Bendigo council has approved a planning permit for the development of an organics processing facility in Huntly, a suburb in northern Bendigo.
Western Composting Technology (WCT) will develop a 6.2 hectare site into an organics facility to process up to 30,000 tonnes of organic waste per annum, primarily from domestic and commercial food and garden waste.
The application stated organic material would be held in a semi-enclosed building and shredded before being placed in climate-controlled vessels to undergo pasteurisation (a heating method to eliminate pathogens).
The material would then be transferred to long rows where it would mature for up to 16 weeks prior to being screened, and the final compost product being dispatched for agricultural and domestic use.
WCT has already received an approved Development Licence from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
A Biosecurity Impact Assessment with the application has already been considered by the EPA. It concluded that proposed biosecurity controls would adequately manage amenity risks in the surrounding area, including the Bendigo Livestock Exchange which is on the same site.
Under the EPA’s approved Development Licence, the facility’s operations would continue to be regulated to ensure it meets its licence conditions.
Andrea Metcalf, City of Greater Bendigo Mayor, said the use and development of the site is suitable for the organics processing facility.
“It is zoned correctly under the Industrial 1 zone, and land within the site that is subject to bushfire or flooding is not being developed,” Metcalf said.
“There are appropriate buffers in place as determined by the EPA to alleviate amenity issues such as noise, dust and odour. WCT has also identified extra processes that will be put in place to manage dust on windier dry days.”
Metcalf said the main operational activities will be restricted to daytime hours and proposed reduction in car parking are reasonable changes to the application.
The council expects the WCT organics facility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create local jobs and reduce double handling of materials.
“A facility dealing mainly with domestic food and organics and green waste would replace the need for the city to cart its organic waste out of the region for treatment,” said Metcalf.
“The establishment of a privately-owned local composting site within 25 kilometres of Bendigo to process up to 30,000 ton of food and garden organics each year is expected to reduce emissions by around 16.3 per cent, in comparison to current kerbside organics disposal arrangements.”
For more information, www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/
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