Friday, March 29, 2024

Mitchell Shire turns sod on new resource recovery centre

Reuse and resource recovery will be a priority at Mitchell Shire Council’s new Seymour Resource Recovery Centre, the Council said today.

The benefits of the new better practice facility were highlighted at a sod turning event on Wednesday at the new site.

“This is an important state-of-the-art facility not only for Seymour but for all of Mitchell Shire,” said Mayor, Bill Chisholm.

“Seymour, like all of Mitchell, is seeing significant population growth. This facility is part of preparing for that growth.

“It means the waste management needs of our Shire can be met while prioritising resource recovery and reuse that will help us build a sustainable future and support a circular economy.”

The new facility will be constructed on Council owned land at 470 Seymour Tooborac Rd, Hilldene.

Council says the large site provides flexibility in how the centre can be designed and the waste and resource recovery services that can be provided alongside the existing landfill.

“It also provides good community and truck access with no requirement for trucks to travel through the Seymour township to access the Hume Freeway,” Council said in a statement.

“The construction of a new RRC will ensure Council’s waste infrastructure and services are delivered in accordance with better practice guidelines and can manage future waste needs in the Shire.

“The project will provide a better practice resource recovery for Seymour and the surrounding district and encourage and facilitate greater diversion of waste to landfill and assist in contributing to a circular economy.”

The new RRC is the first investment to form part of Council’s future Hilldene Employment Precinct.

“With the support of the Victorian Government, pre-planning for this future employment precinct is now underway and will seek to address a shortage of industrial land in the area and pave the way for more jobs.”

The original Seymour Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) in Hume and Hovell Road, Seymour was established as a temporary facility on the site of the former Seymour landfill.

Due to planned landfill rehabilitation works in 2018, the former RRC was closed and relocated to a temporary site at the Mitchell Landfill.

The $8 million project is jointly funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($7.4 million) and the Victorian Government’s Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund ($500,000) and the E-Waste Infrastructure Fund ($100,000).

“We’re very thankful to have the support of the Victorian Government to make this important project a reality,” said Mayor Chisholm.

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