON SITE

Stawell (North) Landfill Mary Street (Haughton Street) Stawell Vic 3380


Putrescible N/A Completed Open Space

Stawell Landfill Hill Street Stawell Vic 3380


Solid Inert 1998 Completed Open Space

PYRENEES SHIRE COUNCIL

Amphitheatre Landfill C/A 46c Parish Yalong Greenhill Creek Road Amphitheatre Vic 3468

Pyrenees Shire Council (Shire of Lexton)

Putrescible N/A Completed Nil

Avoca Landfill (Rubbish Depot)

82 Russell Street Avoca Vic 3467

Pyrenees Shire Council (Shire of Avoca)


Beaufort Landfill 2 Tip Road Beaufort Vic 3373

Pyrenees Shire Council (Shire of Ripon)


Carranballac Landfill Estimated 6754 Glenelg Highway Carranballac Vic 3361 Lot 2 Lp146116

Private Landholder Putrescible N/A Completed Nil

Crowlands Landfill Lot 2 TP250031 Crowlands - Eversley Road Crowlands Vic 3377



Landsborough Landfill 2161 Landsborough – St Arnaud Road Landsborough Vic 3384


Putrescible N/A Completed Transfer Station

Lexton Landfill Sandlant Road Lexton Vic 3352 C/A 1a Sec F Parish Lexton

Pyrenees Shire Council (Shire of Lexton)


Moonambel Landfill Mountain View Road Moonambel Vic 3478 C/A 89h Parish Warrenmang

Crown Putrescible N/A Completed Nil

Natte Yallock Landfill Road Reserve Old Tip Road Natte Yallock Vic 3465



Navarre Landfill Stawell - Avoca Road Frenchmans Vic 3384 C/A 2004 Parish Barkly

Crown Putrescible N/A Completed Nil

Raglan Landfill Road Reserve Tip Road Raglan Vic 3373



Snake Valley Landfill 298 Snake Valley – Morchup Road Snake Valley Vic 3351


Putrescible N/A Completed Transfer Station



SITE NAME ADDRESS DUTY HOLDER WASTES

ACCEPTED DURING OPERATION




ON SITE

WEST WIMMERA SHIRE COUNCIL

Apsley Landfill Casterton – Apsley Road Apsley Vic 3319

West Wimmera Shire Council Putrescible 1999 Completed Transfer Station

Benayeo Landfill Brippick Road Benayeo Vic 3319

West Wimmera Shire Council Putrescible 1999 Completed Nil

Charlegrark Landfill Kaniva Edenhope Road Charlegrark Vic 3319


Chetwynd Landfill Chetwynd Tip Road Chetwynd Vic 3312


Derghold Landfill Quinn Road Dergholm Vic 3312


Douglas Landfill Wombelano Road Douglas Vic 3409


Edenhope Landfill Moss Street Edenhope Vic 3318


Goroke Landfill Depot Lane Goroke Vic 3412


Harrow Landfill Nhill – Harrow Road Harrow Vic 3317


Kaniva Municipal Tip South Lillimur Road Kaniva Vic 3419

West Wimmera Shire Council (Shire of Kaniva)


Miram Landfill Church Street Miram Vic 3415


Lillimur Landfill K Clark’s Road Lillimur Vic 3420


Serviceton Landfill Tip Road Serviceton Vic 3420





SITE NAME ADDRESS DUTY HOLDER WASTES

ACCEPTED DURING OPERATION




ON SITE

YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE COUNCIL

Lah Landfill Henty Highway Lah Vic 3393

Yarriambiack Shire Council Solid Inert 2012 Completed N/A

Lascelles Tip Lascelles Vic 3487 Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible 1997 Completed N/A

Lubeck Tip Lubeck Vic 3381 Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible 1997 Completed N/A

Minyip (North) Tip Minyip Vic 3392 Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible 2010 Completed Transfer Station

Murtoa Tip Off Wimmera Highway Murtoa Vic 3390

Yarriambiack Shire Council (Shire of Dunmunkle)


Rosebery Tip Rosebery Vic 3395 Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible 1995 Completed N/A

Sheep Hills Landfill Hausler Road Sheep Hills Vic 3392

Yarriambiack Shire Council Solid Inert 2014 Completed N/A

Wallup East Tip Wallup East Vic 3401 Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible 2009 Completed N/A

Woomelang Tip Woomelang Vic 3485 Yarriambiack Shire Council Putrescible 2010 Completed Transfer Station

To the best of the knowledge of the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group, all closed landfills facilities have been included on this schedule. Please note that inclusion of a closed landfill in this schedule should not in any way be construed as a warranty or representation as to the quality, compliance, effectiveness or suitability of the closed facilities and their rehabilitation status. Whilst Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group has made every effort to compile this information accurately and completely, the list of closed landfill facilities included, information and comments in the ‘other considerations' section are not exhaustive, and are provided to generally facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic). Further information about individual facilities should be sought from the Environment Protection Authority, or (where appropriate) owners or operators of facilities. TABLE 34. EXPLANATION OF LANDFILL REHABILITATION STATUS

STATUS CRITERIA EXPLANATION

Yet to Commence Rehabilitation Yet to begin process of rehabilitation

Rehabilitation Commenced Working to design a rehabilitation plan and undertake rehabilitation activities appropriate to each site (PC PAN may be in place)

Rehabilitation Completed Rehabilitation appropriate to the site and regulation relevant at the time of closure has been completed. No further rehabilitation activities planned or required

Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance

Landfills that are undergoing a range of activities including: Monitoring of groundwater, surface water, landfill gas, leachate and cap settlement Landfill cap maintenance to prevent erosion, restore depressions, seal cracks, restore vegetation Leachate control systems (if applicable) Landfill gas-extraction system (if applicable)

APPENDICES



APPENDIX ONE – ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS

ABBREVIATION / ACRONYM DEFINITION

ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics

BAU Business as Usual

BPEM Best Practice Environmental Management (Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills – Best Practice Environmental Management, Publication 788.3, EPA Victoria, 2014)

C&D Construction and Demolition

C&I Commercial and Industrial

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CHAF Central Highlands Agribusiness Forum

DELWP Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Cth Commonwealth

EfW Energy from Waste

EMV Emergency Management Victoria

EPA Environment Protection Authority Victoria

EP Act Environment Protection Act 1970

Framework Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Planning Framework

FTE Full Time Equivalent

GCWWRRG Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group

HPFV High Productivity Freight Vehicles

IAP2 Spectrum International Association for Public Participation – Spectrum of Public Participation

Maddingley Maddingley Brown Coal (landfill site)

MEMP Municipal Emergency Management Plan

Ministerial Guideline Ministerial Guideline: Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Implementation Plans

MRF Materials Recovery Facility

MSW Municipal Solid Waste

NEPM Natural Environment Protection Measure

PCB Project Control Board

PC PAN Post Closure Pollution Abatement Notice

PIW Prescribed Industrial Waste

RDV Regional Development Victoria

Region Grampians Central West Region

Regional Implementation Plan / RWRRIP

Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan

RRC Resource Recovery Centre

RWRRD Sustainability Victoria’s Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database

SEPP State Environment Protection Policies

SIW Solid Industrial Waste

State Government State Government of Victoria


ABBREVIATION / ACRONYM DEFINITION

State Infrastructure Plan Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan

SV Sustainability Victoria

TARG Technical Advisors Reference Group

TS Transfer Station

UTRC Used Tyre Recycling Corporation

Vic Victoria

VIF Victoria in Future 2015

VAGO Victorian Auditor General’s Office

VLAA Victorian Litter Action Alliance

VPP Victorian Planning Provisions

VRIAS Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey

WRRG Waste and Resource Recovery Group



APPENDIX TWO – REFERENCES

Beaufort Hospital Bioenergy Project Investment Case Study, Sustainability Victoria, 2015

