Waste management company Wanless is holding drop-in community information sessions to share information about its proposed resource recovery and recycling precinct at Ebenezer in Queensland and to listen to residents’ concerns.
CEO Dean Wanless said the community sessions, along with other engagement activities, will help Wanless consider potential community interests about the proposal.
“This is just the first step – we haven’t lodged an application with the council yet,” he said.
“Our vision is to transform this degraded site into a productive precinct that generates employment and training opportunities for the local community.
“Based on a business model that we have tried and tested in other parts of the country, up to 80 per cent of the waste received will be diverted from landfill at full operations.”
The site of the proposed resource recovery, recycling and landfill precinct is at 304 Coopers Road & 350 Coopers Road in Ebenezer, approximately 12 km southwest of Ipswich.
The site has been disturbed by historical coal mining activities and includes three retained voids created by the Ebenezer Mine, which closed in 2003.
The new precinct will focus on recovery and will also include a landfill element for residual waste, making use of the voids left from previous mining activities.
Wanless will comply with all existing rehabilitation requirements. Details will be included in the site rehabilitation plan prepared and submitted as part of the development application.
Wanless plans to draw household, industrial and demolition and construction waste from businesses and areas where it knows it can recover the most recyclable material.
Mr Wanless said, by using the world’s best technology and best practice to recover and recycle as much as possible, the precinct will help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
“We are currently assessing the best use of the site to integrate various recycling and reuse activities and maximise the local economic and environmental benefits,” he said.
“We want to make sure we address any identified potential impacts and that the proposal
complies with local and state and federal government requirements.”
Note: This news item is posted for the sole purpose of alerting the community to the company’s proposed community information session. No development application has yet been lodged with Ipswich City Council and publication of this article does not imply in any way any endorsement by council for the company’s proposal. Prior to any such proposal proceeding, a development application will need to be lodged by the company and assessed by Ipswich City Council under the Planning Act, Ipswich Planning Scheme, Temporary Local Planning Instrument and other aspects of the planning regulatory framework.
Details for Drop-In Community Information Sessions:
When: 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, 5 December, and 10am to 12pm on Saturday 7, December
Where: Rosewood State High School Hall, 46 Lanefield Road, Rosewood
RSVP: Via Eventbrite
There is no formal presentation or meeting during either session. Attendees are free to arrive at
any time during the sessions. Both sessions will provide the same information and there will
be an opportunity to talk with Wanless representatives and key consultants.