Paper Australia Pty Ltd (Australian Paper) has lodged a works approval application with Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) seeking to develop a large-scale energy from waste facility in Victoria.
The energy from waste facility is proposed to be co-located within the boundaries of the Australian Paper site in Maryvale, Latrobe Valley.
The proposed plant would generate both steam and electricity that can be directly used in the papermill and its operations or power exported to the grid. The proposed plant, which would replace two existing gas-fired boilers, would produce approximately 30 megawatts electric (MWe) and 150 tonnes per hour of steam.
Australian Paper propose that the facility would accept and use an estimated 650,000 tonnes per annum of municipal solid waste (80%) and commercial and industrial waste (20%) from the Melbourne and Gippsland regions. Waste will be collected from the existing waste collection network and transferred to site via road and rail.
“This application is the first in Victoria for a large-scale energy from waste plant using municipal solid waste. EPA invites the community and interested parties to review the application and make submissions which will be considered in EPA’s assessment of the application,” said EPA Executive Director Assessments Tim Eaton.
“EPA’s assessment of the application will consider issues such as use of best practice technology, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, waste fuel composition, compliance with waste hierarchy, environmental management and potential risks to human health and the environment including emissions to air, noise, disposal of fly ash, the wastewater treatment system, and operational contingencies.”
The application and a summary of it can be viewed and downloaded by visiting: https://engage.vic.gov.au/epa-works-approvals/australian-paper-wa Hard copies can also be viewed by appointment at EPA’s Gippsland office in Traralgon (8–12 Seymour Street/ 1300 372 842) or at Australian Paper’s information centre which is open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 9am-3pm (126 George Street Morwell / 5191 9338).
Three public open house information sessions will also be held between 2-7pm on 5 and 6 June at the Premiere Function Centre, 29 Grey Street, Traralgon, 3844 and on 19 June at Australian Paper’s information centre in Morwell. During these times, residents and interested persons are invited to drop-in and view information about EPA’s works approval process, Australian Paper’s proposal and find out how they can get involved in the process. EPA and Australian Paper staff will be in attendance.
Members of the community have until 27 June to lodge submission at https://engage.vic.gov.au/epa-works-approvals/australian-paper-wa or by writing to EPA Victoria at Development Assessment Unit, GPO Box 4395 Melbourne Victoria 3001).