A $4.65 million loan recently granted to Melton City Council from the State Government will help valuable upgrades continue at the Melton Recycling Facility.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has approved the loan to Council through its Community Infrastructure Loan Scheme, adding to $3 million in funding from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund and $100,000 from Sustainability Victoria.
With planning for Stage Two upgrades currently underway, the loan will help Council prioritise this important project which once complete, is estimated to divert an additional five per cent of materials from landfill.
Stage Two of the Melton Recycling Facility redevelopment will include a new drive-through resource recovery shed and a resale shop at the front of facility, encouraging better separation and recycling, particularly of items in good condition and fit for reuse (including furniture, bikes and building materials).
A new sorting shed and loading tunnel for bulk haul transporting, additional resource recovery and storage capacity will also be constructed in Stage Two.
The works are expected to deliver a return on investment in just four years and all sales from the resale shop will continue to go directly back into funding programs for people with disabilities.
City of Melton Mayor Cr Lara Carli welcomed the loan scheme contribution for helping to ensure the timely delivery of the Stage Two redevelopment.
“These upgrades are set to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by an additional five per cent. It’s a significant achievement which will also cut our CO2 emissions by 760 tonne per year,” she said.
“Growing our resource recovery means our community will have greater access to low cost, quality secondhand items at the new resale shop.
“This project will cater to our fast growing community for the next 20 years and create permanent jobs for locals.
“We’re very grateful to the State Government for granting us this loan, and for earlier funding commitments that are making this project possible.”
Stage Two is expected to begin in May 2021 and be complete by late 2022.
