Melton council will fund a $7.7 million upgrade of the municipality’s recycling facility as it nears capacity.
A master plan for the Melton Recycling Facility, including a business case, was adopted at last week’s meeting, with councillors voting that funding for the upgrade be factored into the next two budgets, starting with 2019-2020.
A 2017 report revealed that the Ferris Road facility would reach its maximum capacity within the next three years and required an overhaul in the way it is operated.
Council operations manager Les Stokes said that it cost the council about $5.1 million a year to run the facility.
“The continued operation of the site in this manner would result in a facility that is unable to meet the needs of the community and an increased level of dissatisfaction from customers caused by delays, increased cost and poor perception of the operating practices,”
Mr Stokes said.
He said the facility’s current operatingcapacity could not cope with population growth.
Among a number of proposed improvements is the construction of a large automated transfer station.
Mr Stokes said the council could potentially save about $1 million in operating costs by separating the operation of the resale and recycling component from the waste transfer station component.
“There are groups that specialise in running these facilities with the aim of providing not only a lower operating cost but to improve social, economic and environmental outcomes,” he said.
Councillor Sophie Ramsey said that the unanimous support by councillors for the master plan and future funding commitment reflected the need for the recycling facility upgrade.
“It’s been identified by every councillor here how important the upgrade to the recycling facility is … it’s essential to our existence,” she said.
