- Australia
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Premier of Western Australia, the Honourable Mark McGowan MLA, and Federal Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Melissa Price MP, today marked the commencement of construction of Australia’s first thermal waste-to-energy facility at a sod turning ceremony on the facility’s site at Kwinana.
More than 800 jobs will be created over the course of the construction period and more than 60 new full-time positions once the facility is operating. Acciona, which has been appointed to build the facility, has begun engaging with local sub-contractors about opportunities during construction. Post-construction, Veolia ANZ will operate and maintain the facility for 25 years.
Premier of Western Australia, the Honourable Mark McGowan MLA, said: “Western Australia is at the forefront of new technologies for the management of waste and the reliable generation of new sources of energy. Pressure on landfill is a concern for communities around the world and Western Australia is taking a leadership position in Australia by embracing new methods and technologies that can sit alongside other strategies for managing waste over the long term.”
Federal Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Melissa Price MP said: “This project means waste that would otherwise go to landfill is converted to energy, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and improving the stability of the grid. It also avoids more harmful methane emissions that add to our overall greenhouse gas emissions, and the Federal Government was pleased to support this project with a $23 million grant and up to $90 million in debt finance.”
Bede Noonan, Managing Director at Acciona Geotech, said: “We are excited to be building the first thermal waste-to-energy facility in Australia, and proud to be continuing our work in WA. We anticipate this project will contribute to the development of specialist skills in the Western Australian construction industry, creating local opportunities for subcontractors.”