Project update
An efficient and modern waste management system is essential to support a burgeoning population in Melbourne’s south-east. Central to such a system is a transition away from landfill through a network of waste transfer stations that collect waste for delivery to facilities that recycle, recover, or effectively dispose of different waste streams. Veolia has undertaken significant analysis and planning for a transfer station within the waste precinct at Hampton Park. In December 2023 Veolia submitted a Planning Permit Application to the City of Casey and a Development Licence Application to the EPA for the development of this facility. It is anticipated that these applications will be considered over the coming months. Through this process, Veolia is committed to engaging with the community around the proposed transfer station operations.
Pictured: Planning timeline for proposed Hampton Park Transfer Station
Our collective waste challenge
Population growth is placing pressure on our city’s need for cleaner energy and effective waste and resource management. The main challenge is reducing consumption and pollution, while boosting efficiency in waste management. Victorian homes and businesses are increasingly demanding waste management that seeks improved environmental outcomes. This state-of-the-art facility will help facilitate a transition away from landfill – particularly following the projected closure of the Hallam Road Landfill by 2030 – allowing consolidation and transportation of waste to recycling or disposal locations. This includes recovery and recycling of some waste streams, and the efficient transfer of residual waste to energy recovery facilities, such as that under development at Maryvale. Energy recovery is an important alternative to land filling practices, providing greater energy capture and alleviating the reliance on landfill whilst providing a vital link in the waste management chain.
Pictured: The waste management system.
The planning process
Transfer stations must be built within areas zoned for waste activity. The proposed transfer station site is located within the designated Hampton Park waste precinct as identified in the 2018 Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan, supported by the Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, and confirmed in the Hampton Park Hill Development Plan.
Planning Permit
Veolia submitted a Planning Permit (PP) application for the transfer station to the City of Casey in December 2023. It is anticipated assessment by the City of Casey statutory planning team will take at least 60 days.
Development Licence
Veolia also submitted a Development Licence (DL) application to the EPA in December 2023. EPA assessment of the DL application will involve public exhibition and is guided by a four-month statutory timeframe, from acceptance of the application.
Both applications detailed the state-of-the-art facility design and included expert third-party risk assessments of social and environmental impacts. Council and EPA will evaluate the merit of the project and may stipulate further conditions for the proposal to be deemed viable.
How the facility will work
Not every waste transfer station is the same. Designs for the Hampton Park Transfer Station are best practice within the industry.
The facility will accept the following waste types:
- Municipal Residual Waste - waste from a municipal kerbside collection
- Industrial Waste (Construction and Demolition) - Waste from construction, demolition and other sources which is solid inert waste
- Industrial Waste (Commercial and Industrial) - Waste from commercial and industrial sources that includes putrescible waste
Waste will be delivered to the transfer station by collection vehicles and packed into containers before being transferred to appropriate recycling or disposal destinations. The waste operations will take place within a fully enclosed facility, and during normal operations, the site will be cleared of waste each day.
It is expected that the waste will be a mixture of municipal solid waste, as well as commercial and industrial waste such as metal, textiles and food waste. The proposed operating hours for HPTS are midnight until 6 pm Monday to Friday, and midnight until 4 pm on Saturday.
The facility will have three waste compactors, with a maximum processing capacity of up to 1,800 tonnes of waste per day. Waste will be delivered to the facility by trucks with an average 8.9-tonne load. Waste will be removed from the facility by A-double trucks which will typically carry 52 tonnes in a single load. Modelling demonstrates traffic will be at similar levels to that of the current site.
Key considerations for design
Veolia has drawn on its experience successfully managing transfer stations across Australia to design an innovative transfer station proposal that mitigates potential impacts on community and provides a state-of-the-art facility to help manage the area’s waste into the future. Key considerations include odour, fire, traffic, noise and dust.
The HPTS will be a fully-paved managed facility that does not create significant levels of dust.
The dust management infrastructure onsite is proposed to include:
Enclosed operating area - with automatic door
Fully-paved - managed with a street sweeper
Wheelwash at truck exit – to prevent waste material being inadvertently transported on trucks leaving the facility.
