Four tip cells at Castlemaine landfill site will be capped after the Mount Alexander Shire Council this week approved awarding a $5.49 million contract for the work as part of an overall project worth $7.5 million.
The Castlemaine Landfill Cell Cap Construction Project is focused on capping four as yet uncapped tip cells and connection to three already capped cells as part of one of the largest project’s in the council’s history.
“This project is fully funded from council’s waste reserve,” Cr Tony Cordy said in moving the motion in favour of awarding the $5.49 million capping contract to Apex Earthworks whose tender was one of three compliant tenders the council had received.
Cr Cordy noted that the landfill site – also known as “the tip” – is an EPA licenced landfill consisting of seven cells but had ceased taking waste into onsite cells in April 2020 with waste processed off site since then.
EPA regulations for licensed landfills require operators to rehabilitate and continue to manage sites after closure and councillors at this week’s July meeting were tasked with determining whether to award the major contract to Apex Earthworks in line with the technical officers’ recommendation.
“This is a very important project, perhaps one of the largest that Mount Alexander Shire Council has ever undertaken,” Cr Cordy said in moving the motion in favour the recommendation.
Seconded by Cr Christine Henderson, and unanimously supported by all councillors present – except Cr Gary McClure who left the council chamber declaring a conflict – the decision also approves allocation of $549,689 as variation provision for construction of the new capping.
Councillors also noted that the Castlemaine Landfill Cell Cap Construction Project cost estimate overall is $7,541,747 including a contingency of $692,000.
“$7.5 million is certainly the biggest (Mount Alexander Shire) project I’ve seen,” Cr Henderson said.