Work begins tomorrow to extend existing Mt Cooee landfill

Work will commence tomorrow to extend the existing Mt Cooee landfill.

Clutha District Council Deputy CE Jules Witt said the extension would allow Mt Cooee to remain open for longer as the existing landfill was projected to be at capacity in the next three months.

“When you head up to Mt Cooee from tomorrow there will be a new traffic layout to allow for the extension work, with the new layout signposted to guide landfill users,” Mr Witt said.

Mt Cooee landfill is getting upgraded through several projects including an application for a resource consent, design and construction of a new transfer station and looking into other future landfill options.

Mr Witt said another milestone achieved was that the resource consent relating to the continued operation, expansion and progressive rehabilitation of the Mt Cooee Landfill had now been approved by the Otago Regional Council.

The 25-year consent comes with conditions that dictate how the design, operation, closure and aftercare of the landfill are conducted.

Mr Witt said while Council was finalising the concept design for the transfer station, it was also fast-tracking the green waste pad design to get prices from contractors and start with the construction as soon as possible.

“We are planning to complete the green waste pad by end of September so it can be utilised as a temporary transfer station while we complete the design and construction of the transfer station.”

A refuse transfer station is a facility where waste materials are temporarily collected and sorted before being transported to a landfill or recycling facility.

Council is also in discussions with the contractor to get the best compaction rates.

Mr Witt said compaction rates were a key factor in the life expectancy of the landfill extension.

“Combined with reduced volumes, we expect this to provide at least 12 months of capacity, as long as waste volumes do not increase significantly,” Mr Witt said.