Berrybank Farm Investment Case Study, Sustainability Victoria, 2015

Bioenergy and Agriculture Case Study Series 1.3, Victorian Government, 2015

Broken windows: the police and neighbourhood safety, Kelling, George L.; Wilson, James Q. Atlantic Monthly, 1982

Calculating the Landfill Levy and Recycling Rebates Publication 332.6, EPA Victoria, 2015

Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan, Victorian Government, 2014

City of Ballarat Waste Management Strategy, City of Ballarat 2013

Climate-Ready Victoria Grampians Factsheet, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2015

Emergency Management Manual Victoria: Part 7, Emergency Management Agency Roles, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources 2016

Environment Protection Act 1970

Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment, Blue Environment, unpublished 2016

Guide to Best Practice at Resource Recovery Centres, Sustainability Victoria, 2009

"Hepburn Hot Trash" Facebook and Instagram Sites Launched Hepburn Shire Council Media Release, Hepburn Shire Council, March 2016

Highlands Regional Waste Management Plan, Maunsell McIntyre Pty Ltd, 1999

Landfill Levy Data, EPA Victoria, 2015, unpublished

Managing Landfills, Victorian Auditor-General’s Report, 2014

Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan, Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group, 2016

Ministerial Guideline: Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2014

Outline of Process: Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Scheduling, Sustainability Victoria 2015

Regional Waste Management Plan 2007 – 2012, Grampians Regional Waste Management Group, 2009

Review of Council Municipal Waste Services and Waste Management Plan, Pyrenees Shire Council, 2015

Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills – Best Practice Environmental Management, Publication 788.3, EPA Victoria, 2015

Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015 - 44, Sustainability Victoria, 2015

Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operators – Consolidated Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group Report, Sustainable Resource Use Pty Ltd for Sustainability Victoria, unpublished, 2015

Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operators – Grampians Central West Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group Report, Sustainable Resource Use Pty Ltd for Sustainability Victoria, unpublished, 2015

The Tipping Point, Gladwell, M., 2000

Victoria in Future, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2015

Victorian Waste Education Strategy, Sustainability Victoria, 2016

Victorian Local Government Annual Survey trend data, Sustainability Victoria, 2015, unpublished

Victorian Local Government Annual Waste Services Report 2013-14, Sustainability Victoria, 2015

Victorian Market Development Strategy for Recovered Resources, Sustainability Victoria, 2016

Victorian Organics Resource Recovery Strategy, Sustainability Victoria, 2015

Victorian Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database v3; waste and resource recovery data provided by Sustainability Victoria

Victoria’s Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Investment Prospectus, Sustainability Victoria, 2015

Waste Management Policy (Siting, Design and Management of Landfills) 2004, EPA Victoria

West Wimmera Shire Council Rural Resource Recovery Centres Best Practice Review and Priority Improvements Program, Impact Blue Pty Ltd 2014

Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Growth Plan, Victorian Government, 2014


APPENDIX THREE – DATA SOURCES

DATA SOURCE DESCRIPTION

Victorian Local Government Annual Survey (VLGAS)

Annual data on materials collected through council kerbside collection systems and published by SV. All councils in Victoria participate. The survey provides trending data on recyclables, organics, residual waste, hard waste and litter. The State Infrastructure Plan uses survey data from the financial year 2011/2012, which is available on the SV website at www.sustainability.vic.gov.au

Victorian Recycling Industries Annual Survey (VRIAS)

Annual data collection measuring tonnages of materials diverted from landfill by major re-processors in Victoria. This is used to measure progress against Victorian waste reduction targets, and trends in the recovery of waste materials. The survey is voluntary and although the return rate is relatively constant, contributors can vary from year to year. VRIAS is available on the SV website at www.sustainability.vic.gov.au

EPAs Landfill Levy returns Unpublished information provided by EPA on a confidential basis.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Population Data

ABS Catalogue Number 3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2014

Victorian Landfill Audits SV’s disposal-based waste survey, 2009. A visual waste audit of eight metropolitan landfills, one regional landfill and one transfer station, covering 2003 separate inbound loads.

Victoria in Future 2015 Victoria in Future (VIF) is the official state government projection of population and households

Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Database (RWRRD)

SV’s purpose-built database for data storage, analysis and projection to assist development of Regional Implementation Plans and alignment with the State Infrastructure Plan.

Grampians Central West Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment

Existing capacity, annual throughput and future capacity requirements for consolidation and resource recovery infrastructure have been estimated through the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Capacity and Needs Assessment project. This assessment has been informed by engagement with operators and owners and historical data provided by Sustainability Victoria. Data collected through this process has been presented in aggregated form in this document to protect commercial in confidence information. Data from facility operators has been used in conjunction with outputs of the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery projection models to provide an assessment of current capacity and future infrastructure capacity requirements. While the best available data has been used, the analysis presented in this plan should be considered indicative only as it is acknowledged that data and information gaps exist.

Survey and analysis of regional reprocessors and material recovery facility operators, Sustainable Resource Use Pty Ltd for Sustainability Victoria, unpublished, 2015

Data on the activity of reprocessors and material recovery facilities in regional Victoria.

Data included in the plan has been considered to ensure confidentiality and acknowledge commercial in confidence information. All data and figures have been appropriately referenced. The data sources relied upon are consistent with those used for the State Infrastructure Plan.



APPENDIX FOUR – LEGISLATION AND POLICY CONTEXT

Requirements of the Environment Protection Act 1970

Division 2AD – Regional waste and resource recovery implementation plans

50B Preparation of draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) Each Waste and Resource Recovery Group must prepare a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation plan for its waste and resource recovery region.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), each Waste and Resource Recovery Group must submit a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan to Sustainability Victoria and to the Authority within 12 months after the State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan takes effect.

(3) A draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan must be submitted by the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group within 3 months after the date on which the first State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan takes effect.

(4) The Authority must make any comments within 60 days after receiving a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan.

50BA Objective of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

The objective of a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan is to set out how the waste and resource recovery infrastructure needs of a waste and resource recovery region will be met over at least a 10-year period.

50BB Content of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) A Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan must include—

(a) A description and analysis of waste and resource recovery infrastructure within its waste and resource recovery region, including a consideration of—

(i) environmental and financial performance; and

(ii) current infrastructure and anticipated opportunities for providing infrastructure across the waste and resource recovery region; and

(iii) the waste and resource recovery infrastructure needs, priorities and preferred locations for the waste and resource recovery region; and

(iv) regional transport and land use planning; and

(b) a description of how the long-term directions in the State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan will be implemented to give effect to local and regional infrastructure needs within the waste and resource recovery region; and

(c) a schedule of existing and required waste and resource recovery infrastructure within the waste and resource recovery region including—

(i) the type, general location and other requirements of new waste and resource recovery infrastructure, other than landfills; and

(ii) the timeframe for when new waste and resource recovery infrastructure is needed; and

(iii) an identification of steps required to align the schedule with local planning schemes; and

(iv) the proposed sequence for the filling of available landfill sites for at least the next 10 years; and

(v) a program for replacing and rehabilitating landfill sites; and

(vi) the intended or likely date of closure of each landfill site; and

(vii) options for future landfill capacity and resource recovery infrastructure; and

(d) any matters required by guidelines made under section 50CA.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan must be consistent with any policy and any government policies.

(3) If a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan is inconsistent with a policy, the policy prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.


50BC Consultation during preparation of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

Before submitting a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan to Sustainability Victoria and to the Authority under section 50B, a Waste and Resource Recovery Group must consult with—

(a) the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries; and

(b) the Chairman; and

(c) the Chairperson of Sustainability Victoria; and

(d) the Chairperson of each Waste and Resource Recovery Group; and

(e) the chairperson of the Urban Renewal Authority Victoria; and

(f) the chief executive of each council within its waste and resource recovery region.

