MEDIA RELEASE
11 December 2014
UNIQUE WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITY PLANNED FOR THE HUNTER
The establishment of Australia’s first industrial ecology park has taken a major step forward with the announcement today that Hunter company Omega Energy will be the cornerstone tenant of the Kurri Kurri facility.
Omega Energy is planning to construct and operate a $160 million regional Resource and Energy Recovery (RER) facility and expects to receive its environmental planning requirements from the Department of Planning and Environment before Christmas.
Business Development Manager Shannon Sullivan said this was an important first step in planning such a facility.
“Although this is the very beginning of the planning process, our intention now is to liaise closely with all local stakeholders to ensure they know what we are proposing and how it will work,” Mr Sullivan said.
Mr Sullivan said Omega had signed an agreement to lease a 5 hectare site with Hunter Industrial Ecology Park Ltd at Kurri Kurri pending planning approvals.
“The $160 million facility will use a world’s best technology, setting a new benchmark for the recovery of residual waste into both valuable commodities and syngas used for generating renewable energy.
“What we will bring to the park is the ability to process the waste left over from other recycling processes, enabling 100% recovery of resources and greater diversion from landfill.
“In addition to the resources we recover we will also be able to support surrounding operations with stable gas and electricity supply contracts.”
Omega Energy General Manager Jacob Whiting said a key factor in site selection was proximity to the new Hunter Expressway.
“The Hunter Expressway will be a catalyst for business growth in the region just like the M7 has been for Western Sydney,” Mr Whiting said.
“Omega Energy has partnered with technology provider US-based ArcSec Technologies to provide its waste-to-energy capabilities.
“The facility will further unlock the waste sector, providing investment and jobs growth in the Hunter,” Mr Whiting said.
The Hunter Industrial Ecology Park Ltd’s Garbis Simonian said, “The agreement with Omega is a major milestone for the park and the region. It will accelerate the range of resource recovery activities already operating in and around the Hunter Industrial Ecology Park and will be a major step to diverting waste from landfill and achieving a circular economy.”
“This will be the world’s first dedicated resource recovery park bringing businesses together to provide a complete recycling solution,” Mr Simonian said.
“Industrial Ecology is achieved in the park by co-locating numerous resource recovery operations where infrastructure is shared and recovered resources exchanged, in order to achieve cost efficiencies and sustainable environmental outcomes.”
“There is no doubt this facility will be a model that can be replicated in other parts of the state and nation,” Mr Simonian said.
It is anticipated that community consultation will commence in the New Year after the Department of Planning and Environment has issued the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements.
Subject to planning approvals, construction of the first stage of the facility is expected to commence early 2017 and be operational in 2018.
ABC Online Article – 11 December 2014