Gippsland Regional Organics expansion officially unveiled
Gippsland Water officially opened a $12.2 million expansion at its Dutson Downs Gippsland Regional Organics site this week.
The expansion, completed earlier this year, included construction of additional processing areas and water and power infrastructure, as well as the installation of new processing equipment.
The organics processing capacity will grow by nearly 40 per cent from 180,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year, and compost product produced at the facility and sold to the market will grow approximately 40 per cent from 50,000 to 70,000 tonnes per year.
Managing director Sarah Cumming said the expansion will have a positive impact on Gippsland’s environmental and economic sustainability.
“We will be able to further reduce emissions by redirecting more organic material away from landfills,” Ms Cumming said.
“Now we are no longer at capacity, we can service an unmet market demand and keep the value of organic materials in Gippsland.”
Ms Cumming said the upgrade would benefit the community, from applying downward pressure on customer bills to creating jobs for the region.
“By generating more income and offsetting our operating costs, we can continue to put further downward pressure on customer bills,” Ms Cumming said.
“The expansion supported 47 full-time equivalent local jobs during construction and Gippsland Regional Organics now includes an additional four full-time equivalent positions.”
The Victorian Government funded $2.394 million under the Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund. The Australian Government also funded $2.394 million under the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund.
Find out more about Gippsland Water’s circular economy at: www.gippswater.com.au/circulareconomy.