50BD Further preparation of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) On the submission of a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan under section 50B, each Waste and Resource Recovery Group and Sustainability Victoria must work together to integrate the priorities and directions of the Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan and the State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and to resolve any differences in the Plans.

(2) Each Waste and Resource Recovery Group and Sustainability Victoria are jointly responsible for integrating the Plans for a period of up to 6 months.

(3) Sustainability Victoria and each Waste and Resource Recovery Group must—

(a) take into account any comments made by the Authority under section 50B(4); and

(b) amend the schedule of existing and required waste and resource recovery infrastructure within the draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan if the Authority objects to the inclusion of a proposed landfill on the ground that it is unlikely to meet the requirements of a relevant policy.

(4) The integration process in subsections (1) to (3) must comply with any guidelines issued under section 50CA.

(5) A Waste and Resource Recovery Group must submit a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan to the Minister for approval—

(a) no later than 6 months after submitting a draft to Sustainability Victoria and the Authority under section 50B; and

(b) not before either the Authority has provided its comments under section 50B(4) or the 60 days in which the Authority may comment on the Plan have expired.

(6) On receiving a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan under subsection (5) the Minister must—

(a) approve the Plan; or

(b) approve the Plan with amendments; or

(c) return the Plan to the relevant Waste and Resource Recovery Group for amendment.

(7) If the Minister returns the Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan to a Waste and Resource Recovery Group under subsection (6)(c), the Minister must give directions as to the amendments required to be made to the draft Plan.

(8) A Waste and Resource Recovery Group must comply with a direction of the Minister under subsection (7) within 30 days or a longer period specified by the Minister.

50BE Publication of approval of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) The Minister must cause to be published in the Government Gazette a notice of approval of a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan.

(2) The notice of approval must be published—

(a) in the next general edition of the Government Gazette; or

(b) in a special edition of the Government Gazette within 10 working days after the approval of the Plan.

(3) A Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan takes effect on—

(a) the date on which the notice of approval is published in the Government Gazette; or

(b) a later date specified in the notice.

(4) A Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan remains in force until it is replaced by another Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan.



50BF Publication of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) A Waste and Resource Recovery Group must publish a copy of its Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan on its Internet site within 7 days of a notice of approval of the Plan being published in the Government Gazette.

(2) Sustainability Victoria must publish a copy of a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan on its Internet site within 7 days of a notice of approval of the Plan being published in the Government Gazette.

(3) A Waste and Resource Recovery Group and Sustainability Victoria must each publish on its Internet site a revised copy of a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan within 7 days of a notice of approval of an amendment or variation to the Plan being published in the Government Gazette.

50BG Amendment of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) A Waste and Resource Recovery Group may prepare draft amendments to its Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan at any time, including any schedule of existing and required waste and resource recovery infrastructure within the Plan.

(2) The Minister may at any time direct a Waste and Resource Recovery Group to prepare draft amendments to its Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan within a specified period of time.

(3) The Minister may at any time make a variation to a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan that is declaratory, machinery or administrative in nature.

(4) Sections 50BC, 50BD and 50BE apply to an amendment of a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan under subsections (1) and (2) as if the amendment were a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan.

(5) Sections 50BD (6) to (8) and 50BE apply to a variation of a Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan under subsection (3) as if the variation were a draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan.

50BH Consistency with Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

(1) A council must perform its waste management functions consistently with the Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan applying to the council's municipal district.

(2) If a council disposes of waste in a waste and resource recovery region other than the waste and resource recovery region in which the council's municipal district is located, the disposal of the waste must be consistent with the Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan applying to the other waste and resource recovery region.

(3) Any person involved in the generation, management or transport of waste within a waste and resource recovery region must not do anything in relation to the waste that is inconsistent with the relevant Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan while the waste is in that region.


Policy Documents

DOCUMENT SUMMARY

The Minister for the Environment, Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act)

The overarching Act for waste management and the environment in Victoria. In August 2014, it was amended to establish the Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Planning Framework. The framework facilitates strategic planning for waste and resource recovery at both the state and local level for regional communities. The framework, as articulated in Section 50CA of the EP Act, is constituted by the following:

Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan

Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

Any guidelines made under Section 50CA in relation to the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Implementation Plans

The formal integration process of the state and regional plans as outlined in Section 50BD of the EP Act.

Pollution abatement notices (which are issued by the EPA Victoria to direct a person to prevent further pollution or environmental risk by controlling on-site processes and practices) (EPA Victoria 2013c).

The preparation and content of Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans are outlined in Division 2AD Section 50B.

EPA Victoria, Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and Exemptions) Regulations 2007

Stipulates the premises that are subject to and/or exempt from works approval and/or licensing by EPA. Under the EP Act and the EP Premises Regulations, EPA Victoria administers:

Works approvals (which are necessary for industrial and waste management activities that could potentially have a significant environmental impact) and appeals against such approvals.

Licences (which regulate waste acceptance and treatment, air and water discharges, and noise and odour, and which are required for scheduled premises).

Research development and demonstration approvals (similar to works approvals, however applicable to projects of a smaller size, timeframe and environmental impact. These approvals could be useful in the development of emerging markets as they may provide an opportunity for trial research projects with approvals that are simpler and at a lower cost than works approvals, are decided in 30 days, provide legal certainty and thereby encourage development of new technologies).

EPA Victoria, Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009

Replaced the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998 (the 1998 Regulations). The 1998 Regulations set out administrative and reporting requirements for businesses in relation to waste (for example exemption applications, permits/certificates for transport of prescribed industrial wastes (PIWs), and annual reporting requirements). The 2009 Regulations increased the responsibility of waste producers, transporters and receivers for waste management. The objectives are to:

Assist industry to implement the principle of the wastes hierarchy.

Prescribe requirements for assessing, categorising and classifying industrial waste and PIW.

Encourage industry to use industrial waste as a resource by exempting material from categorisation as PIW if a secondary beneficial reuse is established.

Establish the requirements for the transport and management of prescribed industrial waste including requirements for the tracking of PIW (Victorian Government 2009).

EPA Victoria, Best Practice Environmental Management Publication – Siting, Design, Operation and Rehabilitation of Landfills 2015

In 2010, the EPA changed the requirements for environmental management of landfills as part of its licence reform program and this resulted in clearer identification of the responsibility of licence holders and stricter, less flexible requirements as part of the licence. The Landfill Best Practice Environmental Management (BPEM) is the guiding document for the management of licenced landfills in Victoria. The document outlines the requirements of landfill operators in the design, construction, operation and long term rehabilitation of landfill facilities. Two supporting guidelines - the Closed Landfill Guidelines 2012 and the Landfills exempt from licensing Guideline 2014 – work with the Landfill BPEM to provide the framework for operators on how to meet best practice requirements. The EPA monitor compliance through inspections, annual licence performance statements, investigations and audits. The BPEM on its own is not enforceable. It is given legal force through the licence conditions. Compliance with the Landfill BPEM and its amendments in recent years has required the industry to invest in considerable improvements to the development of new landfill cells, and in the management of closed landfills which pose a risk to the community



DOCUMENT SUMMARY

EPA Victoria, Energy from Waste Guidelines

Provides guidance for industry, government and the community on the EPA’s expectations for energy from waste projects. In particular, the document focuses on the siting, design, construction and operation of such facilities. The guidelines, however, are high level. The document outlines how the Environment Protection Act 1970 and associated statutory policies and regulations are applied to the assessment of energy from waste proposals. The guidelines closely mirror the standards set for emissions in the EU opening the door for existing technologies to be considered.