Only waste transfer activities on site - minimal dust impact
The transfer station’s location on one of the south-east’s main arterial routes ensures efficient transportation of the compacted waste to other use facilities.
The proposed station is anticipated to generate similar levels of traffic movements to the existing landfill operation with approximately 500 movements per day in and out of the facility.
The traffic management infrastructure and considerations include:
Traffic lights - at the intersection from Hallam Road into site
Independent traffic assessments
Operating hours - Limited truck movements between 12am and 6am
- Similar levels to current landfill - involving approximately 200-230 trucks per day delivering waste. For every six trucks delivering waste to the facility, following compaction and containerisation, a single A-double truck will transport the waste from the facility.
Pictured: Transportation of waste to and from transfer station.
*Based on average truck tonnages and comparable compaction data, final result is subject to the composition of waste received during operation.
The potential impact of odour was assessed using modelling and odour monitoring data from a Veolia facility in Banksmeadow NSW. The risk of offensive odour at sensitive receptors was assessed to be low.
The odour management infrastructure onsite is proposed to include:
High velocity fans - negative pressure maintained (drawing outside air, in) with air extracted from the building at a rate of 14 times the building volume per hour which supports dilution of any odours
Enclosed facility - waste deposited and compacted within building with mixed air discharged from building via a single high stack
Quick transfer of waste - all waste to leave site by 6pm everyday so minimal degradation on site.
Rapid automatic entry and exit doors - minimise the exposure of the operational area
- Specially designed transport containers - all waste leaving the facility will be held within 40ft transport containers designed to contain compressed waste
Detailed noise assessment and modelling demonstrates that the facility would operate below noise limits.
The noise management infrastructure onsite is proposed to include:
Fully enclosed building
Precast concrete wall slabs - sound reduction index of 45 dB
Sandwich panelling sunroof - sound reduction index of 41 dB
- An existing earthen bund - approximately 2.5-metres high, runs along the south side of the site entrance road from Hallam Road for approximately 100 metres: and along the western boundary for a distance of approximately 350 metres. This bund provides additional noise mitigation for residents along Hallam Road to the west of the site.
Control measures for fire prevention and protection within the proposed transfer station will fully comply with national and state requirements, and local fire brigade guidelines and standards. Prevention of fire incidents and mitigating fire risk is a high priority for Veolia.
The WTS building will be constructed using fire resistant materials, such as concrete and steel, and will contain automatic rapid rise doors, which can be deployed to reduce airflow into the building if required.
The firefighting infrastructure onsite is proposed to include:
Fire water supply including tank storage – onsite and to meet total demand for the hydrant and sprinkler systems.
Fire pump room - designed and fitted to requisite standard.
Booster and hydrants - located across the site for compliant access and coverage throughout internal and external areas.
Onsite fire-fighting equipment - such as extinguishers, blankets, hose reels, signage, alarm and sprinklers.
Quick transfer of waste - all waste to leave site by 6pm everyday
Fire management plan – specific to the site and working closely with Fire Rescue Victoria.
We're committed to keeping you updated
Regular updates are shared via email and directly with community groups. A HPTS-specific Community Reference Group (CRG) has been established to facilitate the flow of information and help address community questions and concerns. We have also conducted a letterbox drop and provide a factsheet (including translations) on the proposed facility.
Questions in the Frequently Asked Question section of this page, will be regularly updated to include fresh questions put forward by members of the community. If you would like to receive updates, have a question or are interested in joining the CRG please email [email protected]
Community Reference Group Minutes
Frequently asked questions
Top questions about the Hampton Park Transfer Station
Our FAQs are regularly updated to include the questions we receive from the community. If there is something you'd like to know that is not covered in the below, please get in touch with us.
Latest update: 1 February 2024
ਅਨੁਵਾਦ - පරිවර්තනය - ترجمه
What is the approval process?
The City of Casey’s statutory planning team will assess the Planning Permit (PP) application which will be submitted by Veolia in December 2023. It is anticipated this assessment will take at least 60 days.
Veolia also submited a Development Licence (DL) application to the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) in December 2023. EPA assessment of the DL application will involve public exhibition and is guided by a four month statutory timeframe, from acceptance of the application.
During the DL and PP application process, Veolia will engage with the community regarding the proposed facility and its operations.
