Castlemaine landfill gets best practice upgrade
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith today met operators of the Castlemaine landfill who will receive up to $250,000 funding as part of the Victorian Coalition Government's Conserve, Invest Save strategy.
"Castlemaine is one of 17 rural landfills to receive this funding and today gives me an opportunity to see first-hand how the money will be spent to benefit the local environment, support the community and strengthen landfill operations," Mr Smith said.
A total of $3.87 million was allocated to the rural landfill operators as part of the Transition Support to Improve Rural Landfill Infrastructure program.
"The funding is part of the Coalition Government's commitment to reinvest the landfill levy back into the community where it can do the most good," Mr Smith said.
The Transition Support to Improve Rural Landfill Infrastructure program provides funding to smaller, rural councils and shires that have landfills that need to be upgraded to meet tighter Environment Protection Authority (EPA) standards.
"The Coalition Government is seeking to address the disproportionate impact on ratepayers in smaller councils and shires that have landfills which require upgrades to meet tighter standards introduced under the former government," Mr Smith said.
"By providing financial relief to local government we are helping to avoid these costs being passed on to ratepayers."
The funding is for the purchase and installation of protective geomembrane cell lining as well as associated testing and auditing.
"The Mount Alexander Shire Council area services a population of 18,500 people and this new geomebrane cell will receive approximately 6,000 tonnes of waste annually and meet EPA best practice environmental guidelines," Mr Smith said.
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