COUNCIL is hoping to lock-down a new site for its organic recycling plant within the next three months.
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There is some time pressure starting to build on the project with council still holding on to a state government grant worth $1.35 million.
The $5 million project hit a major hurdle last year when the region’s planning authority highlighted concerns over the facility’s proposed proximity to the airport.
Council then withdrew the development application for the Duri-Wallamore Road site in February.
The staff are looking for alternative sites and trying find an alternative site that suits the technology.
- Council manager of waste operations Dan Coe
Tamworth Regional Council’s manager of waste operations, Dan Coe, wants to have a new site locked-in within the next three months.
“There’s been nothing back to council since we withdraw the initial DA for the original parcel of land in February,” Mr Coe told The Leader.
“The staff are looking for alternative sites and trying to find an alternative site that suits the technology, or if there a new technology out there that suits an alternative suit.
“We’re probably 90 per cent of the way getting that done so we can present that council.
“Once they see that information, they can make a decision about whether we move forward with the project.”
READ MORE:
- No green light for organic waste recycling plant
- Worries aired over potential recycling facility
- Funded in part by a $1.35m state government grant, the facility will extend the life of the Tamworth tip
- Neighbours of a proposed $5 million organic waste recycling plant have said the planned location is “just crazy”
It was hoped the organic recycling plant would process about 23,000 tonnes of green and food waste which would have otherwise ended-up in landfill.
There is some pressure to deliver the project in the near future with council receiving a state government grant to establish the facility.
“We’re probably behind on that now,” Mr Coe said.
“We’re working with the EPA and the Environmental Trust around that grant funding to say, ‘look, we withdrew that DA, but council is committed to the project, we’re looking for an alternative site to move on to’.”
He said there were a number of new locations being considered.
“From the staff's perspective, we can go for the next two-to-three months, we’d be hoping we could at least select a site and start moving on with the environmental assessments for that site,” he said.