More Room for Moree Waste

Moree Plains Shire Council is undertaking a $3.6 million Council-funded project at the Moree Waste Management Facility to secure more room for Moree’s waste.

With the landfill cell at the Moree Waste Management Facility reaching capacity, Council set aside funds in 2018 to investigate the best approach to accommodate the community’s future waste needs, which included either extending the existing cell or opening a greenfield cell.

In February 2019, Councillors resolved to extend the existing half-cell to Stage 2, and GHD were engaged to design the critical community infrastructure.

In June 2020, tenders were called for the landfill cell construction works through the procurement platform, TenderLink, administered by GHD and overseen and guided by Council staff. The Tender includes the earthworks, leachate removal, and construction of the cell liner and access ramp.

At the Council meeting on 13 August 2020, Councillors endorsed the recommendation to appoint Synergy Resource Management (Synergy) as the head contractor, deeming the company as the most capable and reliable tenderer for the project bringing significant landfill experience to the project while also delivering value for money.

Alastair Nicol, Senior Project Manager of Synergy was delighted to be informed of the decision, “Construction of Cell 1 Stage 2 at the Moree Waste Management facility is an exciting opportunity for Synergy to demonstrate our extensive experience in implementing and constructing a detailed design that exceeds the principal’s stringent performance requirements.

“The project team will draw on our collective experience in ensuring that the projects specification is supported by strong reporting and quality documentation, performance testing and ordered achievement of multiple milestone tasks. Consideration of stringent environmental, health, quality and safety will be paramount to the successful delivery of the project”, Mr Nicol explained.

“Synergy is committed to ensuring that there is regular and clear consultation with all stakeholders from project inception to practical completion. Strong engagement and communication ensures that any project hurdles can be addressed quickly with positive outcomes.

“A number of the items will require input from local providers and so, Synergy looks forward to engaging with local suppliers to support us in completing the multiple components of the Cell 1 Stage 2 Moree project.

“It is important for the success of the project that local resources and experience can be drawn upon to assist in meeting program deadlines and achieving the expected quality outcome”, Mr Nicol concluded.

Council was very pleased with the outcome of the procurement process, with nine companies providing detailed tenders. These tenders were evaluated on technical and commercial criteria by an expert panel comprising of two Council staff and two GHD representatives. The tender submissions were also required to identify procurement of services and materials from local businesses, with Synergy’s tender confirming the involvement of several local businesses for the works.

Moree Plains Shire Council’s current Waste Manager Victoria Dawson was a Council staff member on the evaluation panel for the tender process.

“The evaluation for each tender was quite rigorous; the panel reviewed each company’s capability in terms of their experience, work capacity, expertise of their key personnel and an assessment of their proposed construction methodology with the evaluation concluding by reviewing the cost proposed in the tender.

“At the end of the evaluation process it was clear that Synergy was the most capable for the construction project. They not only bring extensive experience to the project, but also clearly articulated a construction methodology that will ensure the finished landfill cell satisfies Council’s legislative obligations.

“After the two-year long process of reviewing space options, designs and contractors for the new landfill cell at the Moree Waste Management Facility, it is exciting to be welcoming Synergy as our head contractor and see the project nearing to the construction stage”, said Ms Dawson.

With the tender process finalised and Synergy awarded as the head contractor, work has now commenced to ensure the project is shovel ready in 2021.

Pictured: Moree Waste Facility Landfill Cell 1 Stage 1 and 2.