History

Councils of Brighton, Happy Valley, Marion, Noarlunga and District Council of Willunga and Meadows establish Southern Region of Councils (SROC).

On September 16, Pedler Creek Waste Disposal Depot is opened for receipt of waste.

Energy Developments Limited (EDL) and Southern Region of Councils (SROC) enter discussions and reach an agreement for the operation of a landfill gas power generation project.

• Councils of Happy Valley, Noarlunga and Willunga combine to become the City of Onkaparinga.
• Councils of Brighton and Glenelg combine to become Holdfast Bay.
• Southern Region of Councils (SROC) resolves to change its name to SRWRA – members are City of Onkaparinga, Marion and Holdfast Bay.
• Don Donaldson is the Chairperson.
• Energy Developments Limited’s (EDL) landfill gas power generation project becomes operational.

• SRWRA is established as a regional subsidiary, providing a cost-effective waste management role that meets strict environmental and community standards. A charter is established that sets out governance arrangements for the Authority.
• Two representatives from each council join the board, and Mark Booth is the Chairperson.
• We establish an operator’s agreement with Cleanaway to manage the landfill.
• Pedler Creek Disposal Depot is now called the Southern Region Waste Disposal Depot (SRWDD).

A visitor’s boardwalk is constructed to provide tour groups with a safe way to visit our site. It is opened in September by the Hon. Robert Brokenshire.

• With the new boardwalk in place, we begin to host educational tours for school students, university students and Council groups.
• We plant 3,000 seedlings on the old, covered landfill cells and Les Perry is SRWRA’s Operations Manager.

• The state government announces a commitment to Zero Waste to Landfill and Alternative Treatment Technologies. In light of this, Cleanaway and SRWRA begin to examine alternative waste treatment technologies.
• SRWRA Board begins the process of evaluating the provision of domestic waste management services on a regional basis.
• To date 53,000 trees have been planted on the SRWRA site.
• The Energy Developments Limited (EDL) power station is generating around 2,900kWh and supplying electricity to approximately 3,000 homes and businesses. This equates to saving 9,857 tonnes of greenhouse gas per year.
• A public drop-off area is established so that families can bring their waste to the facility.

• SRWRA and Cleanaway continue to collaborate, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is established to assess the viability of introducing an Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) system. The MoU includes plans for treating 80,000 tonnes of household waste per year. New technology is expected to deliver diversion rates of 80% and expand the landfill site.
• In March 2004, SRWRA promotes the establishment of the ‘Waste Policy Forum’, a broad-based policy forum for southern Adelaide. This is supported by the Cities of Onkaparinga, Marion, Holdfast Bay, West Torrens, Unley, and Mitcham and aims to explore ways of advancing an integrated approach to manage the waste hierarchy.
• Cleanaway begin using an innovative lining system, called Geo Composite Lining (GCL), for Cell 2 construction. Approximately 10mm thick, it provides a permeability rating comparable to around one metre of clay, therefore extending the life of the cell.
• Three thousand more trees and shrubs are planted for site screening, and six new landfill gas wells are installed in Cell 2 by Energy Developments Limited (EDL).
• SRWRA initiates a full ground water investigation to provide a comprehensive map of groundwater location on-site. This enables reference when planning future site works.
• Brian Carr is appointed Chief Executive Officer.

• The Waste Policy Forum is established with SRWRA as the facilitator.
• SRWRA begins a detailed planning process to establish key objectives and core strategies intended to ensure business viability and achieve environmental, social and economic goals. SRWRA also begins setting aside funds for post closure liabilities.
• On-site trials are conducted by Cleanaway to test easily sorted material and the type of products that may be extracted from the Commercial and Industrial stream. Over a 12-week period, 3,778 tonnes of material are processed, with a diversion rate of approximately 25% (938 tonnes) achieved. Predominant products were metals, hard plastic, timber, green waste, and concrete.
• Cleanaway begins investigation into the construction of a new landfill cell (Cell 3).
• Rock is crushed and screened on-site to provide a specific sized material for a drainage blanket in the new landfill cell.
• We receive approximately 200,000 tonnes of waste materials, with 938 tonnes of recyclable material being removed from the waste stream in a trial basis.