There are two other separate processes being undertaken by the City of Council and EPA that have relevance to the waste precinct, in which the transfer station is located.
Buffer area overlay:
City of Casey’s Administrators are working on changes to the Casey Planning Scheme. This includes an investigation of the merits of applying a Buffer Area Overlay over the existing residential development within 500 metres of the existing Hallam Road landfill.
Further information can be found at https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/policies-strategies/hampton-park-hill-draft-development-plan
Industry separation distances:
EPA is in the process of updating two guidelines:
- Separation Distance Guideline
- Landfill buffer guideline
These updated guidelines will support land use and development decisions that:
- protect human health and amenity from the effects of pollution and waste associated with the operation of industry and landfills; and
- protect industry and landfills from inappropriate land use and development nearby that may constrain operations.
EPA is expected to finalise the draft Guidelines in mid to late 2023.
Further information can be found at https://engage.vic.gov.au/separation-distances-and-landfill-buffers
Where will the Hampton Park Transfer Station waste come from?
The proposed transfer station will accept general waste from domestic, commercial and industrial sources. This facility will service primarily the Southeast area in Melbourne.
What types of waste will the facility receive?
The facility will accept the following waste types:
- Municipal Waste - waste from a municipal kerbside collection
- Industrial Waste (Construction and Demolition) - Waste from construction, demolition and other sources which is solid inert waste
- Industrial Waste (Commercial and Industrial) - Waste from commercial and industrial sources that includes putrescible waste
How long will the waste be on site?
Waste will be consolidated and packed into containers on site.
Waste degradation on site will be minimal as during normal operations the facility will be cleared of waste at the end of the day.
Where will the waste be transported to?
Waste will be consolidated and containerised at the transfer station before being transported to a range of further recycling or disposal locations.
This includes recovery and recycling of some waste streams e.g. metal and timber, and the efficient transfer of residual waste to energy recovery facilities, such as that under development at Maryvale.
No recycling or resource recovery activities are proposed to occur on site at this stage.
Once the Transfer Station opens, will the landfill close?
The Hallam Road Landfill has a licence through to 2040 but is expected to fill this decade.
As part of our commitment to ecological transformation, the transfer station is a critical step in the transition away from landfill. It will function as a consolidation point before transporting to facilities which seek to further process waste material within Victoria’s resource economy. In time, the Maryvale waste to energy facility may be a destination for waste from the transfer station.
After the landfill is closed Veolia will remediate and maintain the landfill site during the aftercare period (which is estimated to be 30 years). The land will be returned to the council after remediation has been achieved and it has been approved as compliant by an independent auditor and EPA.
Why has this site been chosen?
Transfer stations must be built within areas zoned for waste activity.
The proposed transfer station site is located within the designated Hampton Park waste precinct as identified in the 2018 Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan, and supported by the Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, and confirmed in the Hampton Park Hill Development Plan.
Located on one of the area’s major arterial roads, the site has good access to transport networks and is integrated within the precinct of waste activities. It has appropriate buffers to support waste and resource recovery activities.
Veolia has identified the site as an opportunity for long-term capital investment that will have minimal impact on local amenity and supports best-practice waste management for our growing population.
The transfer station will consolidate local waste streams to achieve tonnages needed to maximise resource recovery. It will also help attract investment in further localised resource recovery infrastructure, thereby supporting further local job opportunities and economic growth.
What are the potential environmental impacts of the transfer station?
As part of the preparation of the Development Licence and Planning Permit applications, Veolia assessed and prepared detailed studies to address potential environmental impacts and consider, where necessary, suitable mitigation measures to minimise potential impacts. This included air quality and odour management, noise, traffic, soil and water, waste management, and socio-economic impacts.
Will the waste be collected and packaged at this transfer station for transportation to the Maryvale energy to waste facility?
In time, the Maryvale waste to energy facility may be a destination for waste from the transfer station.
Will the transfer station have odour?
The transfer station will help facilitate a transition away from landfill.
Meteorological data and plume modelling has been used to assess potential odour and design a best-practice facility with minimal odour.
Waste will be received and compacted into containers in a fully enclosed building to minimise odour.