EPA Victoria, Designing, Constructing and Operating Composting Facilities (Composting Guidelines)

Provides information on composting operators’ obligations under laws administered by the EPA and provides suggestions on how to comply. Specifically, it:

Provides composting operators with advice on how to design, construct and manage composting facilities in a manner that protects human health and the environment in Victoria.

Will be used to inform EPA decision making for facilities that require research, design and demonstration approvals, works approvals and licences.

Will be used by EPA as a guide for how premises could resolve issues of non-compliance.

Whilst not explicitly restricting the use of open windrow technology in metropolitan areas, the Composting Guideline does set conditions that suggest only in-vessel processing facilities are acceptable.

EPA Victoria, State Environmental Protection Policy (Control of Noise from Commerce, Industry and Trade)

State environment protection policies (SEPPs) are subordinate legislation made under the provisions of the Act to provide more detailed requirements and guidance for the application of the Act to Victoria. SEPPs aim to safeguard the environmental values and human activities (beneficial uses) that need protection in Victoria from the effect of pollution and waste.

The Noise SEPP aims to protect people from the effects of industrial and commercial noise in neighbouring residential zones. This is particularly relevant in Melbourne and regional urban centres where residential development occurs close to or within the buffer zones of industrial facilities such as waste MRFs and reprocessors.

EPA Victoria, State Environment Protection Policy (Ambient Air Quality and Air Quality Management)

The Air SEPP aims to protect air quality in Victoria and sets goals, monitoring and reporting protocols for six common pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), photochemical oxidants (as ozone), sulphur dioxide (SO2), lead and particles as PM10. The SEPP also includes a separate objective for visibility reducing particles, which is not included in the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM).

Sustainability Victoria, Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan 2015-2044, approved by the Minister for Environment pursuant to Section 50AD of the EP Act

This document provides Victoria with the long-term vision and roadmap to guide future planning for waste and resource recovery infrastructure. It describes the current waste and resource recovery system at the state level and models projections for future trends in waste generation, recovery and landfilling over the next 30 years. The goals are:

Landfills will only be for receiving and treating waste streams from which all materials that can be viably recovered have been extracted

Materials are made available to the resource recovery market through aggregation and consolidation of volumes to create viability in recovering valuable resources from waste

Waste and resource recovery facilities including landfills are established and managed over their lifetime to provide the best economic, community, environment and public health outcomes for local communities and the state and ensure their impacts are not disproportionately felt across communities.

Targeted information provides the evidence base to inform integrated statewide waste and resource recovery infrastructure planning and investment at the state, regional and local levels by industry, councils, WRRGs, government agencies and the broader community.

Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans

Ministerial Guideline prepared for the purposes of Section 50CA of the EP Act

Council waste management plans and strategies

Currently each council has a Council Plan, and some have Waste Management Strategies or Plans that outline its future direction and commitments. Each plan details a number of objectives, goals and strategies that relate to waste management either directly or indirectly.


DOCUMENT SUMMARY

Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic)

Transport Integration Act 2009 (Vic)

Local Government Act 1989

Public Administration Act 2004

Financial Management Act 1994

Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014

Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)

Climate Change Act 2010

In addition to the specific legislative requirements under the EP Act, these Acts need to be considered in relation their obligations

INTEGRATION OF STATE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WITH SEVEN REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

ACHIEVING THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS

Source: Sustainability Victoria 2015, Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan Victoria 2015 – 44



PROJECT GOVERNANCE

GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST IMPLEMENTATION PLAN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

GROUP ROLE

GCWWRRG Board

The GCWWRRG Board is a statutory agency acting as the Project Control Board (PCB) for the project. The Board will provide feedback and final approval on project plans, engagement plans, budgets and key drafts throughout the process. The Board will monitor the implementation of the project plan and key risks throughout the process. Reports on the progress of the project and key risks will be provided on at least a bi-monthly basis.

Grampians Central West Implementation Plan Working Group

The Grampians Central West Implementation Plan Working Group is made up of representatives from SV, council staff, the Grampians Central West WRRG Board and Staff. The group will provide advice and feedback on key processes and documents as required. Any major changes or recommendations will be approved by the Board.

GCW Project Team

A working group made up of Grampians Central West WRRG staff has also been formed to oversee the project planning and delivery. This group includes the Executive Officer, Manager Infrastructure Planning, Manager Procurement, Community Engagement Coordinator and the Project Support Officer, as well as other staff as required.

Local Government Waste Forum

Representatives of all 12 councils across the region meet quarterly and are consulted and engaged throughout the development of the regional implementation plan at forum meetings, through meetings with each council and through the Technical Advisors Reference Group (TARG).

EXTERNAL GROUP ROLE

The Statewide Implementation Plan Working Group

The Statewide Working Group consists of SV, DELWP, the EPA and all Victorian WRRGs. The role of this group is to share information and ensure a consistent approach to Implementation Plan development, which aligns with the State Infrastructure Plan.


APPENDIX FIVE – INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULING PROCESS – GCWWRRG

PROCESS ACTIONS TAKEN

Stage 1 – Regional assessment of infrastructure and options: Using information, data and direction provided by the State Infrastructure Plan, combined with additional regional specific information and data as required, WRRGs need to undertake an assessment of current resource recovery and landfill infrastructure and assess the options to manage projected future waste tonnages. The most suitable overall option/s that takes into consideration regional needs and State Infrastructure Plan direction should then be used to develop the infrastructure schedule.

i. Assess the current and projected regional waste generation by waste type

GCWWRRG in collaboration with Sustainability Victoria, compiled all available data for wasted managed in the region. This data was assessed by an independent consultant utilising projected population growth and current trends to provide a base line of waste generated in the region under a business as usual scenario.

ii. Assess and map the current waste and resource recovery infrastructure capacity by type

GCWWRRG in collaboration with Sustainability Victoria, gathered information from industry and Councils regarding the infrastructure, materials accepted and capacity of each facility throughout the region and fed this information into the state data base. The evaluation of each facility capacity was undertaken by an independent consultant to project when additional capacity would likely be required. Site locations were identified utilising GIS coordinates to map each facility.

iii. Assess options to manage projected wastes to be managed

A needs and gaps analysis was carried out based on current infrastructure capacity and needs within the region. It was determined that additional capacity for resource recovery was required to meet the needs of the region and reduce material going to landfill. It was determined no additional landfill airspace was required within the region in the next 10 years. GCWWRRG together with the Barwon South Western WRRG conducted a market sounding process seeking information from industry, Councils, and the community in relation to potential new and/or increased infrastructure for resource recovery within the region. The market sounding process also provided an avenue for the industry to review and have input into the list of waste and resource recovery infrastructure which had been compiled at Stage 2.


Stage 2 – Scheduling resource recovery infrastructure: Based on the outcomes of stage 1, current and new resource recovery infrastructure can be scheduled. Based on the assessment completed in stage 1(iii) the scheduling of current and any additional resource recovery infrastructure is completed. Section 50BB (1)(c)(i) and (ii) of the EP Act requires that for resource recovery infrastructure, the following is detailed: the type, general location, other requirements, and timeframe for when new infrastructure is estimated to be required. The schedule should include all infrastructure that is, or is expected to be, recovering waste that is managed within the region.

Following completion of the assessment of existing and proposed infrastructure, the Schedules within the draft Implementation Plan were developed.


