Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Harriet Shing, Member for Eastern Victoria, has today released a new long-term plan for waste and resource recovery for Gippsland.

The Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan proposes a way to better manage waste and resource recovery over the next 10 years and beyond. The plan recognises opportunities to create jobs through resource recovery and the potential establishment of waste to energy facilities in the region.

The plan, developed by the Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Group, will recover more value from waste and reduce pressure on the region’s waste system by developing appropriate infrastructure in the right locations. It will improve outcomes for amenity, health, and the environment.

The Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Group is collaborating with the six Gippsland councils to manage municipal solid waste across the region. Through this partnership of state and local government more resources will be reclaimed from the region’s waste, reducing the need for landfills.

The plan is one of seven 10-year plans, which also cover the Barwon South West, Goulburn Valley, Grampians Central West, Loddon Mallee, Metropolitan, and North East regions. Together with the 30-year State wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan, released in June 2015, they complete a comprehensive state-wide waste infrastructure framework, which will meet the challenges posed by Victoria’s growing population.

By 2043, Victorians will generate 60 per cent more waste – over 20 million tonnes each year.

The plans are part of Victoria’s long-term vision for managing this waste to achieve the best outcomes for our communities, economy and environment.

A comprehensive evaluation of Victoria’s landfill capacity found that no new landfills are needed for at least the next ten years. The framework recognises that disposing of waste to landfill can impact health, amenity and the environment, and will reduce the need for landfills by developing markets for recovered materials and energy.

The framework’s completion comes after the Victorian Government provided $30.4 million for waste and resource recovery in the 2017/18 State Budget.

The new regional waste plans are now available on Sustainability Victoria’s website: http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/our-priorities/statewide-waste-planning/2015-2020-priorities/regional-waste-and-resource-recovery-implementation-plans

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“So many of us are committed to reducing landfill volumes and reducing the impact that our communities have on the environment – this plan is another great step in the way we improve waste management practices .”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio:

“We’re getting on with delivering waste and resource recovery plans for Victoria, with more than $30 million delivered as part of the 2017/18 Victorian Budget.”