Altus Renewables proposes $100m plan to turn forestry waste into green energy near Mount Gambier

A multimillion-dollar idea could turn the Green Triangle’s forestry waste into a valuable source of renewable energy and it may even find a new use for household green waste.

Plans for a new facility designed to turn the Green Triangle’s forestry waste into a valuable source of renewable energy have been revealed.

Altus Renewables’ proposed $100-to-$120m plant would create in excess of 270 jobs to produce up to 300,000 tonnes of bioenergy pellets each year, more than double its current Queensland site.

The Brisbane-based company’s construction plans are slated for 57.12ha of Mingbool grazing land, 8km north of Mount Gambier and just 700m from the Mount Gambier Regional Airport.

Altus Renewables' current plant near Maryborough, Queensland produces less than half of the wood pellet the company proposes to manufacture in the Green Triangle. Picture: Altus Renewables

In April, managing director and chief executive, Ian Sandeman, told The Mount Gambier News he hoped the project would be operational in 2023 and was making strong progress securing fibre from the local forest products industry.

Now, a more than 400 page planning report and environmental impact assessment has been lodged with SA Plan and the restricted development is open for public feedback until August 20.

It explains the plant would source around 540,000 tonnes of softwood green sawdust and wood chips, plus some hardwood chips each year converting it into wood pellets that can be used generate electricity and heat.

A mock up of Altus Renewables’ multimillion dollar proposal. Picture: Altus Renewables

Altus expects to source 125,000 tonnes of sawdust from OneFortyOne, N.F. McDonnell & Sons and Timberlink Tarpeena with wood chip making up the balance from the same sawmills, plus forest growers including Timberlands, Green Triangle Forest Products and New Forests.

A combined heat and power plant would also be constructed to create the thermal energy needed in the production process as well as the electrical energy required to run the site.

Each year it would be fuelled by 130,000 tonnes of green biomass like bark but the company also exploring the possibility of using household green waste from the District Council of Grant.

The proposed site for a multimillion dollar facility designed to turn the Green Triangle’s forestry waste into a valuable source of renewable energy. Picture: Altus Renewables

After a 18-24 month construction period, the operation is expected to create 30 full time positions, plus 81 contractor jobs in harvesting and haulage for a total estimated 271 direct and indirect jobs.

Around 180 B-double trucks would transit through the 24 hour-per-day, 7-days-per-week plant daily with the final product exported via the bulk export terminal at Portland in Victoria.

Previously, Mr Sandeman said there was no domestic interest in the pellets, but the report said a global shift to renewables had led to strong interest from Europe, the United States and Asia.

A mock up of Altus Renewables’ multimillion dollar proposal. Picture: Altus Renewables

“The pellets, because they are made from plantation derived material, are deemed to be carbon neutral, this allows users of coal to either co-fire pellets with coal or to replace the coal with pellets, which in turn allows the user to reduce their carbon emissions,” he said.

According to the proposal, Altus would complete road upgrades to Hutchinson Rd plus the Riddoch Highway-Airport and Riddoch Highway-Hutchinson road intersections ahead of construction.

If approval is granted, it would likely seek an EPA licence with preliminary studies finding lighting, structure heights and exhaust emission would have limited impact on the nearby airport, while expected air quality impacts and noise levels meet standards.