The application to convert the Stapylton quarry into an operating waste transfer station was filed by developer Stapylton Resource Recovery in late February this year.
According to the application documents lodged with the Gold Coast City Council, the 23ha site – half-way between Surfers Paradise and Brisbane – will prove to be economically useful, as the city’s northern region continues to rapidly develop.
“Given the spatial design requirements of landfills, suitable land is extremely scarce, especially within growing urban communities,” the application report’s proposal review stated.
“Landfills are critical and necessary urban infrastructure, required to support the ongoing growth and economic development of the city. Unlike traditional landfills, the proposed waste facility will adopt sustainable practices, revolutionary solutions and consistent improvement in recycling and resource recovery.
“The current quarry void will be entirely filled and a new rehabilitated landform created on the site,” the proposal review concluded.
According to reports, an economic assessment of the project suggested the landfill proposal would reduce truck travel, allow market competition and extend the life of the Gold Coast’s existing city-controlled landfill sites.
The economic assessment also suggested the proposal is expected to save local businesses approximately $3 million annually in transport costs.
Made up of two lots – one owned by local council and the other by major quarry operator Boral – the quarry will continue to operate while the already mined sections are filled in.
The site will have an operational life of approximately 21 years, and is expected to have space for 15 million tonnes of rubbish. This includes 185,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste, 60,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste and 200,000 tonnes of municipal waste per year. According to the application documents, this will include processing the construction and demolition waste into recyclable aggregates – specifically, for the purpose of processing concrete washout.
Stapylton quarry was established in 1975 after being issued a rezoning approval over the land from rural to extractive industry. In 1982, the processing, concrete and asphalt quarry was developed.
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