At this week’s council meeting, a notice of motion will be tabled by councillor Helen Leach that the City of Greater Bendigo investigate the establishment of a regional high intensity incinerator facility to dispose of and process non-organic and non-recyclable household and commercial waste to produce energy.

Cr Leach said such a facility would make Bendigo a waste management hub for much of the state and address a number of pressing issues. 

“We can’t keep digging holes in the ground or carting waste hundreds of kilometres away,” Cr Leach said.

“We have to think of a better solution.

“I’m excited about this idea because it would save us a lot of money in the future and inconvenience carting away waste and I know that council has said we don’t want to open any more landfill cells.”  

The Eppalock Ward councillor said she was counting on the support of councillor Elise Chapman, another vocal proponent of a waste-to-energy incinerator. 

But she will be less optimistic about securing the support of the city after its acting director of presentation and assets appeared to pour cold water on the idea. 

Rachelle Quattrocchi, who was filling the role last week, said that the city was “not in a position to attract or promote this type of business”.  

“This is also not the city's focus at this point in time given the organic waste collection rollout,” Ms Quattrocchi wrote. 

The officer’s report also said the proposal would entail a “sizable operation and significant cost to set up” and that there “may also be issues with the location of facility within a regional setting such as Bendigo”.

But Cr Leach said she was not advocating ratepayers foot the bill for a potential incinerator. 

“Let me be absolutely clear, this would be a private enterprise,” she said.

“Council’s role would be about enabling, perhaps it would be finding a suitable site and advocating for funding from another government body like the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.” 

Cr Leach has invited the managing director of Phoenix Energy, Peter Dyson, to speak to councillors and city staff in August about the possibilities for a waste-to-energy incinerator in the region.