Project description
Planning is underway on Belconnen's temporary green waste facility.
The ACT Government has been exploring options for the relocation of the green waste drop-off facility which is currently located on Parkwood Road. A feasibility study (PDF 1.5 MB) was undertaken to identify potential future waste sites in North Canberra. The report identified 23 sites for further investigation. Five of these sites were shortlisted for detailed review and from this assessment, Block 1582 on Stockdill Drive was considered the most appropriate location for a facility of this type.
Development application process
Following the submission of the development application (DA) in May 2022, the Planning Authority advised in September 2022 the DA had not been successful with additional information required in relation to traffic, bushfire and utility management and also clarification about how the proposal is consistent with the Territory Plan.
We addressed these concerns and the DA was resubmitted in December 2022. Following a review of further comments from the community, the application was further modified and the landscape yard removed to ensure consistency with the temporary use application. All other elements of the proposal remained unchanged.
On Thursday 3 August 2023, the independent planning and land authority approved the reconsideration application for the northside green waste facility.
The approval was supported, with conditions by all relevant entities including the EPA, Conservator of Flora and Fauna, Emergency Services Agency, ACT Heritage Council, Icon Water and Evoenergy. The conditions relate to reinforcing the temporary nature of the proposal, site remediation and environmental protections. The approval is for three years.
One of the key conditions is incorporating an EPA approved leachate management and wastewater collection system. This will ensure there are no offsite water quality impacts such as drainage of leachate and nutrient rich runoff from green waste material stored on the site. These systems will require EPA approval before construction can commence on the site.
Other conditions relate to issues such as ensuring no soil is disposed of from site without approval from the EPA, ensuring an EPA-approved erosion and sediment control plan is in place and ensuring off-street car parking includes parking for people with disabilities.
The Notice of Decision will be uploaded to the Planning Authority webpage.
Current status
ACT No Waste will undertake the necessary work as soon as possible to design and approve the required leachate management system for the facility.
We anticipate releasing a construction tender in the second quarter of 2024 with construction to begin on site in the second half of 2024.
This temporary facility will give the ACT Government time to consider a more permanent northside location for green waste.
Frequently asked questions
The below questions have been put together to address the most common themes heard throughout the engagement on this project to date.
Facility
What will the new temporary facility include?
A new temporary green waste facility will be constructed on Block 1582 along Stockdill Drive. Works on site will include:
- an all-weather access road
- new access point off Stockdill Drive
- utility connections as required
- earthworks and structures to accommodate the operations as indicated in the plans provided
- works to manage stormwater and runoff
- fencing, minor landscaping and other associated works.
Why can't the current green waste facility on Parkwood Road continue to operate?
Canberra Sand and Gravel’s (CSG) current green waste facility is being relocated so Ginninderry, a Joint Venture between Riverview Developments and ACT Government’s Suburban Land Agency, can undertake the adaptive reuse of the West Belconnen Resource Management Centre (WBRMC).
Is this the permanent home for this facility?
The use of Block 1582 for a green waste facility is a temporary proposal.
Block 1582 will be a permanent site for ACT Government use. This could mean in the future it is the site for a municipal depot or another use which would require further development applications.
It is not best practice for the community to be involved in the selection of a site unless multiple suitable sites can be identified. There are strict criteria used in selecting a site for this use and in this case only one suitable site was identified and therefore proceeded through the design phase/DA.
Despite this, consultation was undertaken with the community in January 2022 prior to the DA being submitted. This was targeted to adjoining landowners however was also distributed via stakeholders including the Belconnen Community Council.
As part of the development application process, there have been three public notification periods allowing the community to make comment on aspects of this proposal. Information sessions were also hosted during the initial DA notification period to help people, particularly the Ginninderry community, better understand the nature of the proposal.
Location
Where is the green waste facility to be located and why has this location been selected?
The green waste facility is proposed to be located on Block 1582 on Stockdill Drive. This site was identified by a feasibility study (PDF 1.5 MBundertaken on the future planning for waste facilities on Canberra’s northside.
