CORANGAMITE mayor Chris O’Connor has expressed concern about the mushrooming costs of waste disposal tips after the bill for a new pit at the Corangamite Regional Landfill tripled to more than $900,000.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Cr O’Connor said new Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regulations were the prime cause for the huge cost increase for cell 12 at the Corangamite regional landfill at Naroghid, near Camperdown, which will take waste from across the south-west.
He said the new pit took two years to build and under the new EPA guidelines, had to be lined with waterproof plastic liner, as well as low- absorbent clay.
EPA testing and auditing requirements also contributed to delays in getting cell 12 up and running, he said.
“It’s definitely a longer process and this is challenging when our weather limits construction season,” Cr O’Connor said.
“We have raised the question of whether these blanket guidelines are in the best interests of our landfill and community.
“It’s an issue that we will continue to highlight to the EPA and state government.” Cell 12, which is 66 metres wide, 85 metres long and eight metres deep, will take about 40,000 tonnes of waste from across the region during its expected 18-month lifespan.
In the past, such cells had to only be lined with low- absorbent clay.
That requirement has not been a big problem because the Naroghid site was chosen specifically because of its high-quality clay and suitability for landfill.
“The clay at the landfill site is up to 40 metres in depth and that is why we are confident environmental standards are already being achieved,” Cr O’Connor said.
The council received a $250,000 grant to comply with the new EPA standards, but had to meet the other $350,000 increase in construction costs through charges on Corangamite ratepayers and landfill users.
The new cell received its first load of waste last week after the EPA signed off on its use earlier in the month.
Cr O’Connor said plans were already under way to build another waste disposal area, cell 13, to ensure a smooth overlap when cell 12 reached capacity.
“Excavation has already started on cell 13 and we’re increasing the capacity of future cells to take 60,000 tonnes and have an expected lifespan of two years.”
ehimmelreich@fairfaxmedia.com.au
