Region's first Tier 2 Waste Management Facility opens at Kleinton

Toowoomba Regional Council's (TRC) Mayor Paul Antonio has officially opened the new $18 million Tier 2 Kleinton waste management facility.

Mayor Antonio said the new waste management facility would cater for the growth of the region in the north.

"Council's significant investment towards the project's construction costs during the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a boost to our local economy," Mayor Antonio said.

"Local contractor Hutchinson Builders completed the project with the support of 21 subcontractors, most of whom are local to the Toowoomba and Darling Downs.

"Projects like these keep money flowing through the economy and into local jobs and businesses during this challenging time."

TRC Water and Waste Committee Portfolio Leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the new facility was built on the previous landfill site and adjacent Council owned land.

"This state-of-the-art facility is the fifth project delivered under Council's Waste Infrastructure Plan as we modernise our waste management network," Cr Sommerfield said.

"The new Kleinton waste management facility delivers environmental benefits to the area and provides more opportunities for recycling.

"The new facility also maintains our high service level with 98% of the Region's population within a 20-minute drive of a waste management facility."

Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the modern Kleinton waste management facility would offer a better customer experience.

"The facility provides a cleaner and tidier waste solution with the waste stored on pavement and transported to landfill locations offsite," Cr Sommerfield said.

"The design of the new waste management facility helps to reduce the odour, dust, animal and rodent control.

"The new facility will look familiar to customers with the design being a smaller version of the new Greater Toowoomba Waste Management Facility.

"Customers will be able to segregate their waste through the site at three different zones – bulk materials (concrete, timber, steel and green waste), resources recovery area and residual waste.

"We are delighted to be opening this new facility during this challenging year.

"The initial rehabilitation of the site involved capping of the old landfill area with 1.5m of material, including a geosynthetic clay liner, clay fill and cover soil.

"The capping now provides a permanent barrier protecting the groundwater below the site.

"Before the capping work commenced, 20,000m³ of waste was relocated to the bulky materials area, ensuring that new structures were not built on buried waste.

"Litter prevention controls are also in place to contain windblown litter from the facility.

Cr Sommerfield said the waste facility continued to function while construction was underway and Council thanks the community for their patience during construction.

"As a region, our communities have embraced the need to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill," Cr Sommerfield said.

"Our new Kleinton Waste Management Facility will build on our Region's culture to 'reduce, reuse and recycle.'

For more information about the proposed Kleinton Waste Management Facility upgrade project, visit http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/our-region/major-projects/water-waste/13789-kleinton-waste-station or call Council on 131 872 and quote 'Kleinton Waste Management Facility'.

Caption: Mayor Paul Antonio and Cr Nancy Sommerfield, supported by Councillors, unveil the plaque to open the new Kleinton Waste Management Facility.