City of Rockingham Minutes – SMRC RRRC WCF Odour Issue – 26 February 2008
NOTE 1: Mr S J Marshall was permitted by the Committee to remain at the meeting and speak on this matter.
NOTE 2: In conjunction with this item, a letter dated 14 February 2008 from the CEO of the South East Metropolitan Regional Council (SEMRC) was tabled at the Council meeting regarding the possibility of the City of Rockingham becoming a member of SEMRC.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
For Council to consider a strategy for the implementation of Secondary Waste Treatment to divert waste from Landfill and maximise resource recovery.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Function Area 3. Land Use and the Environment Action Plan 8.9 In consultation with the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council, continue to implement the Waste Management Strategy including;
- Implementation of Secondary Waste Treatment to Maximise Resource Recovery
- Approval for the development of Stage 2 of Millar Road Landfill incorporating an area for Secondary waste Treatment.
- Review of Waste Collection to consider weekly recycling and commercial industrial recycling
- Continued development of the recycling facility at Millar Road Landfill.
BACKGROUND
In April 1998 the City Of Rockingham entered into an Establishment Agreement with the City of Canning, City of Cockburn, Town of East Fremantle, City of Fremantle, Town of Kwinana and City of Melville to form the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC). The purpose for the establishment of the Regional Council was:
1 To plan, coordinate and implement the removal processing treatment and disposal of waste for the benefit of the communities of the participants.
2 To influence Local, State and Federal Governments in the development of the Regional Waste Management Policies and Legislation.
The establishment agreement facilitates the development of projects by the SMRC, which the member Councils can choose to become participants in.
To implement purpose number 1, the SMRC initiated the development of the Regional Resource Recovery Centre at Canning Vale. Following preparation of a Business Plan five Councils being City of Canning, City of Cockburn, Town of East Fremantle, City of Fremantle and City of Melville chose to become participants in the project. The Town of Kwinana and City of Rockingham chose not to become participants at that stage however it was envisioned that a future stage of the project would provide a Resource Recovery Centre to service the Southern part of the Region including Kwinana and Rockingham. The Canning Vale Resource Recovery Centre has been operating for several years and is considered Best Practice in the Municipal Waste Management Industry with Australia.
DETAILS
Over the past several years pressure has built from the Community and Environmental Authorities to divert waste from Landfill. This aim has been reflected in the recently enacted Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) act which requires all Local Governments to prepare a Zero Waste Management Plan. The City Of Rockingham Zero Waste Management Plan is currently being prepared in consultation with the SMRC and its member Councils.
In view of the above it is now considered appropriate for the SMRC to prepare a Business Plan for the Resource Recovery Centre to service the Southern part of the Region including the Town of Kwinana and the City Of Rockingham.
Advice from the SMRC is that there are two practical options for the development of the Second Resource Recovery Centre and they are:
1 Build a stand alone facility to service Kwinana and Rockingham which would operate as a separate project to the existing facility at Canning Vale.
2 Kwinana and Rockingham request to join the existing project resulting in the SMRC being required to prepare a Business Plan to accommodate the two Councils within the existing project.
Both options are likely to result in the need to construct a second Resource Recovery Centre with the most likely location being the Millar Road Landfill. Preliminary costing indicates there is no significant cost difference between the two options with total processing costs including Capital Repayment being approximately $150 per tonne. Rockingham’s Capital Commitment to either option would be in the order of $30m. However there are significant risk and Operational Management Benefits resulting from Option 2.
These benefits include:
- The financial risk of the project is shared between all seven Council’s
- Governance associated with the projects is simpler and easier to handle as there is only one project owned by all seven SMRC Member Councils.
- Both Centres can be operated to compliment each other without the need for complex Contractual Agreements.
- In the case of Planned or unplanned shutdowns Waste can be diverted between plants.
Clause 8.12 of the Establishment Agreement of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council would allow the City to give notice that it wants to participate in the SMRC Resource Recovery Project.
Giving notice under Clause 8.12 will require the SMRC to prepare an amended Business Plan to accommodate Rockingham becoming a Project Participant. The cost of preparing the amended Business Plan would need to be met by the City Of Rockingham.