This site offers the ability to establish a long-term solution for processing green waste and could also accommodate the co-location of a landscaping supply business. The proposed site is just over three kilometres from the existing facility and will offer great access to the residents of Belconnen and North Canberra.
An important consideration of any site is the requirement it be located at least one kilometre from residential premises and have the appropriate environmental controls in place, which this site would provide.
Traffic
The intersection of Drake-Brockman Drive and Pro Hart Avenue is already busy and will continue to get busier as Ginninderry grows. What has been done or will be done to address the increasing congestion at this intersection?
The traffic report undertaken for this proposal found the traffic likely to be generated by the facility can be accommodated on the road network immediately surrounding the facility, including Stockdill Drive and Pro Hart Avenue, as it currently exists. Typically, traffic to green waste facilities does not coincide with peak commute times and therefore is not expected to contribute to increased traffic congestion.
However, one of the upgrades identified as part of the Traffic Impact Assessment for the Ginninderry development is the intersection of Pro Hart Avenue, Spofforth Street and Drake Brockman Drive. The upgrade is to change the priority at that intersection, meaning priority is given to traffic travelling along Pro Hart Avenue and Drake Brockman Drive. You can find out more and stay updated on the Ginninderry website.
This facility will see an increase in industrial traffic using residential streets.
Stockdill Drive and Pro Hart Avenue are not classified as residential streets. They are classified under the ACT road hierarchy as major and minor collector roads, respectively.
Stockdill Drive is a major collector road, forming a link between the arterial road network and local access roads. In the middle of that is Pro Hart Avenue, a minor collector road that distributes traffic from residential (access) roads and links it with the major collector roads.
No commercial green waste is accepted at the facility, and as such, the majority of vehicles accessing the site are light vehicles (Belconnen and Ginninderry residents dropping off green waste).
Environment
The buffer zone is insufficient for the proposed facility.
The ACT Government’s Separation Distance Guidelines for Air Emissions have been used to determine the appropriate buffer distance.
The green waste site is about 1350-metres from the nearest existing house in Ginninderry; with this separation distance the possibility of any odour impact is negligible.
It is to be noted the Guidelines stipulate a 1000 metre separation recommendation for facilities that include composting and 500 metres for a municipal waste landfill.
It is considered the buffer will be sufficient for the activity.
What mitigation will be in place to guard against odour coming from the facility?
The location of the facility, more than one kilometre from residential areas, is consistent with the ACT Government’s separation distance guidelines and will exceed all requirements under the EPA Act therefore have a negligible impact on surrounding areas.
Good practices on site will be managed through the issuing of an Environmental Authorisation by the Environment Protection Authority.
Will there be any composting on-site?
The principal use of the site will be for green waste collection, mulching and resale. However, as green waste will begin to compost as soon as it is stockpiled, some composting will naturally occur.
As a result, the Environment Protection Authority will require this site to hold an Authorisation associated with composting activities, which includes odour control requirements.
The ACT Government’s separation distance guidelines do not include separation distance recommendations for temporary use of the land, however for permanent installations, a 1000 metre separation is recommended for facilities that include composting.
The green waste site is about 1350 m from the nearest existing house in Strathnairn.
The site sits within a bushfire prone area. What protection will there be on site?
It is acknowledged the site is within the bushfire prone area to the west of the city. This brings with it management responsibilities that will be reflected in the operational plans for the facility.
Protection on-site will include asset protection zones, site access specifications (vertical clearances, road widths and capacity), a 20,000-litre static water supply for firefighting purposes, separation distances between stockpiles on site and operational restrictions on access and operations on days of catastrophic fire danger.
Run-off from the facility will create pollution of our waterways. What mitigation will be provided on site?
Consistent with the requirements of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements, this site will include a sediment pond, dust suppressors and water recycling measures on site.
The facility will generate increased noise in the area, particularly from the increase in heavy vehicles accessing the facility.
No commercial green waste is accepted at the facility, and as such, the majority of vehicles accessing the site are light vehicles (Belconnen and Ginninderry residents dropping off green waste).
The traffic noise which would be caused by the facility is only a fraction of the noise generated by traffic travelling on these main roads.
