Gippsland Regional Organics expansion

Gippsland Regional Organics is undergoing a major expansion

Background

Gippsland Regional Organics is undergoing a major expansion.

The expansion will mean we can recycle more organic materials and manufacture more certified compost products.

The project includes additional processing areas, water and power infrastructure, and new processing equipment.

The expansion is funded by Gippsland Water and has been awarded $4.788 million from the Victorian Government under the Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund and the Australian Government under the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund for Gippsland Regional Organics Process Expansion Project. The Australian Government will contribute $2.394 million, and the Victorian Government will contribute $2.394 million.

Fast facts

The expansion involves:

  • Construction of additional processing areas
  • New processing equipment
  • Installation of new water and power infrastructure

Location: Gippsland Regional Organics, Dutson Downs

Timing: 2022-23 Funding secured, permissions received and design works commenced

2023-24 Design works completed, and construction started

2024-25 Construction Completed 

More information

Gippsland Regional Organics helps keep our water and wastewater tariffs down by generating additional non-regulated income to help offset our operating costs.

The expansion will:

  • Increase our organics processing capacity by 70,000 tonnes per year – from 180,000 to 250,000 tonnes
  • Increase our compost product manufacture by approximately 20,000t per year - from 50,000t per year to 70,000t 
  • Support the role out of the state-wide Food Organics Green Organics collection process
  • Support jobs in the region
  • Reduce emissions by diverting organic materials away from landfill.

Like with all our works, we want to have as little environmental impact as possible. Things we're doing to minimise our environmental and heritage impacts during this project:

  • Designing the new hardstand areas so no native vegetation is removed
  • Completing flora and fauna assessments, including targeted frog surveys
  • Extensive monitoring and testing of soil and groundwater conditions
  • Protecting the equivalent environmental values at one of our environmental offset sites when vegetation is removed
  • Implementing construction Environmental Management Plans to ensure no impacts occur outside the proposed site
  • Undertaking cultural heritage surveys.

We’ve consulted with numerous government agencies regarding the proposed project, its benefits and potential funding for the past two years.

We also welcome direct comments and enquiries from the community at any time.

2022-23

  • Funding secured
  • Statutory and regulatory approvals
  • Design works commenced

2023-24

  • Purchase of additional equipment
  • Design works completed
  • Construction started

2024-25

  • Construction completed
  • Commissioned and operational

For more information, email contactus@gippswater.com.au or call 1800 050 500. You can also sign up to get involved in our future projects and initiatives.