New resource recovery and animal management centre one step closer
10 August 2023
Council is one step closer to approving a state-of-the-art Resource Recovery and Animal Management Centre at Redbank Plains to improve its service delivery and better cater for the city’s ever-growing population.
Councillors unanimously supported the Redbank Plains site at the Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee today, and the matter will be brought before the next Ordinary Council meeting on 24 August.
The facility would be designed on council-owned land at 831 Redbank Plains Road, with the site selected after considerable investigation, and would ensure easy, safe access and convenience for customers.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said it was a sensible location and would satisfy council and community needs for the future.
“Planning for this significant expansion of our facilities is extremely timely as the existing Refuse and Recycling Centre at Riverview is currently operating over-capacity,” Mayor Harding said.
“This lack of capacity has held Council back from being able to offer benefits to the community such as a tip shop and tip vouchers, so I am excited to see planning for this centre now progressing which will include the city’s very first tip shop.
“We know that 70 per cent of Ipswich’s growth is occurring in the corridor between Springfield and Ipswich Central and therefore it is critical we have infrastructure in place to adequately serve our fastest growing suburbs.
“This new centre will facilitate the recovery, sorting and transfer of recyclable materials from household waste. It is very important for our residents to note that there are no materials to be stored on this site – all are transported off site within one to three days of collection.”
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the new Resource Recovery Centre shows council commitment to meeting the evolving needs of residents and improving waste management solutions.
“We recognise the urgency to address the over-capacity issues of the current facilities at Riverview and Rosewood and ensure that our waste management infrastructure keeps pace with our vibrant city,” Cr Tully said.
“This initiative will bring about positive change, enhance convenience, and promote sustainable practices. It will address concerns regarding wait times and travel distances.
“We can also explore innovations and changes to our operating model including the potential for resident subsidy schemes such as 'tip vouchers' to further enhance the resource recovery experience for our community."
The Southern Resource Recovery Centre would significantly reduce the amount of waste entering landfills, thus contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future for Ipswich.
By establishing the new facilities, Ipswich will align itself with other local councils such as Brisbane, Gold Coast and Logan, letting residents to conveniently access essential waste recovery services.
Features of this site include:
- Design for future growth and expansion to neighbouring lots (also council-owned land)
- Is 1,600m from the closest homes and 850m from any future approved developments
- Is located on a major arterial road network, avoiding significant connector road expenses, easy public access and already rated for large heavy vehicles movements
- Is in and meets the requirements of the Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) waste activity area
- Is in the growth corridor of the city
- Will have a co-located tip shop and shared resident car parking infrastructure with the new animal management facility
- Separation of traffic flows for waste, recycling and animal management centre visits
- Additional space to prevent traffic from queuing on public roads
A new animal management facility at the same location will see purpose-built infrastructure that improves animal services and welfare; flood resilient building; improved design reducing noise impact on animal, staff and residents; and a centralised location provides added convenience to residents.
Division 1 Councillor Sheila Ireland said this location was financially practical and had been based on the sound planning of previous councils.
“Taking action to divert waste from landfills is not only an environmental imperative but also a fiscally responsible decision. Failure to do so would result in increased impacts from state waste levies, which could have far-reaching financial consequences for our community,” Cr Ireland said.
"Investing in this Resource Recovery Centre is a smart and financially prudent move for Ipswich. By actively diverting waste from landfills, we not only reduce our environmental footprint but also save our community from incurring additional costs. It's a win-win situation for both our environment and our wallets."
Community consultation will enable residents to have their say on the proposed concept design to help council make the decisions towards the final design.
Submissions on the Southern Resource Recovery Centre and animal management concept design will be available following the Ordinary Council meeting on 24 August via the Shape Your Ipswich website at www.shapeyouripswich.com.au.