Stage 3 – Scheduling landfill infrastructure: Based on the outcomes of stages 1 and 2, the scheduling of landfill infrastructure can be completed. The projected landfill requirements should be based on the projections of regional waste tonnages to be managed less the tonnages of waste that is expected to be processed by the scheduled resource recovery infrastructure and wastes transferred to another Waste and Resource Recovery Region. Sections 50BB (1)(a) (ii), (iv), (v), (vi) of the EP Act are particularly relevant to scheduling landfill infrastructure.

i. Assess projected landfill disposal

Based on the results of the options assessment in stage 1(iii) and the scheduling of resource recovery infrastructure at stage 2, an assessment of the landfill tonnages requiring disposal over the next ten years was completed.

ii. No additional landfill capacity required

All current operating landfills have been included in the landfill schedule for the Grampians Central West region. GCWWRRG consulted with EPA Victoria and Councils to ensure all facilities with either Planning Permits or Works Approval to develop a new landfill facility within the Grampians Central West region have been identified.

iii. Additional landfill capacity required

Not Required. The need for additional landfill airspace will be reviewed in three to five years.



APPENDIX SIX – MAPS

A BASE MAP OF GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION

B EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

C HUBS OF STATE IMPORTANCE

D HUBS OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE

E LANDFILL FACILITY – MADDINGLEY BROWN COAL

F LANDFILL FACILITY – BALLARAT REGIONAL LANDFILL (SMYTHESDALE)

G LANDFILL FACILITY – STATEWIDE WASTE REGIONAL LANDFILL

H LANDFILL FACILITY – DOOEN LANDFILL


A BASE MAP OF GRAMPIANS CENTRAL WEST REGION



B EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE


C HUBS OF STATE IMPORTANCE



D HUBS OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE


E LANDFILL FACILITY – MADDINGLEY BROWN COAL



F LANDFILL FACILITY – BALLARAT REGIONAL LANDFILL (SMYTHESDALE)


G LANDFILL FACILITY – STATEWIDE WASTE REGIONAL LANDFILL

STATEWIDE RECYCLING SERVICES PTY LTD



H LANDFILL FACILITY – DOOEN LANDFILL


APPENDIX SEVEN – COLLABORATION PROCESS AND CONSULTATION OUTCOMES

During the development of the plan, GCWWRRG has undertaken an extensive consultation program across the region to ensure that all stakeholders have had an opportunity to provide input into the Regional Implementation Plan. This has been done using the 2015 the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) Public Consultation Guidelines as a framework for the consultation process. This has involved extensive consultation with all 12 councils, industry, business, community organisations and the provision of information to the community.

The objectives of the consultation on the development of the Regional Implementation Plan is to:

1. Ensure the stakeholders and the community have sufficient opportunity to make comments on the consultation draft of the Regional Implementation Plan.

2. Ensure the consultation process for the draft Regional Implementation Plan is comprehensive and effective, thereby allowing as many stakeholder and community representatives to provide feedback as possible.

3. To ensure that the consultation period continues to foster robust relationships with key stakeholders and the community thereby ensuring there is an ongoing dialogue.

Recommendations identified in the report on public participation in decision-making prepared by VAGO have been considered in the development of our plan and the IAP2 Spectrum of public participation provides the framework for engaging with stakeholders and the community, as demonstrated in Figure 15.

FIGURE 15. THE IAP2 SPECTRUM

The EP Act requires the WRRGs and SV to work together to integrate the priorities and directions of the Regional Implementation Plans and the State Infrastructure Plan and to resolve any differences in the plans. In addition, it is a requirement of this guideline that each WRRG must

work collaboratively with their adjacent WRRGs to ensure that, to the extent practicable, their respective regional implementation plans are consistent, and document in an annexure to the regional implementation plans, an outline of the collaboration process and outcomes achieved.

To achieve this, the collaboration process is detailed in the Annexure on the next page.

Community Community Groups Councils State Government Authorities

Community Groups Councils State Government Authorities Environment Portfolio Waste Industry Waste Producers Resource Recovery Industry

Project Control group Councils Adjacent WRRGs Waste Producers Waste Industry Waste Technology Providers Resource Recovery Industry

Environment Portfolio Councils Forum Waste Industry Recovery Industry Resource Recovery Industry

GCWWRRG Board Councils State Government Waste and Resource Recovery Industry



ANNEXURE: GOVERNMENT AGENCY COLLABORATION TO ACHIEVE COORDINATED PLANNING

This annexure documents the process undertaken by the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group (GCWWRRG) to collaborate with other Groups (WRRGs) to achieve a coordinated approach to planning for Victoria’s waste and resource recovery system.

GCWWRRG collaborated with the waste and resource recovery portfolio agencies, comprising the other six WRRGs, DELWP, EPA and SV. Collaboration over the two years occurred both as a collective and through collaboration with individual WRRGs.

GCWWRRG collaborated with the portfolio through:

A statewide regional implementation plan working group, which met monthly throughout the development process. It facilitated a consistent approach to interpret and apply the legislation and guidelines, inform the development of documented guidance material, consistent definitions and approach to data analysis and enabled groups to collectively solve problems and devise practical solutions

A shared approach to establish a data system to capture and analyse data from a range of sources, a study to identify consistent financial and environmental performance factors and a survey to capture re-processor information

A risk workshop identified common and shared risks, which informed the high level approach to contingency plans

An integration conference (September 2016) addressed final alignment issues, including cross-regional flows and contingency measures

An industry forum to engage collectively regarding the six regional implementation plans;

Sharing of information and draft material throughout

Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group Chairs meeting

Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Group Executive Officer Forum

Grampians Central West Implementation Plan (RWRRIP) working group, convened by GCWWRRG

Waste and Resource Recovery Project Control Board, convened by DELWP

A statewide communications and engagement working group which monthly throughout the development process including SV communications and engagement staff and regional engagement coordinators. These meetings were convened by SV and enabled the sharing of ideas, positive and negative example of communications and engagement, engagement opportunities which led to a higher standard of community engagement

Other meetings with SV and WRRGs.

GCWWRRG also collaborated with individual WRRGs, which included:

Cross checking information with specific WRRGs (adjacent or otherwise) in relation to cross regional flows

Shared market assessment activity – Market Sounding (Request for Information) combined with Barwon South West WRRG as outlined in Part 4.7 and below

Formal correspondence with other groups, especially Barwon South West, Loddon Mallee and Metropolitan WRRGs – and outcomes (e.g. consideration of landfill scheduling with of needs in other regions, cross-regional waste flows including Maddingley Brown Coal, etc.).

As a result of the collaborative approach, the following outcomes were achieved:

Efficiencies in the engagement with the waste and resource recovery sector

Comprehensive data set using the same methodology, represented consistently in the regional plans and which will also be reflected in the statewide plan

Consistent terminology used throughout the plans

Infrastructure schedules which are consistent across the state

Consistent response to statewide policy

Cross-regional flows and opportunities considered

Commitment to annual contingency planning across the state

Commonality of priority actions, including statewide priorities

Enhanced relationships with and between the WRGGs, as well as with councils, industry and the community

Commitment to a review of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan with consideration of neighbouring WRRG review schedules.


STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND CONSULTATION PROCESS

GCWWRRG undertook stakeholder engagement throughout all phases of the development of the Grampians Central West Implementation Plan. The consultation process aligns with the EP Act and Guideline: Making, amending and integrating the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan and Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans (Guideline), developed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

These guidelines stipulated minimum consultation requirements, and require SV, the Metropolitan and Regional WRRGs to work together to ensure that the long term strategic directions of the State Infrastructure Plan are appropriately addressed.

The requirements for consultation outlined the EP Act and Guideline have been meet. The following summary highlights the overall consultation and engagement process undertaken.

Engagement Process Overview

Engagement activities occurred throughout the development of the Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group – Implementation Plan Consultation Draft in four main phases:

Market Sounding Process

Pre-Draft Engagement

Public Consultation

Portfolio Consultation and Integration.

Market Sounding Process

GCWWRRG undertook the Market Sounding (Request for Information) process to engage with the waste and resource recovery industry in order to understand its plans and aspirations. This process is outlined in Part 4.7. A total of 21 proponents presented submissions, proposing a range of waste and resource recovery infrastructure options to service the region. The information gathered through this process formed a key input into the consultation draft, in particular the Infrastructure Schedule.

