Elsie Lange
The green waste treatment site at Romsey has now processed 63,000 tonnes of trees and storm debris in its first six months following the June 2021 storm and flood event.
“This is so much more than dealing with debris,” Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said at the announcement on Friday, March 11.
“This facility is processing trees that have meant so much to the communities who have lived amongst them, and seeing those trees returned to their communities as product is a great outcome.”
From supplying men’s sheds across regions, providing 50 kilometres of fencing to residents and primary producers, milling 11,500 stakes for council, creating firewood, processing fish balls to enhance river systems and processing 180,000 cubic metres of mulch, the facility has both recycled and delivered.
Funded through the state government’s $105 million response to the June storms, the facility has partnered with Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) and Macedon Ranges council to take part in the BRV residential clean-up program.
Macedon Ranges council chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan praised the facility for all it had contributed to the community since its inception.
“The Romsey facility has allowed us to not only clear and process trees and debris faster on an enormous scale, but up-cycle the timber into products that create a benefit for our residents, such as firewood, tree stakes, fence posts, and smoking chips,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“It’s been a collaborative effort all the way and I would like to acknowledge this significant partnership with Bushfire Recovery Victoria. Partnering with Bushfire Recovery Victoria allowed us to scale our operation and process trees from other storm affected parts of Victoria, leading to a better outcome for not just our community, but so many others.”
Ms Thompson said it was great to see the wood processed through the BRV program put to good use, with “not one bit of it wasted”.
“Since its establishment in July 2021, the Victorian sate government has invested $3.5 million to establish the facility and ensure it can process the large volumes in the most sustainable way,” she said.
