Gidley site for proposed organics recycling facility

     Tamworth Regional Council today announced it has bought a 117-hectare property at Gidley for its proposed $15.2 million Tamworth Organics Facility.

     The purchase of the property went ahead after a detailed environmental assessment of the property - at 284 Gidley Appleby Road - found it to be suitable for the proposed facility.

     The property’s location on a route approved for use by B-double freight vehicles was also a key factor in selection of the site.

     Tamworth Region Council Mayor Col Murray said the Organics Recycling Facility will provide the Region with its first food and organics waste recycling operation.

     “It will be a major step forward to better manage our community’s waste into the future,” he said. 

     “It will mean we can divert food and organic waste from Tamworth’s Forest Road Landfill, helping to extend the life of that facility while achieving a more sustainable waste solution.”

     “Now with the purchase of the land complete, the next phase of the project will be to finalise and lodge a development application in August which will then later be determined by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.”

    The Tamworth Organics Recycling Facility is expected to cost $15.2 million. A total of $3 million in NSW Government funding already secured through the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the Waste Levy.

     The facility will be designed to receive up to 35,000 tonnes of food and organic waste each year. It will make use of enclosed tunnel composting, an innovative composting process which will provide a greater control on environmental aspects such as odour.

     Cr Murray said Council has this week written to property owners and residents adjacent to the Gidley property to let them know about the proposed use of the site. Their letter also explains how they can find out more about the facility once the development application including a detailed Environmental Impact Statement is lodged and on public exhibition.