• Southern Region Waste Disposal Depot is renamed ‘SRWRA Landfill Operation’.
• A stakeholder Perception Survey is undertaken by SRWRA. The following key areas are identified:
  • increased diversion of waste
  • slow filling of landfill to prolong the life of the site
  • priority use of landfill for Member Councils
  • the risk of contamination of surrounding environment
  • strong support for investment in additional waste infrastructure and at recycling and green waste treatment.
• In May, SRWRA takes operational control of the landfill area from Cleanaway. Colin McArdle is appointed Landfill Manager, and Les Perry returns as Executive Officer.
• The SRWRA website contract is awarded, and work gets underway.
• A corporate Governance Manual is established, with a range of policies prepared to ensure legislative compliance and decision making.
• SRWRA is a key member of the newly formed Landfill SA.
• A new Waste Management Zone and Development Policies are recommended to the Minister for Urban Development to address Waste Management, Recycling, Resource Recovery and to safeguard the SRWRA facility.
• Ten new groundwater monitoring wells are installed with historical evidence showing no significant influences of leachate (evidence was collected since 1992).
• We receive 220,000 tonnes of waste, with 750 tonnes of recyclables sent off-site. Resource Recovery continues with many trials conducted.
• Cell 3 Stages 1 and 2 are constructed. Stage 1 is approved by EPA to start receiving waste in December 2005 and Stage 2 approved for July 2006.
• A 2.4 ML leachate containment dam is constructed in the southern valley.
• Energy Developments Limited (EDL) generates enough power to supply approximately 3,500 homes and businesses.

• More than 212,000 tonnes of waste materials are received, with 530 tonnes of recyclable products sent off-site.
• The Minister for Urban Development and Planning approves the Plan Amendment Report (PAR) for the SRWRA Landfill Operation. The new zoning better recognises and safeguards the SRWRA waste management facility. It addresses waste management, recycling resource recovery and renewable energy technologies. Also included are policies addressing groundwater, compatibility between land uses, off-site impacts, open spaces requirements, landscaping and site rehabilitation.
• Energy Developments Limited (EDL) produces 14,500 Megawatts (MWh) of electricity with 10,830,850m3 of landfill gas extracted and converted.
• Les Perry retires as Executive Officer.

• Nick Brown is our new Executive Officer.
• There is a considerable increase in the EPA landfill levy (from $11.20/tonne to $22.40/tonne) and these costs are borne by local government householders for the disposal of municipal waste.
• Resource Recovery is being developed to provide improved environmental protection.
• To build positive relationships with adjoining landowners, regular meetings are held and result in the establishment of an Integrated Litter Management Plan.
• The Board establishes asset management and long-term financial plans to assist in making decisions around long-term financial sustainability.
• We receive 212,000 tonnes of waste material and 1,189 tonnes are sent off-site.
• Stage 3 construction of Cell 3 commences. Composite lining systems are outsourced.
• We generate 14,806 MWh of electricity which is exported directly to the electricity grid. Energy Developments Limited (EDL) extracts 70,695 tonnes of gas.
• To control on-site litter, a permanent litter fence and several moveable litter fences are installed on the south-eastern portion of the site adjacent to Cell 2.

• Former Executive Officer Les Perry passes away in September.
• SRWRA recognises that the reduction of waste to landfill (or Zero Waste) is a multifaceted area that will impact on our landfill operations.
• The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act is established and SRWRA is required to register and report.
• Cell 3 Stage 3 construction is completed, and EPA approval is gained for waste to be deposited. A subterranean leachate collection system is installed to create a flow path into the containment system.
• We receive 186,000 tonnes of waste material and send 1,455 recyclable tonnes off-site.
• We generate 15,976 MWh of electricity.

• We continue to work with adjoining landowners to achieve positive outcomes related to litter and dust control, and feedback on alternative daily cover trials.
• SRWRA engages experts to investigate options to improve the sustainability of landfill operations. Considerations include an alternative waste covering system and trialling of a waste shredder to increase waste compaction rate.
• TipSite Systems replaces Newcastle Weighing for our waste management program.
• We receive 183,500 tonnes of waste material with 999 tonnes of recyclable material sent off-site.
• There are 146 gas extraction wells on-site. From the 9,329,256m3 of gas extracted from the wells, 15,827 MWh of electricity is generated.
• Design work for Cell 4 begins, and the EPA approves the complex lining system.
• The SRWRA Audit Committee is established with a representative from each Constituent Council and the SRWRA Board.

• The Seaford Heights residential development moves closer to SRWRA buffer lands.
• SRWRA commits to developing a Business Continuity Plan to cover emergency responses, resumption of essential business activities/services and disaster recovery procedures.
• Construction of Cell 4 begins and waste is received by the end of the year.
• We generate 16,444 MWh of electricity from 4,238,209m3 of gas.

• The Board determines that they will not increase levy prices as a result of any carbon tax implications.
• A joint venture with Integrated Waste Services (IWS) is established to build a waste processing facility capable of processing 50,000 tonnes a year. This is named Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) and it reduces the amount of waste going to landfill with residual waste taken off-site as organic waste.
• The EPA approves the Northern Area capping design and the Tarpomatic System (to replace daily soil cover).
• We receive 149,800 tonnes of waste material, with 456 tonnes of recyclable material sent off-site.
• We generate 16,259 MWh of electricity from 9,665,00 m3 of gas.
• Nick Brown ends his tenure as Executive Officer.

