A proposal for a battery recycling plant at Kurri Kurri has been given the green light by the Department of Planning and Environment.
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Development consent was granted on December 19 for Pymore Recyclers International to construct the facility next to Weston Aluminium on Mitchell Avenue.
The plant will provide 60 full-time jobs and recycle 60,000 tonnes of used lead-acid batteries per year.
Project adviser Ian Wiskin said there are more a few more steps to complete before construction will begin, including a construction certificate and detailed engineering design, and that the company was looking forward to moving forward with the project.
With a capital investment value of approximately $39.8 million, the project represents a significant investment in the Hunter region.
Mr Wiskin said co-location with Weston Aluminium drew their attention to the Kurri Kurri site – it was already an industrial area, with infrastructure including electricity and gas, road access and close proximity to the Hunter Expressway.
“It’s in a particularly good position to benefit from further development, and the local community is looking for new opportunities for employment,” he said.
The plant will have the capacity to recycle the equivalent of 3.87 million individual lead-acid batteries every year.
The recycling process converts a battery into materials that are recycled for use in new products – lead and plastics recovered are used in the production of new batteries, while sodium sulphate crystals can be used in other industries.
The environmental impact statement for the project was placed on public exhibition from November 17 to December 16, 2016.
Nine submissions were made – seven from government agencies, one from a community member, and one from neighbouring business Weston Aluminium. None objected to the development.
The community member raised concerns about air quality, noise and traffic.
Weston Aluminium’s submission supported the project, welcoming the “much-needed investment in the local and regional economy”.
Pymore has agreed to enter a voluntary planning agreement with Cessnock City Council to provide contributions to road upgrades including intersections used by project traffic on Hart Road, Government Road, and Mitchell Avenue.
Meanwhile, proposals for facilities to process quarantine waste, illicit drug and pharmaceutical waste, and medical and other hazardous material at the Weston Aluminium site are still under assessment, with the proponent reviewing submissions.