Latest News• Add My News • Search Old News Gippsland › Latest news › Latrobe Local NewsTwo year rehabilitation project for Morwell landfillThe Morwell landfill is to receive waste for a maximum two-year period as part of its rehabilitation towards open recreational space. At Monday night’s meeting, council agreed to a proposal that provides for closure on the Morwell facility within two years, while protecting ratepayers from more costly alternatives. Latrobe City’s chief executive officer, Paul Buckley, said that council’s decision was in the best interests of the environment and the community; providing for an effective and sustainable rehabilitation of the Morwell landfill, which will ultimately see the affected land able to be used for recreational purposes. General manager City Infrastructure, Michael Edgar, said the Morwell landfill requires rehabilitation as part of the EPA licence requirements. "Simply burying waste, bulldozing a bit of soil over the top and walking away is not an option in today’s world," Mr Edgar said. "Currently the flat site surface profile at Morwell does not meet the requirements that the EPA specifies for the rehabilitation of landfills. Consequently, the site will continue to receive waste which will be placed strategically, and covered, allowing a minimal slope to be created on the site which will prevent surface water from collecting," Mr Edgar explained. "The prevention of surface water entering the waste mass is a crucial goal of any landfill rehabilitation project. By doing so, we minimise any adverse effect on the aquifer resource below the facility, while mitigating greenhouse gas release to the atmosphere. "To create the flattest of slopes required (one in twenty) and meet the minimum EPA requirements, the site will require additional material. While this material could comprise one-hundred percent clean fill, to use clean fill alone would be wasteful and costly for ratepayers. The decision to incorporate two year’s waste together with clean fill, provides a more sustainable solution for our community. "Whilst rehabilitating this site is an important step in protecting the environment. It also marks the transition of the site from a currently unusable land parcel to one which may be utilised by the community. "It should be recognised that while the facility may be considered an unattractive tract of land today, its rehabilitation will eventually improve the amenity for those living in the neighbourhood, and the community at large," Mr Edgar added. Mr Buckley said that the rehabilitation of the Morwell landfill provides a two year breathing space for "On the positive front, at its recent meeting in May the Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group resolved to conduct a study into the feasibility of a regional waste management facility to service greater Gippsland. "There is a recognition that landfill space is a regional problem, and the study is aimed at identifying cost-effective and environmentally sound methods for the long-term treatment of solid waste in the region," Mr Buckley said.Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
Related Articles
|
|
 | Baw Baw |  | Bass Coast |  | Cardinia |  | East Gippsland |  | Latrobe City |  | South Gippsland |  | Wellington |
|
© 2001-2025 gippsland.com
Print this page |
Subscribe to Newsletter |
Feedback / Inquiries |
Login |
Care has been taken in compiling the component parts of this website. However, Gippsland.com does not warrant or represent that the website is free from errors or omissions, that the qualifications claimed by an advertiser are valid or that the published details of any advertiser are as stated on the website. Please review the full statement of our Terms and Conditions of Service and disclaimer.