19/07/2012 Proposed waste facility open for public comment

A Public Environmental Review of the proposed resource recovery facility at the Red Hill Waste Management Facility is open for comment over an eight week period.

In partnership with its six member councils*, the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) proposes to establish a resource recovery facility to process member council municipal solid waste at the Red Hill Waste Management Facility.

The facility will use one of two technologies: either anaerobic digestion technology, to produce biogas for electricity production, and compost; or gasification technology, to produce renewable electricity.

The facility's planning has now reached the stage of seeking environmental approvals.

"As part of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) requirements to gain environmental approval, EMRC has prepared a Public Environmental Review (PER) to examine the environmental impacts associated with the two technology options being considered for the facility," said EMRC Chairman, Cr Alan Pilgrim.

"I am pleased to see that the results of the report indicate that both technologies meet environmental and health standards," he said.

Key considerations addressed in the document include emissions, odour, noise and human health.

The PER is available for public review from 23 July 2012 to 17 September 2012 and submissions from government agencies and the public will assist the EPA to prepare an assessment report in which it will make recommendations to government.

The PER document can be viewed online at www.emrc.org.au/per.html or in person at the EPA Library, State Library and at selected local libraries. Hard copies (CD included) of the complete PER can be purchased for $10.00 (inc. GST, postage and handling), or free of charge in CD format only, from EMRC or the Red Hill Administration Office.

To learn more about the results of the PER and the submission process, community members can attend a public information session on Monday, 13 August 2012, from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, at Gidgegannup Hall, Toodyay Road, Gidgegannup; or on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, at Shire of Mundaring Civic Centre, 7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring. Project officers and consultants will be available to answer questions. Bookings are essential. Please call: (08) 9424 2222.

"EMRC is making the PER widely available for the community, and I strongly encourage anyone interested in the facility to read the document and come along to the information session," said Cr Pilgrim.

* EMRC member councils: Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, Shire of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring, City of Swan.

-Ends-

Media contacts:
Merryn McLean – Manager, Marketing & Communications
Direct: (08) 9424 2252, email: Merryn.McLean@emrc.org.au

Teale Binckes – Marketing & Communications Officer
Direct: (08) 9424 2255, email: teale.binckes@emrc.org.au