Pre-Draft Engagement Activities

The purpose of pre-draft engagement was to inform the contents of the consultation draft. Activities included:

a workshop with the Grampians Central West Local Government Waste Forum

multiple workshops and meetings with the Grampians Central West Local Government Technical Officers Advisory Group

engaging with each local government via a briefing with the CEO and senior management, Mayor and Councillors

targeted engagement with council representatives in strategic areas

targeted engagement with industry representatives in strategic areas

the Melbourne Industry Consultation Forum: Regional Implementation Plans, involving 30 industry representatives from across the state and convened by SV and all regional WRRGs.

Public Consultation

The purpose of the public consultation process was to gather feedback on the consultation draft, and to identify further issues, interests and information. This information was used to inform the final Grampians Central West Implementation Plan.

The consultation draft was released in August 2016 for five weeks (1 August - 2 September). A range of engagement activities with industry, local government, state government and the community were conducted. Activities included:

three briefing sessions and targeted workshops with Council CEOs and Mayors

three targeted workshops with industry, council officers and Councillors

three open public interactive evenings for the general public (and industry and government)

multiple radio segments

a presentation to two community organisations and an open offer and invitation to attend any community group;

a presentation to the Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat

Information to the VLAA

a presentation at the Victorian Waste Education Strategy Conference: Measuring Success convened by SV and GCWWRRG

online portal hosting information and multiple ways to provide feedback – a survey, direct comment or formal submission.

Throughout the consultation period general feedback on the consultation draft was sought, with a focus on the 9 Priority Actions and Infrastructure Schedules.



Engagement activities were undertaken in strategic locations throughout the Grampians Central West region to ensure an even geographic spread and access by industry and the public. Key sites were Horsham, Ararat, and Ballarat. The consultation was extremely successful, with a high level of involvement from local government, industry, community organisations and the general public. It is estimated that over 300 people participated the various consultation sessions.

FIGURE 16. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POSTER

Further consultation details - Key stakeholders

A wide range of stakeholders were engaged throughout this process, which included:

The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and the previous Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water

Portfolio partners: Secretary, Chairpersons and staff from DELWP, EPA Victoria, SV, Victorian Planning Authority

Other Victorian Government agencies including Regional Development Victoria

Regional WRRGs

Local Government CEOs, staff and Councillors

Industry and Industry Representative Associations

Community.


Other Victorian Government agencies

Government agencies such as Regional Development Victoria were contacted directly by letter announcing the release of the consultation draft and encouraging a formal submission. Face to face meetings were also held.

Local Government and Industry

Councils play a pivotal role in local and regional waste management and as such it was critical that they were actively engaged in the pre-engagement activities as well as the public consultation phase and finalising the plan.

During the pre-engagement activities, a workshop was conducted with the Local Government Waste Forum in late 2015 to inform the development of key objectives and actions for the plan. During this time, GCWWRRG undertook briefings with each Council Chief Executive Officer, and their senior management, along with the Mayor and Councillors, to advise them of and involve them with this important strategic waste and resource recovery planning for the region.

All councils in the Grampians Central West Region received letters announcing the release of the consultation draft and encouraging formal submissions.

The consultation draft of the Regional Implementation Plan and the consultation period was launched at the Local Government Waste Forum in Great Western on 5 August 2016.

During the public consultation phase, GCWWRRG facilitated three workshops which targeted industry and local government staff and Councillors. These events were attended by 98 individuals including industry representatives and on behalf of 11 out of 12 councils representing interests in waste education, planning and waste infrastructure and maintenance. The feedback from this session was collated with the formal submissions and considered in the final plan.

GCWWRRG facilitated three breakfast briefings for Local Government Chief Executive Officers and Mayors which was attended by the majority of councils in our region.

During the preparation of the final plan one-on-one consultation occurred with councils to clarify submission feedback and content in the plan.

Community

Public events were advertised and held in Horsham, Ararat and Ballarat and were attended by over 80 individuals. GCWWRRG received 25 direct submissions and 43 online surveys.

An offer was made from staff to be available to attend any community group or organisation to present an overview of the Regional Implementation Plan consultation draft, which was only taken up by two community organisations including the Horsham Tidy Towns Committee and the Wimmera Sustainability Alliance.

As well as consulting councils, industry and the community, Section 50BC of the EP Act identifies the persons that a WRRG must consult prior to submitting the plan to Sustainability Victoria and EPA. These included the:

Secretary of DELWP

Chairperson of EPA

Chairperson of SV

Chairperson of each WRRG

Chairperson of Places Victoria

CEO of each Council in the region.

Confidentiality and probity

GCWWRRG in managing and utilising data obtained from local government, industry and the community has considered matters of confidentiality in how data and information has been stored, used and provided in the Regional Implementation Plan. An overall risk register was prepared and maintained and issues of risk and probity have been considered throughout the development of the Regional Implementation Plan to ensure fairness, impartiality, consistency and transparency of process. In the undertaking of the Market Sounding (Request for Information) assessment that informed the Regional Implementation Plan, an individual probity plan was developed that set out the overall probity requirements that applied to the Market Sounding to ensure processes demonstrated fairness, integrity and impartiality of deliberations.



APPENDIX EIGHT – GLOSSARY

TERM EXPLANATION

Aggregate Coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are a component of composite materials such as concrete and asphalt concrete.

Airspace The remaining capacity of a landfill.

Aerobic Composting The controlled biological decomposition of organic materials under aerobic (in the presence of oxygen) conditions, accomplished in open or enclosed windrows or piles.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Biological breakdown by microorganisms of organic matter, in the absence of oxygen, into biogas (a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane) and digestate (a nutrient-rich residue).

Biogas or Syngas A gas generated by breaking down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, such as occurs in landfills. Biogas is typically comprised of 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide, and can be used as an energy source.

Biomass Biological material that is not fossilised, including forest and mill residues, agricultural crops and waste, wood and wood waste, animal waste, livestock operation residues, aquatic plants, fast growing trees and plants.

Biosolids

Biosolids are considered to be organic solids derived from sewage treatment processes that are in a state that they can be managed to sustainably utilise their nutrient, soil conditioning, energy, or other value (achieve minimum EPA standards for classification as T3 and C2 biosolids). The solids that do not meet these criteria are defined as sewage sludge.

Buffer zone

Buffer zones, or separation distances, aim to minimise the off-site impacts of sensitive land uses arising from unintended, industry generated odour and dust emissions. A buffer zone is an area of land outside the operating area of a facility that is set aside to maintain an adequate distance between the facility and sensitive land uses (such as residential development) so those uses are not adversely affected by noise, odour or dust. The land may or may not be owned by the facility owner.

Category C contaminated soil Refer to Prescribed Waste and Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW)

Collection system System for collecting materials from the kerbside, including bin type and collection frequency.

Comingled recyclables

Materials combined generally for the purposes of collection, mainly through municipal collection services. Includes plastic bottles, other plastics, paper, glass and metal containers. Commingled recyclable materials require sorting after collection before they can be recycled. Can also be called commingled materials.

Commercial & Industrial (C&I) waste

Solid inert waste generated from trade, commercial and industrial activities including the government sector. It includes waste from offices, manufacturing, factories, schools, universities, state and government operations and small to medium enterprises e.g. food waste.

Composting The process whereby organic materials are microbiologically transformed under controlled aerobic conditions to create a pasteurised and stabilised organic product for application to land.

Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste

Solid inert waste generated from residential and commercial construction and demolition activities e.g. bricks and concrete.

Council Local Government Area

Clean fill Material that has no harmful effects on the environment. This material is a natural soil material and does not contain any chemicals or other materials such as concrete rubble. Also called fill material.

