Major construction works are set to begin on next phase of the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre (the Tip) master plan in coming weeks, which will see the centre upgraded and expanded to meet the demands of a growing population.
A contract to construct the upgrade was recently awarded, with work set to start on the project at the end of September. The works are expected to take 12 months to complete (weather permitting) and will include:
- new weighbridge and overhaul of the site entrance, including a new roundabout
- additional parking, separate entrance and building extension for Tweed JUNKtion (Tip Shop)
- new site office
- new transfer station for waste and recyclable materials
- organics/green waste drop-off area
- new road infrastructure throughout the site using recycled road building materials
- signage improvements for safety, accessibility and customer experience
- replacement/relocation of the primary leachate pond, and
- upgrades to stormwater infrastructure.
Council’s Resource Recovery Unit Coordinator Rod Dawson said this was an exciting step forward for the tip.
“This is great news for Tweed residents as we upgrade our waste recovery services to meet the demands of a growing population and work together to reduce our impact on the natural environment,” Mr Dawson said.
“These changes will improve the functionality of the centre, making it easier for customers to deliver their waste in a safe and efficient manner, with state-of-the art practices used to process the waste.”
Mr Dawson said the works would cause some interruptions during construction.
“We ask our valued customers to be patient while we undertake these exciting changes. We will continue to provide information on the progress of the works as we move toward a better facility,” Mr Dawson said.
“The work will be undertaken while the site remains open and operational, and Council will ensure the safety of customers and staff using the site throughout the upgrade works.”
Sustainability has been at the forefront of the design of the site master plan, which has taken into consideration the recycling needs of the Tweed’s growing community, while still providing waste management and safe disposal options where material is not recoverable or reusable.
“Our vision is to work towards a zero-waste future and the master plan for the site has been designed with that in mind,” Mr Dawson said.
“At every stage of our relationship with products and as they become waste, we need to ask ourselves: can it be avoided, can it be re-used or can it be recycled?
“We support around 30 charities in the Tweed and encourage customers to consider whether their items being dropped off are actually waste or if there is an opportunity for reuse.”
The original Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre Master Plan was developed in 2017 following consultation with members of the community, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the business sector and Tweed Shire Councillors.
Key considerations in developing the master plan were functionality, customer experience and meeting rapid changes in an environment where waste is seen as a resource rather than something we discard into landfill.
The first stage of the master plan included the new organics processing facility which has now been completed and a new engineered landfill cell that is due to start receiving non-recoverable waste in January 2023.
The Tweed Organics Processing Facility opened in August 2021 and has been processing organic material from Tweed’s green organic bins for more than 12 months. The facility also started accepting organics from some adjoining Councils in July 2022.
