Councils in Melbourne’s south-east have joined together to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd to deliver new infrastructure to process household waste.
The SPV will transition to become the procuring entity for the advanced waste processing facility, with support from Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG). It will award the contract for the procurement before managing the contract for the ongoing operation of the facility.
An SPV is a company with its own assets, liabilities and legal identity. Independent legal advice identified an SPV was the most viable way to facilitate the procurement of an advanced waste processing facility for councils.
The tender is the largest ever undertaken in Melbourne for new infrastructure to process household waste and is expected to attract multi-million dollar investment and create temporary jobs during construction as well as permanent operating jobs.
Following MWRRG’s call for an expression of interest for an alternative to landfill for councils in Melbourne’s south-east, the procurement has progressed with three shortlisted respondents – Orbis Energy, Sacyr Environment Australia and Veolia Environmental Services Australia.
Councils will work with the respondents to ensure their social, environmental and economic objectives are met and a reliable solution is put forward during the development stage. This stage is currently in progress and is expected to be completed later this year.
Advanced waste processing facilities use proven technologies to put household waste to more productive use and provide an alternative to sending waste to landfill.
Advanced waste processing will help the Victorian Government deliver its circular economy policy and waste and recycling action plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy – to completely overhaul Victoria’s recycling sector and reduce waste going to landfill, including the target to reduce waste to landfill by 80 per cent.
Mick Cummins, Chief Executive Officer of Bayside City Council, who was elected the Chair of South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd, said the establishment of an SPV is essential for the participating councils to be able to enter into an agreement with a contractor to deliver a facility.
“The SPV will allow councils to secure the economic, environmental, and social benefits from the facility for the community. It will also allow councils guaranteed access to the facility to ensure reliable household waste disposal for the community.
Jill Riseley, Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group, said councils coming together to form an SPV is a major milestone in what is the biggest tender for new waste management infrastructure ever undertaken by councils in Melbourne.
“The new facilities are expected to attract multi-million dollar investment and create up to 400 temporary jobs during construction and up to 100 permanent operating jobs.”
“Our advanced waste processing facility not only has an important role to play as part of the transition to a circular economy in Victoria but will create new jobs and generate private investment in infrastructure.”
For more information visit: www.mwrrg.vic.gov.au
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