The building will be equipped with automatic doors to reduce the exposure time of internal area and outside atmosphere. In addition, the building will be held under negative pressure to further minimise odour release from door openings and other potential fugitive emissions.
Under normal circumstances, the average load of waste will remain in the facility for less than 24 hours.
The facility will have a best practice air extraction system to help minimise odour. Fans will extract air from the building at a rate of 14 times the building volume per hour.
This will significantly dilute the air which will then be extracted through a high stack to maximise dispersal (while not impacting the amenity of the area).
How many trucks will visit the site each day ? How will that impact the traffic flow in the area?
The transfer station’s location on one of the south-east’s main arterial routes ensures efficient transportation of the compacted waste to other use facilities.
The proposed transfer station is anticipated to generate similar levels of traffic movements to the existing landfill operation with approximately 500 movements daily.
This will involve approximately 200-230 trucks per day delivering waste to the facility. For every six trucks delivering waste to the facility, following compaction and containerisation, a single A-double truck will transport the waste from the facility.
Waste will be delivered to the facility by trucks with an average 8.9 tonne load. Waste will be removed from the facility by trucks which can carry up to 52 tonnes in a single load. This can vary slightly depending on the type of materials and how densely they can be packed, and the weight of the specific truck and trailers. The total weight of the vehicle combination with payload must be within road safety limits.
Based on current modelling, an average of four A double trucks would leave the site each hour between 6am and 6pm.
We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure our transport management plan meets public safety requirements.
Picture: Transportation of waste to and from transfer station.
*Based on average truck tonnages and comparable compaction data, final result is subject to the composition of waste received during operation.
Were the noise assessments done during Covid lockdowns and does that impact the result?
A noise assessment was completed as part of the planning process in October 2019 (before the COVID pandemic and lockdowns).
Modelling demonstrates that the facility would operate below noise limits established by EPA.
What will be done to mitigate fire risk within the facility?
Prevention of fire incidents and mitigating fire risk is a high priority for Veolia. Veolia’s Global standard and local regulatory codes and practices for fire prevention and protection are applied to the design, management and operation of the HPTS facility.
Day to day operation of the facility will involve several fire risk mitigations.
A Waste Acceptance Protocol will be developed to work with customers to prevent non-compliant material entering the site e.g. batteries
Waste on the tipping floor will be visually inspected. Hazardous waste will be separated and stored in a quarantine area to the extent possible
Waste will not be stockpiled at the site. During normal operations, waste in the building will be cleared each night, further minimising the risk of fire on site.
The building will be constructed using fire resistant materials, such as concrete and steel. It will contain automatic rapid rise doors, which can be deployed to reduce airflow into the building to further minimise fire risk.
And as the waste will be containerized – compacted and with little access to oxygen - potential fire management is assisted.
Detection, sprinkler systems, and fire services will be installed in accordance with a fire management plan and assessment by the fire brigade and local authorities.
The facility will be equipped with fire-fighting infrastructure to ensure that potential waste fires can be controlled and extinguished in the early stages of combustion. The fire infrastructure on site will include two fire water tanks with total capacity of 385kL, a fire pump room, 10 fire hydrants and onsite firefighting equipment.
When do you anticipate that construction will begin?
We have a significant planning and approvals process to move through before construction begins. Ideally, construction will begin in 2024, and we would like the facility to be operating by 2026.
When will the facility be operational?
We would like the facility to be operating by 2026.
How can the community have a say on this development?
Veolia will engage with the community regarding the proposed facility and its operations throughout the Planning Permit and Development Licence application process.
EPA will seek community input through its assessment of the DL application.
Veolia’s website and information materials will be kept updated. Regular updates will be shared via email and directly with community groups. If you would like to receive these updates, please email [email protected]. Residents and stakeholders are also encouraged to submit questions and concerns to this email.
A HPTS-specific Community Reference Group has be established to facilitate the flow of information and help address community questions and concerns. Interested residents should [email protected] for a copy of the Terms of Reference.
To note:
Material included on this site may contain forward-looking statements based on the best available information at the time of writing. These statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual results and outcomes could differ materially for a number of reasons, such as changes to the conditions of the Development Licence, the Planning Permit and evolving government regulations.