RESOURCE RECOVERY AREA EXPANSION · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                              11 DECEMBER 2023



Assuming approval is received, the next step would be the final design of the high-efficiency
sediment basin, followed by the construction phase planned for Winter 2024 (dry season) to minimise
environmental risk.
Link to Corporate Plan

Theme No. 3. - Prosperity
Focus areas include economic development, local business, innovation, arts and culture, waste and
a circular economy.

Objective 3.7
Deliver the waste program focused on accelerating actions and solutions including circular economy
opportunities to cut waste and pollution, keep prodcuts and materials in use and regenerate natural
systems.


Previous Council Consideration
Nil
Finance
There are no financial implications associated with this report. The works forecast in the report are
part of the approved capital works program and forecast.
Risk & Opportunities
Risks associated with not expanding the Resource Recovery Area include:
       •   Safety – limited ability to eliminate interactions between heavy machinery and the general
           public which may result in significant injury or damage to property.
       •   Environmental – risk of overloading the HES basin beyond its design capacity, causing the
           release of high sediment water into the surrounding environment. Current infrastructure lacks
           the ability to handle major rainfall events.
       •   Fire – inability to adequately isolate mulch stockpiles from adjacent to bushland. Mulch
           stockpiles are prone to self-combustion and increase the risk of bushfires.
       •   Diversion capability - without additional land to increase the Resource Recovery Area, the
           existing landfill operation will continue to be restricted, impacting the ability to divert waste to
           the detriment of the environment and the Noosa community more generally.
       •   Future Proofing – the current location of the high-efficiency sediment basin is situated in the
           middle of the operations area, where it doesn’t adequately support adjacent activities.
           Retraining the existing basin restricts the site’s ability for additional waste diversion activities
           and the introduction of new waste infrastructure as part of the site masterplan.
       •   Community – the State Government’s DES has the ability to shut down the site if
           environmental risks are not adequately managed. This could mean the loss of the EA for
           operating the site and may result in a site closure. The implications of a site closure would
           be significant to the Noosa Shire in both cost and inconvenience.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Nil.
Internal Consultation