Herald 20221004

Council project extends life of
waste management landfill
MAJOR PROJECT COSTING $5.3 MILLION
Toowoomba Regional Council
is undertaking a major project
costing $5.3 million to extend
the life of the Toowoomba Waste
Management Centre landfill off
Hermitage Road at Cranley.
Water and Waste Committee
portfolio leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield
said work has started
on a second vertical expansion
at the landfill, scheduled to be
completed in the first half of
2023, weather permitting.
Cr Sommerfield said vertical
expansion included the construction
of a fully lined and
engineered landfill cell above
previously filled cells.
The expansion could be likened
to ‘piggy-backing’ on the
existing filled waste cells.
“Vertical expansion above an
existing and completed landfill
cell was identified as the most
cost-effective and efficient method
to meet our more immediate
needs and comply with environmental
requirements,” she said.
“Making good use of space
at landfills means the vertical
expansion works within the confines
of the current footprint.
“The new cell will add around
240,000m³ of airspace, which
adds up to three years to the
landfill life before another cell
will be needed.
“Residents’ willingness to divert
as many materials as possible
from the general waste
bin or when visiting the Greater
Toowoomba Waste Management
Facility means we are reducing
the volume of material that ends
up in our landfill, in line with
Queensland Government waste
reduction targets.
Successfully achieving
Queensland’s ambitious waste
diversion targets can help extend
the life of the landfill even further.
Cr SOMMERFIELD
Environmental safeguards
"This has cost savings for the
council and ratepayers, while
also improving our environmental
outcomes.
“This second vertical expansion
project is part of a progressive,
six-stage expansion
planned at the site over 20 years
on the current landfilling footprint.
“Work on stage one, which
was the first vertical expansion
project in Australia, was completed
in late 2017.
“Expansion to the west of the
existing landfilling operation at
the Hermitage Road site has the
potential to extend the life of the
facility by more than 50 years.
“Maximising landfill space by
vertical expansion and extension
onsite to the west is far cheaper
than establishing landfilling
operations at a new landfill site
and offers better environmental
safeguards.”
Cr Sommerfield said the
project involved multiple liners
within the cell, essentially like a
giant bin liner, above a drainage
aggregate layer containing the
leachate system that is designed
to capture any liquid in leachate
tanks.
Cr Sommerfield said 19,000
tonnes of clay and 2900m3 of
gravel and rock (for the drainage
layer) all sourced from the Harlaxton
quarry would be used in
various earthworks.
“The new cell has wells installed
which will collect the gas
produced by the breakdown of
organic waste.
"The gas is collected and used
in our innovative project, in conjunction
with Queensland firm
LGI, to supply up to 50 per cent
of the power to run the nearby
Wetalla Water Reclamation Facility
via a 1000 kilowatt gasfired
generator,” Cr Sommerfield
said.
Cr Sommerfield said specialist
Brisbane firm DECC Environmental
had started work on
the project with support from
Toowoomba civil engineering
firm, Harrison Infrastructure
Group.
Both companies have a proven
track record in delivering
similar projects.
Garden club outing
The next Crows Nest Garden Club outing will be a visit to
Bindy’s beautiful garden this Saturday, October 8. Members are
asked to meet at St Matthews Parish Hall at 10am to car pool.
Bring a plate to share, a cup, hat, and chair. - Deidre Brooks
Teenagers
Earn your own money!
Reliable people wanted to deliver
leaflets 1-2 afternoons a week
(A good way to obtain a work reference)
Regular payments – per pamphlet/letterbox
Darling Downs
Pamphlet Distributors
Shed 2, 103 North St, Toowoomba
Phone 4639 1986
during office hours
“The trusted pamphlet people”
Highfields gardeners meet
at Cabarlah
Orchids thrive in good season
Among the hundreds of orchid species native
to Australia, there are a few that have no
leaves.
One of these locally can be seen just starting
to flower. Sometimes they are on the ground
(over the grass or similar) but most commonly
the Tree Climbing Orchids are up the trunk
from one to five metres.
Unless flowering, the dark bootlace-like
stems are not very noticable.
Orchids with no leaves are totally dependent
on specific fungus that feed them.
Trying to transplant them invariably fails
because they need particular organic litter
(from native Australian plants) and their species
of fungus.
Fortunately, there are some quality local
bushland parks, and some private land, where
the right litter and fungus are available (lantana
and privet thickets are no good.)
With the good season, they are present now
and bushwalkers should get to see some. Remember
to take only photos and leave no disturbance.
- Dougal Johnston, Hampton
Pat
WEIR MP
Member for Condamine
Please like my facebook page
101 Campbell Street, Oakey, Qld. 4401
PO Box 65, Oakey, Qld. 4401
P 07 4570 4100 E condamine@parliament.qld.gov.au
F PatWeirMP
Authorised by Pat Weir MP, 101 Campbell Street, Oakey QLD 4401
Club member Diane Robson and Lorelei
Bartkowski from Highfields Garden Centre
The September meeting of the Highfields
Garden Club was held at the Cabarlah home of
Sally and John Dowling.
The property is surrounded by remnant forest
and farms.
Members gathered on the large lawn area in
front of the house to hear John talk about how he
and Sally learnt about the property’s soil issues and
requirements over the last few years to produce the
colourful, sprawling garden.
John explained the previous history of the land,
once cleared for dairying, and the remains of the
railway line to Crows Nest alongside the property.
He also discussed management of weeds in
his garden.Guest speaker Caitlyn Mason from
the Queensland Dahlia Society presented a very
informative talk on growing Dahlias.
Caitlyn explained the various aspects of growing
dahlias including lifting of Dahlia tubers, timing
of planting tubers, fertilizing the growing plants to
enable cut flower production through summer and
into autumn. She then demonstrated separating
a clump of tubers and propagating Dahlia plants
from cuttings.
After the meeting members wandered the garden
admiring the flowering garden beds and hedges,
wisteria arch, espaliered pear walk and water
features.
There was also a display of metal garden structures
made by local metal worker Murray Anderson
for sale and a plant stall provided by Lorelei
Bartkowski from Highfields Garden Centre.
Not your
normal dollar.
It’s a Donation Dollar.
If everyone gave them as they
found them, every year $300 million
would go to those who need it most.
When you find one.
Give one.
6 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - OCTOBER 4, 2022
To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au