While waste-to-energy plants, with their associated incinerators, are banned in various parts of the country the state government appears to be well and truly behind the idea of burning rubbish in our backyard. But across the ditch, a New Zealand company is rejecting the technology.
As regular readers of Sunbury Life will know, the government has earmarked Bulla as one possible location for such a plant – even though the Sunbury Rd site now has neighbouring housing estates.
While the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament is to hold an inquiry into the pros and cons of Waste-to-Energy the matter appears to have been settled by our Kiwi friends.
A New Zealand a company called Waste Management wants to build a new landfill on the outskirts of north Auckland, and has helpfully published an explanation (source) of its plans and reasoning.
One of the questions addressed in its brochure is the merits of burning waste in an incinerator. It’s an option that’s quickly dismissed by the firm as it states: “The problem is that burning the rubbish, such as plastics, causes significant carbon emissions, as well as producing toxic ash.
“Not only that, but to be economically viable, incinerator plants need ongoing amounts of rubbish – just at the time New Zealand is looking to reduce the amount of rubbish and plastics we use.
“Overseas, countries that have incineration plants need expensive taxpayer subsidies to make them work, and even then they often have to import waste from other countries – producing even more carbon emissions that damage the environment.
“We don’t believe Kiwis should pay this type of subsidy, which can be more than four times the cost of a landfill.”
Parliament will report back on its findings into waste-to-energy plants in August 2026, a couple of months after HiQ expects the government to make its decision on HiQ’s proposal.
The next meeting of the campaign group opposing the proposed Sunbury Rd incinerator is Thursday 30 October, Sunbury Library, 6pm.
A community meeting is also being held on Sunday 16 November, St Anne’s Parish Hall, Riddell Rd, starting at 1.30pm. All welcome. There will be presentations and guest speakers.
HiQ’s indicative timeline for its proposed Bulla WtE plant
Mid 2025
- Approval granted by Recycling Victoria for a Waste-to-Energy Cap licence
- Community engagement and feedback opportunities
Mid to late 2025
- Environmental and planning applications submitted to EPA Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning
- Ongoing community and stakeholder engagement
Late 2025 to early 2026
- EPA Victoria public exhibition of proposed Waste-to-Energy facility, including release of technical assessments
- Community engagement and feedback opportunities
Early to mid 2026
- Application outcomes
2026 to 2029 (if approved)
- Detailed facility design and construction
Mid to late 2030 (if approved)
- Commissioning and commence operations
Quick facts:
- Waste-to-energy plant would be built by Hitachi Zozen Inova
- Construction at Sunbury Rd, Bulla would create 600 jobs
- Day-to-day 24/7 operation would create 50 to 80 jobs
- Emissions stack would be 60m tall
- Power plant will require 180,000 litres of water a day
- Electricity output would be 29,000kwh*
- There would be up to 800 truck movements in and out off the plant each day
- It would have the capacity to burn up to 750,000 tonnes of rubbish a year
*Ed says: Using the average daily usage of 13.65 kWh for a Melbourne household, 29,000 kWh could power approximately 53 households for a month.