Closed landfill

Landfill which have ceased to receive waste. During the decommissioning phase they may continue to receive clean fill and soils to undertake the appropriate capping and contouring. If it was a licenced landfill, it should have received a post closure pollution abatement notice (PC PAN) from the EPA. If exempt from licensing, there should be reassurance that the closure process has commenced or is in place.

Cullet Sorted glass feedstock resulting from the beneficiation process of mixed container glass. Generally, consists of sorted streams of amber, flint and green glass of particle size greater that 5-10 mm depending on the capacity of the beneficiation plant.

Current capacity of infrastructure Estimate of the installed capacity of an existing facility or infrastructure type.

Daily cover The layer of compressed soil or earth which is laid on top of a day’s deposition of waste on an operational landfill site. The cover helps prevent interaction between waste and air, reducing odours and creating a firm base for vehicles to work on.

Domestic (Waste) Sources Domestic waste is waste that is generated as a result of the ordinary day-to-day use of a domestic premise.


TERM EXPLANATION

Drop-off centre/site A facility where households can drop-off selected materials and household items for recycling and reuse. Also called drop-off facilities.

Duty holder Any person who has a duty or obligation under the EP Act 1970.

E-waste E-waste comprises of electronic equipment with a plug or battery that requires a current to operate and that has reached end of life. It includes televisions, computers, monitors and whitegoods such as fridges and washing machines.

Energy from Waste

The terms ‘energy recovery from waste’, ‘waste to energy’ or ‘energy from waste’ can be used interchangeably to describe a number of treatment processes and technologies used to generate a usable form of energy from waste materials. Examples of usable forms of energy include electricity, heat and transport fuels.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA)

Established under the auspices of the Environment Protection Act 1970, EPA’s role is to be an effective environmental regulator and an influential authority on environmental impacts.

Existing operating landfill Landfills currently accepting waste for disposal or have recently ceased to accept waste but are yet to receive a PC PAN from the EPA.

Feedstock Raw material used to manufacture products. Material varies depending on what is being produced.

Fill material See Clean fill.

Food organics Food waste from households or industry, including food processing waste, out-of-date or off-specification food, meat, fruit and vegetable scraps. Excludes liquid wastes.

Garden organics Organics derived from garden sources e.g. grass clippings, tree pruning’s. Also known as green organics.

Gasification Thermal technology that converts material into combustible gases by partial oxidation under the application of heat, leaving an inert residue.

Generation tonnages The sum of the state landfill tonnes and state tonnes reprocessed using VRIAS data. Because this modelling uses landfill data, generation tonnages differ from those in previous drafts of the State infrastructure plan due to no allowance being made for daily cover.

Generation rate The sum of products and waste materials that are recycled, recovered for energy or disposed to landfill.

Green organics See Garden organics.

Greenhouse gases Gases, including carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, affecting weather and climate patterns.

Hard waste The term applied to household garbage that is not usually accepted into kerbside garbage bins by councils’ e.g. old fridges and mattresses.

Hazardous waste See Prescribed Waste and Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW).

Hubs A facility or group of facilities that manage or recover waste or material streams. For larger hubs, the concentration of facilities enable sufficient waste derived feedstock to support viable reprocessing and best practice management options. The location of hubs will vary for individual material streams.

Illegal dumping Illegal dumping is the deliberate and unauthorised dumping, tipping or burying of waste on land that is not licenced or fit to accept that waste.

Incinerator/Incineration For the purpose of this document, a site that facilitates the disposal of waste streams through incineration (the act of burning by thermal treatment) without producing another useful end product or capturing value from the waste material.

Inert waste Inert waste is neither chemically nor biologically reactive and will not decompose. Includes glass, sand and concrete.

Interchange Facility A standalone facility where a material stream is directly consolidated for immediate transport to a reprocessor. Do not undertake processing activities.

In-vessel composting

Composting technology involving the use of a fully enclosed chamber or vessel in which the composting process is controlled by regulating the rate of mechanical aeration. Aeration assists in heat removal, temperature control and oxygenation of the mass. Aeration is provided to the chamber by a blower fan which can work in a positive (blowing) and/or negative (sucking) mode. Rate of aeration can be controlled with temperature, oxygen or carbon dioxide feedback signals.

Kerbside waste/collection Waste collected by local councils from residential properties, including garbage, commingled recyclables and garden organics, but excluding hard waste.

Landfill Discharge or deposit of solid wastes onto land that cannot be practically removed from the waste stream.

Landfill BPEM: Best practice environmental management

Facility management in line with EPA publication in Best Practice Environmental Management – siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills.

Landfill capping

An impermeable geo-membrane and/or clay materials with, possibly a further layer of soil placed over the capping. Capping allows greenhouse gases to be captured and creates a ‘dry tomb’, protecting groundwater. (Once a landfill cell is filled, the waste matter must be covered with landfill capping).



TERM EXPLANATION

Landfill Levy

A levy applied at differential rates to municipal, C&I and prescribed wastes disposed of at licenced landfills in Victoria. Landfill levies are used solely for the purposes of environment protection and fostering environmentally sustainable use of resources and best practice in waste management. They fund the activities of WRRGs, SV and EPA, helping to establish waste management infrastructure, industry waste reduction programs, education programs, regulatory controls and enforcement regimes. Levies also provide an incentive to minimise the generation of waste, sending a signal to industry that the government supports efforts to develop alternatives to disposal to landfill. Also known as the Municipal Industrial Landfill Levy (MILL).

Landfill likely closure dates

An estimate of the likely year of closure of the landfill based on consideration of modelled tonnage projections and land available under current EPA works approval, planning and permit requirements and potential void space that may eventuate at a quarry-based landfill site as identified by owners and operators.

Landfill tonnages

Tonnes landfill derived from landfill levy data supplied by EPA. Do not include prescribed industrial waste (PIW). There has been no allowance for daily cover which must be considered when comparing figures with those earlier drafts of the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (state infrastructure plan). Previously landfill figures were adjusted to remove a 15% allowance for daily cover.

Leachate Contaminated water that has percolated through or drained from a landfill.

Litter Any small, medium or large item placed inappropriately.

Materials recovered Materials recovered refers to materials diverted from landfill for use or reprocessing irrespective of where the recovery or reprocessing takes place.

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

A centre for the receipt, sorting and transfer of materials recovered from the waste stream prior to transport to another facility for recovery and management. At a MRF, materials may undergo mechanical treatment for sorting by characteristics such as weight, size, magnetism, and optical density, which may include cleaning and compression. Materials may be received as mixed streams such as comingled recyclables from households and business or single streams such as metals.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Solid waste generated from municipal and residential activities, and including waste collected by, or on behalf of, a municipal council. In this document, MSW does not refer to waste delivered to municipal disposal sites by commercial operators or waste from municipal demolition projects.

Open windrow composting operation

A type of outdoor composting process where organic materials are piled in to windrows and are turned for aeration.

Optical sorting Technologies used to sort glass by colour type, and plastics by polymer type.

Organic material Plant or animal matter originating from domestic or industrial sources e.g. grass clippings, tree prunings and food waste.

Pollution Abatement Notice (PAN)

Pollution abatement notices are issued under Section 31A of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act). They aim to prevent further occurrence of pollution or the potential environmental risk through installation of risk controls and changes to on-site processes and practices.

Prescribed Waste / Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW)

These wastes are defined in the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009. EPA closely regulates these wastes because of their potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Prescribed wastes carry special handling, storage, transport and often licensing requirements, and attract substantially higher disposal levies than non-prescribed solid wastes. Also known as hazardous waste.

Private (Own Waste) Landfills Landfills private owned by an entity that generate and deposit waste exclusively from a single source (arising from their own onsite activities)

Product stewardship A concept of shared responsibility by all sectors involved in the manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of products, which seeks to ensure value is recovered from products at the end of life.

