Will the Toolara super dump be dumped?

The Toolara super dump may not be the final solution

TRIP TO THE TIP: Gympie’s Bonnick Rd dump has a limited life span and while the council has identified land in the Toolara state forest for a super dump, it may go a different way with future waste disposal in this region. Picture: Scott Kovacevic

A SUPER dump in the Toolara forestry is still on the agenda, but could be replaced by one of several options being explored by Gympie Regional Council.

Talk of the dump has been around for decades, and Gympie Regional Council reconfirmed yesterday it had identified land in the Toolara State Forest for a landfill to meet the long term waste disposal needs of the region.

It has been working with the State Government and HQ Plantations on an agreement to buy the land and transition it from forestry to waste disposal, a council spokesman said yesterday.

"The council has invested in preliminary planning to ensure the suitability of this site and has carried out environmental studies and has permits in place with respect to the Commonwealth's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999."

But the high cost and palaver involved with building a new state-of-the-art landfill has motivated the council to not rule out "other opportunities" to deal with the region's waste in the future.

"Establishing a state-of-the-art landfill in current times is a technical and costly exercise and while the council's aim is to establish the Toolara landfill as a waste disposal option, it needs to consider what other opportunities for waste disposal may be available for the Gympie region," the spokesman said.

"Disposal of waste outside of the region to private landfills or landfills operated by other councils may be viable options.

"Council, together with its Wide Bay region of councils' neighbours, is currently looking at the feasibility of a regional landfill to service a number of councils and take advantage of economies of scale.

"Whether the council disposes of the region's waste at Toolara or at some other disposal point, it will be necessary to construct a transfer station to allow the bulking up of waste from several garbage trucks into a larger transport vehicle for economic efficiency."

The council has allocated $500,000 in the 2016/2017 budget for the design of such a facility which will allow GRC to take advantage of whatever final disposal option is taken.

"While landfill is the current readily available waste disposal option for putrescible waste, future waste to energy options may become available in Queensland and an efficient transport system would allow council to access such a facility," the spokesman said.

"Most importantly however, the council has a valuable asset in the Bonnick Rd waste facility.

"It has a life span estimated in excess of five years however, that is dependent on how well waste is minimised and managed. Every year that the life of the landfill can be extended will mean the deferral of significant borrowings or investment which will add to waste disposal costs. 　

"Ultimately it is up to every resident to take responsibility and try to reduce the production of waste.

"The benefits of minimising waste include reducing demand for landfill space, saving resources and energy, reducing pollution and increasing the efficiency of production."