FAQs

About the Site

What is the land currently used for?

The site is currently not in use. It was a sand extraction pit during the 1970s then used for landfill purposes when quarrying ceased until the mid ‘90s.

Can you build and operate a renewable energy facility on top of a landfill?

Yes, the key is to make sure the landfill cap beneath is operating at optimum performance both before and during renewable energy facility operation. Significant work on this particular site has been and continues to be conducted as part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) landfill-site rehabilitation and after-care requirements. 

Historical environmental monitoring data shows consistently high cap performance. The proposed renewable energy infrastructure will not reduce the level of performance of the cap and this testing will continue throughout the development, construction and operational life of the proposed project to ensure ongoing compliance.

What’s unique about the cap design for this landfill?

All closed landfills are required to be capped to manage surface water flow and avoid leaching. Progress Power engineered a cap designed to not only meet these standard objectives, but to create a foundation for renewable energy generation. 

The cap design has also solved a longstanding problem for Melbourne Water by successfully incorporating 1.3 million tons of clay-enriched biosolids. This is a perfect example of the circular economy in action.

These unique features have set an industry standard for the landfill cap designs. More about this unique cap design can be found here.

Why can’t trees be planted on the site?

Tree roots can spread considerably down into the ground as they chase water, opening up pathways for water to get in and gas to get out. This interferes with landfill gas to energy extraction systems, undermining cap integrity and decreasing its environmental performance. 

For this reason, EPA Victoria guidance for revegetation of old landfills requires trees and other plants with deep roots to be planted around the perimeter of the site, with grasses with shallow root depth used in the centre.  This leaves an open space well-suited for solar energy production.

What kind of vegetation will be planted around the site? 

Progress Power will plant EPA-approved native plants and trees around the site. This includes a green ‘wall’ of trees to provide the aged care residents with an improved view of the site.