Clutha District Council is awaiting consent from Otago Regional Council for expansion of its Mt Cooee landfill in Balclutha, as capacity is expected to run out next August.
Staff updated councillors on progress with the project during last week’s council committee meetings, and told the Otago Daily Times yesterday contingency plans were in place if the expansion was delayed for any reason.
More than $16 million was earmarked for upgrading the facility, a council spokeswoman said.
"In total we are planning on investing $16.2m over the next 10 years for the construction of a new landfill, a refuse transfer station, and a resource recovery park at Mt Cooee.
"Initial estimates show the new landfill has capacity to operate for 35 years. However the effective operating tenure will be determined by the outcome of consultation with key stakeholders and the conditions of the consent."
The consent was applied for in April last year and was still under consideration, following a request for "further work" on the application, she said.
"Council has had early engagement with alternative landfill operators with the view to ship waste to these sites if the new landfill cell at Mt Cooee is not commissioned on time or is determined to be not viable economically.
"There would be minimal impact on the usual kerbside collection service."
The transfer station would be for the consolidation and transfer of waste.
The council would also be implementing waste diversion by introducing glass and organics kerbside collection by January 2027 and building a resource recovery park.
Minor upgrades continued at the facility, including implementation of a new camera system for vehicle monitoring and licence plate recording.