• Ray Pincombe is appointed as acting Executive Officer.
• Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) progresses a planning stage for building the recovery facility.
• Northern Areas and Cell 2 are completely capped with the phytocap system and rehabilitated (10 acres) with over 7,000 native trees, flora and grasses.
• We have 161 gas extraction wells on-site.
• We receive 117,684 tonnes of waste material at SRWRA.
• Energy Developments Limited (EDL) installs ten new gas wells to feed into two new stations constructed on the upper level of Cell 3. EDL plan to run the operation continuously (24/7) to deal with the large volume of gas generated from Cell 3.
• SRWRA is appointed as a repository for electronic waste, and 40.5 tonnes is taken off-site.

• Mark Hindmarsh commences as Executive Officer.
• A Les Perry Memorial Grant is established to encourage schools to undertake and promote waste management and recycling activities.
• Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) development continues into the engineering stage.
• The installation of the Tarpomatic system results in significant improvements in reducing the volume of daily cover used and airspace consumed.
• Our site tours become more frequent. The groups are most interested in methane gas extraction, cell construction, capping, planting, and recycling.
• We receive 105,414 tonnes of waste material, from which 19,915 tonnes of recyclables are retrieved.

• We receive 106,520 tonnes of waste material at SRWRA.
• Energy Developments Limited (EDL) extracts over 18,000m3 of gas from the landfill. This is the equivalent of taking 26,000 cars off the road.
• Construction begins on a new administration office at the landfill site.
• A new stormwater system is designed and constructed, and this reduces the levels of leachate in the leachate dam.

• Construction is completed on the joint venture Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) facility (see 2012), and it is opened in December. Treatment of council kerbside waste to produce organic waste has begun. The organic waste is taken off-site for further treatment as a recycled product.
• Our focus for the year is ‘Recycle and Reuse’, with over 19,000 tonnes of recovered product.
• During the construction of the SRC, we reuse 150,000 tonnes of recovered aggregates.
• We finish construction of the new administration office at the landfill site.

• SRWRA establishes a Master Plan to align with the State-wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan.
• We receive 123,089 tonnes of waste materials at SRWRA.

• The Chinese Government stops taking recyclable materials from Australia, which creates a need for a sustainable market for recyclable material in Australia, creating the circular economy.
• The Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) improves processes for treatment of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with over 10,000 tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfill.
• We recover 40,000 tonnes of waste for reuse on-site, including bricks, concrete and green waste.
• We use Coletanche to line parts of Cell 4. This technology is new and this is the first time it is used at a landfill in Australia.
• The Les Perry Memorial Grant is awarded to fourteen schools.

• Chris Adams is appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer in April.
• LMS Energy is appointed as operators of the Landfill Gas Utilisation facility with a new plant completed in December. At full capacity, the plant can generate 25,500 MWh of electricity.
• We commence discussion for the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to process kerbside recyclables (yellow lid bins).
• Negotiations begin for establishing a solar farm trial in the Northern area.
• The Les Perry Memorial Grant is awarded to 12 schools.
• We receive 86,398 tonnes of waste material for landfill with 17,463 tonnes already diverted to organic waste.

• A ban is placed on the exporting of waste glass, mixed plastics, tyres, paper, and cardboard. In response, SRWRA begins the implementation phase of a large-scale Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to support what member Councils need.
• We receive 74,418 leviable tonnes of waste material in the landfill with 23,256 tonnes already diverted in organic waste.
• The Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) shed is extended to enable greater area for waste treatment.
• LMS Energy open a solar farm on a capped landfill.
• Construction commences of a 600 ML recycled water dam, operated by Willunga Basin Water Co, on land leased from SRWRA.
• Stage 1 and 2 of the Western Sideliner project for the landfill are completed.
• We purchase a new landfill compactor equipped with GPS technology.
• The Les Perry Memorial Grant is awarded to 11 schools.
• The EPA Waste Levy is waived for bushfire affected waste.

• A joint venture with Re.Group is established to form the Southern Materials Recovery Facility (SMRF) with construction of a shed and processing equipment completed in July.
• The SMRF receives a grant of $5.35M of Commonwealth funding for Stage 1 construction of their shed, and a further $3.14 M from Green Industries South Australia for Stage 2.
• SRWRA is established as an integrated site, incorporating the processing of kerbside Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and recyclables and generation of power through the solar farm and landfill biogas harvesting.
• The Les Perry Memorial Grant is awarded to fifteen schools.