18.2 C
Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Lismore trials new $2m landfill liner

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

Bruns-Billinudgel RSL marches on

Though recently the membership of the Brunswick Heads–Billinudgel RSL sub-Branch has grown, the numbers are still very low and if there is not a continual increase, this chapter faces closing.

Cinema: Wicked Little Letters

Based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England, Wicked Little Letters centres on neighbours Edith Swan and Rose Gooding in the seaside town of Littlehampton.

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?

The Picture House is turning 8

It feels like we were only just ringing in the new year days ago and here we are approaching Easter weekend at The Brunswick Picture House. It’s already been a whirlwind start to 2024 with their biggest and busiest program so far, bringing an eclectic mix of some of the hottest stand-up comedy, music gigs, film screenings and cabaret – and that was just last week!

Heavy traffic on M1 predicted over Easter long weekend

Bottlenecks in Northern NSW are predicted to occur at Coffs Harbour and Tugun over the Easter long weekend. This is expected to be further impacted by work on the Pacific Highway just north of the Queensland border.

A health check as Medicare turns 40

If you’ll forgive the earnest tone, I’d like to propose a toast. To a friend who’s almost always there when you need them most. To a system that aims to treat people fairly and respectfully. 

The new landfill site being prepared at Lismore. (Supplied)
The new landfill site being prepared at Lismore. (Supplied)

Lismore city council is leading the state with the installation of a new $2 million landfill cell.

The landfill is being lined with a geosynthetic clay lining.

The council’s waste operations coordinator Kevin Trustum said Lismore was a pilot site for the new method, which looked set to become widely used as a best-practice model in the future.

Mr Trustum said the landfill lining was fabric impregnated with bentonite clay, which had several benefits compared to the thick layer of compacted clay that is traditionally used.

‘Firstly, it means we don’t need to mine virgin clay for the lining and as our floodplain clay is unsuitable anyway, it also means we don’t have to truck in clay from outside the region,’ he said.

‘The geosynthetic lining provides around 30cm more space across the face of the landfill, which is around the size of two football fields, so we gain quite a bit of extra landfill room.’

Once the geosynthetic liner is laid, another plastic liner will be placed on top, sealing the waste to prevent toxins leaching into the environment – a far cry from the bad old days when rubbish was thrown in a pit.

The council will collect the leachate from the landfill for treatment at the East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant.

Mr Trustum said the old landfill cell would reach capacity sometime in 2016 and would be capped using a phytocap system, which Lismore City Council also pioneered in NSW.

Instead of compacted clay and other materials, phytocapping involves capping landfill with native vegetation and koala habitat.

The new landfill cell will give the council capacity for the next 10 years based on the current amount of waste going to landfill. It is expected to be complete by the end of August.

 


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.