COMMENT
The Community expectation for improvements in Waste Management has been endorsed in the recently enacted “WARR” act, which incorporates the requirement for all Local Governments to prepare a Zero Waste Management Plan by September 2008. Since 1998 the City Of Rockingham has had a Strategic Goal to implement Secondary Waste Treatment to improve Resource Recovery in partnership with the SMRC. In view of the above the time is now right to progress this goal by developing a strategy to implement Secondary Waste Treatment. The best way of achieving this would be by giving notice to the SMRC that the City wishes to become a participant in the Regional Councils Resource Recovery Project.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Nil
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
An allocation of $60,000 is available in account number 200350.1726 – Landfill Secondary Waste Treatment, which will cover anticipated expenses this financial year.
Further allocations for development of the project will be required in the future. A funding strategy will be developed in conjunction with the Business Plan.
STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS
Compliance with the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act.
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Normal
OFFICER/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council gives notice to the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council, in Accordance with Clause 8.12 of the Establishment Agreement, that the City Of Rockingham wishes to become a participant in the Regional Councils Resource Recovery Project.
Committee Voting – 4/0
COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Moved Cr B Warner, seconded Cr A Prince That this matter be deferred to the March 2008 meeting of the Corporate & Engineering Services Committee for further consideration.
Carried – 10/0
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NOTE: In conjunction with this item, a letter dated 14 February 2008 from the CEO of the South East Metropolitan Regional Council (SEMRC) was tabled at the Council meeting regarding the possibility of the City of Rockingham becoming a member of SEMRC.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
To advise Council of a request from the South East Metropolitan Regional Council to lease a portion of land located at the Millar Road Landfill for the purpose of establishing a Regional Resource Recovery Facility for their Region.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Functional Area 1. Economic Development
Action Plan 2.2 Encourage the establishment of quality infrastructure by government or the private sector in order to encourage economical development.
BACKGROUND
The South East Metropolitan Regional Council (SEMRC) is a Council formed by the cities of Gosnells, South Perth, and Armadale to coordinate waste management within their region. They have recently changed their name to Rivers Regional Council.
The SEMRC have recently undertaken a study to identify site and technology criteria for the implementation of Secondary Waste Treatment within their Region. Other Local Governments including Serpentine Jarrahdale, Mandurah and Murray also participated in the study. The study identified several sites within the Southern Metropolitan and Peel Region that may be suitable for Secondary Waste Treatment including the Millar Road Landfill.
DETAILS
A request has been received from the SEMRC for the City Of Rockingham to lease a portion of the Millar Road Landfill. This lease would then be incorporated into a build, own and operate contract with a third party who would build own and operate a Secondary Waste Treatment facility on behalf of the SEMRC and its member Councils.
COMMENT
Although a portion of land in the Millar Road Landfill has been identified in the Landfill Development Plan as a possible future Secondary Waste Treatment Site, there are a number of issues in this request which are problematic to the future Waste Management Strategy of the City of Rockingham including:
1. The requested site is an important element in the City’s own medium to long term Waste Management Strategy.
2. The presence of a third party owning and operating a facility located within the Millar Road Landfill site without a direct relationship with the City of Rockingham could present significant operational, environmental and strategic management issues for management of the Landfill.
3. The City Of Rockingham has a long standing relationship with the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC) which is the only Regional Council to currently operate a Secondary Waste Treatment Facility in Western Australia. The strategic plan (Action Plan 8.9) identifies the benefit of the Cities membership of the SMRC in continuing to develop a Waste Management Strategy to implement Secondary Waste Treatment and it is important that the Millar Road Landfill site is considered during that process.
For the above reasons it is considered inappropriate for Council to lease a portion of the Millar Road Landfill site to the SEMRC.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Nil
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
A lease on the land would attract some income but would preclude other developments which could create greater cost benefits.
STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS
- The Local Government Act 1995 allows Council to lease land to a third party.
- Any secondary waste treatment facility would require planning and environmental approval
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Normal
OFFICER/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION/COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Moved Cr B Warner, seconded Cr R Smith That the SEMRC be advised that Council is not prepared to lease a portion of the Millar Road Landfill Site for the purpose of establishing a Regional Resource Recovery Facility at this time.
Committee Voting – 4/0
Carried – 10/0