Public Place Recycling (PPR) Recycling facilities found in public areas, such as parks, reserves, transport hubs, shopping centres and sport and entertainment venues that allow the community to recycle when away from home.

Putrescible Waste Waste that readily decomposes, including food waste and organic waste from gardens.

Pyrolysis Thermal breakdown of waste in the absence of air, to produce char, pyrolysis oil and syngas e.g. the conversion of wood into charcoal.

Recovered tonnages Unless stated otherwise, tonnes of materials entering reprocessing facilities. No direct correlation to how much was reprocessed as there is no data on tonnes stockpiled by reprocessors or tonnes landfilled by reprocessors. Therefore, referred to as “recovered” rather than “reprocessed”.

Recovery In the context of the waste hierarchy, recovery means energy recovery, typically via a waste to energy facility.

Recovery Rate(s) Used generally to describe material recovery, that is recycling, and energy recovery.

Recyclable Materials Waste collected separately and sent for recycling. For the purposes of this implementation plan incorporates container glass, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, paper, cardboard and garden organics.


TERM EXPLANATION

Recyclables While this term strictly applies to all materials that may be recycled, in this document the term is generally used to refer to the recyclable containers and paper / cardboard component of kerbside waste e.g. it excludes garden organics.

Recyclate Raw materials that can be recyclable that is sent to, processed in a waste recycling facility.

Recycle/Recycling A term that may be used to cover a wide range of activities, including collection, sorting, converting/reprocessing waste into a reusable material and manufacture/reuse into new products.

Reprocessing/Reprocess

Changing the physical structure and properties of a waste material by an industrial process, that would otherwise have been sent to landfill, to change and add potential financial value to the processed material. Without reprocessing, the beneficial use of waste materials would be lost and could not be used again. Materials or wastes that pass through a reprocessing facility.

Reprocessing facilities / infrastructure

See Reprocessor(s).

Reprocessor(s)

Facility that shall change the physical structure and properties of a waste material by an industrial process, that would otherwise have been sent to landfill, to change and add potential financial value to the processed material. Without reprocessing, the beneficial use of waste materials would be lost and could not be used again. This may include a facility that dismantles products such as tyres, E-waste and mattresses. This may include EfW facilities as the material is used to generate energy.

Resale centre/ shop A centre/ shop that enables the sale and subsequent re-use of good quality, saleable products and materials that were disposed of by their previous owner.

Residual waste

Residual material that remains after any source separation or reprocessing activities of recyclable materials or garden organics. Waste that is left over after suitable materials have been recovered for reuse and recycling. This generally means the environmental or economic costs of further separating and cleaning the waste are greater than any potential benefit of doing so.

Resource Recovery The process of recovering resources (obtaining matter or energy) from discarded materials/waste for reuse or reprocessing. Including managing materials through collection, sorting, aggregation and/or converting. Occurs at resource recovery centres.

Resource Recovery Centre

Facilities established whose primary purpose is to receive, sort, aggregate and consolidate and/or recover reusable and recyclable materials, prior to transport to another facility for recovery or management, that would otherwise be destined for disposal. Can be combined with a transfer station and may include resale centres. They may be designed to receive specific material streams such as metals or organics or to receive multiple streams such as those from households including residual waste.

Re-use Recovering value from a discarded resource without processing or remanufacture e.g. garments sold though opportunity shops are, strictly speaking, a form of re-use, rather than recycling.

Rounding of data As a general rule, all of the data is rounded to the nearest thousand. This may result in minor discrepancies between totals and line items. Graphs, charts and modelling were generated using non-rounded data. Any exceptions are referenced.

Sectors, industry sectors Groupings of industries used to generalise patterns in waste generation and disposal e.g. construction and demolition, food services including food retail and food manufacturing, small to medium enterprises.

Separation distance

Area set aside to maintain an adequate distance between the facility and sensitive land uses such as residential development, so those uses are not adversely affected by noise, odour or dust. The land may or may not be owned by the facility owner. Residences and businesses in a rural or industrial zone are not classified as sensitive land uses.

Shredder floc Residue directly arising from large scale shredding operations to recover metals. Shredded material includes, but is not limited to, end of life vehicles, white goods, machineries, drums and corrugated material.

Social license to operate

The concept of a ‘social license to operate’ has evolved from broader concepts of ‘corporate social responsibility’ and is based on the idea that a business not only needs appropriate government or regulatory approval but also a ‘social license’. The social license is the acceptance that is continually granted to industry and facility operators by the local community or other stakeholders to operate.

Solid Industrial Waste (SIW)

Solid waste generated from commercial, industrial or trade activities, including waste from factories, offices, schools, universities, state and federal government operations and commercial construction and demolition work. Excludes MSW, wastes that are prescribed under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and quarantine wastes.

Solid waste Non-hazardous, non-prescribed, solid waste materials, ranging from municipal garbage to industrial waste.

Source Separation The practice of segregating materials into discrete material streams prior to collection by, or delivery to, processing facilities.



TERM EXPLANATION

Spokes

The sequence of activities that move materials from waste generators to (and from) hubs e.g. collection, transport and sorting. The length of the spoke and hence the location of the hub for a particular material stream is influenced by the impact of transport on the margin of return for that particular material stream.

Stockpiling Storage of materials.

Sustainability Victoria (SV)

Statutory authority established in October 2005 under the Sustainability Victoria Act 2005 with the key objective of ‘facilitating and promoting environmental sustainability in the use of resources’. SV works across the areas of energy, waste and water with communities, industries and government applying the best ideas and encouraging action to enable change in environmental practices.

Treatment A specific activity, process or handling of an item/material (often involved with reprocessing to remove contamination and the like)

Transfer Station

A facility allowing the drop-off and consolidation of garbage and a wide range of recyclable materials. Can be combined with a Resource Recovery Centre and may include resale centres. Do not undertake reprocessing activities. They may be designed to receive specific material streams such as metals or organics or to receive multiple streams such as those from households including residual waste.

Waste Any discarded, rejected, unwanted, surplus or abandoned matter, including where intended for recycling, reprocessing, recovery, purification or sale.

Anything that is no longer valued by its owner for use or sale and which is, or will be, discarded. In this document, the term ‘solid waste’ refers to non-hazardous, non-prescribed, solid waste materials ranging from municipal garbage to industrial waste.

Waste/Materials generated Materials or waste generated in the region refers to materials or wastes originating from the region.

Waste generation The rate in which waste is generated

Waste/Materials managed

Materials or waste managed in the region refers to materials or wastes that have passed through or been managed at a waste and resource recovery facility in the region including RRC/TYS, MRF’s reprocessors or landfills. The materials or wastes may have been generated within this region or in another region and they ultimately will be reprocessed or disposed of within this region or in another region.

Waste and Resource Recovery Group (WRRG)

Statutory authorities established under the Environment Protection Act 1970 responsible for preparing the Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan for their region.

Waste and Resource Recovery Planning Framework

The planning framework as defined in the amendments to the Environment Protection Act 1970 and including: The Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (State Infrastructure Plan) The seven Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans (Regional

Implementation Plans) Relevant Ministerial Guidelines made under Section 50CA of the Act The process for integration of the State Infrastructure Plan and Regional Implementation Plans.

Waste management industry Applies to those involved in managing waste e.g. collectors, sorters, processors and landfill operators.

Waste minimisation The concept of, and strategies for, waste generation to be kept to a minimum level in order to reduce the requirement for waste collection, handling and disposal to landfill. Also referred to as waste avoidance.

Waste to Energy Refer to Energy from Waste.

Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group

PO Box 292Wendouree VIC 3355

P: 0409 093 382

For more information please visit recyclingrevolution.com.au