Comment open on compost plan

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is assessing a works approval application for an expansion and upgrade to the Camperdown Compost Company Pty Ltd’s Gnotuk facility.

Under the proposal, the existing Blind Creek Rd compost facility would be expanded to receive up to 35,000 tonnes a year of solid and liquid wastes – up from the site’s current capacity of 24,000 tonnes.

The EPA’s assessment is being carried out jointly with a Planning Permit application to Shire of Corangamite.

Under the proposal, the site would add additional waste categories of commercial food waste, tannery and wool scouring wastes, category C soils and stormwater contaminated with oil or hydrocarbons to their continuing categories of green and organic waste, food waste, animal effluent waste, food and beverage processing waste, grease trap waste and industrial wash water wastes.

Using upgraded forced aeration technology, the site would turn the waste into up to 15,000 tonnes of pasteurised compost material a year.

The proposed works involve building a new composting pad and forced aeration area, new solid and liquid waste receivals area, new contact water dam and site drainage improvements.

Forced aeration is a method to circulate air through the compost to allow microbes to efficiently break down the wastes.

The Gnotuk facility is an EPA licensed site.

A drop-in information session will be held on the proposal:

Monday 14 October

Between 4-7.30pm

McCabe Room, Killara Centre

210-212 Manifold St, Camperdown

Staff from EPA and Corangamite Shire Council will be in attendance to answer questions about the planning permit and works approval applications and how to make a submission.

To view the application and make a submission visit https://engage.vic.gov.au/epa-works-approvals/camperdown-compost

Submissions on the application are open until 5pm, 23 October.

Works approvals are issued by EPA under the Environment Protection Act 1970. They are required for industrial and waste management activities that have the potential for significant environmental impact.

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