A proposed tyre shredding facility at Mowbray is “too close” to “vulnerable” people according to the Tasmanian Conservatation Trust, but the development applicant says it is the “perfect” location.
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The development application has been submitted to City of Launceston by Pheonix Rubber’s Tim Chugg, who was formerly trading under Tyre Recycle Tasmania.
Mr Chugg hopes to establish a facility to apply a “sustainable” approach to disposing of end of life tyres by converting them into a resource which could be re-purposed.
He said the facility would fix the state’s tyre issues.
“We’re confident we’ll be the first one in Australia to fully control our scrap tyre problems,” Mr Chugg said.
“We think that is very exciting. Not only for the tyre industry, but for the state as a whole as far as sorting out a large environmental issue.”
The proposal would allow tyres to be shredded and crumbed, and a moulding facility to be built. The tyres could be reused in road bases, play equipment, and other civil engineering applications.
The facility is expected to cost about $3.5 million and create 10 jobs.
Tasmanian Conservation Trust’s Peter McGlone says the site is inappropriate because of its proximity to an aged care facility, school and creche.
“The proposed facility at Mowbray should not be permitted by City of Launceston as it is too close to residences and places where vulnerable people are located,” Mr McGlone said.
But, Mr Chugg said the proposed site was “the perfect location”.
“The site is surrounded by a sawmill, road resurfacing plant and a waste management centre,” he said.
“[The facility] is a closed-loop circuit and there are no omissions from the plant, so I’m not sure what they’re concerned about.”
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The only other similar facility is in the state’s South at Brighton which can only shred tyres, Mr Chugg said.
Mr McGlone said if the council cannot refuse the application, it should cap the number of tyres that can be stored on the site.
“[The cap would be] similar to Barwick at Brighton, who can only store maximum of 15,000 tyres at any one time,” he said.
Mr McGlone said a minimum bond of $200,000 should requested, a fire and evacuation plan developed, and a condition that tyres should not be transported to the site until the shredder and recycling facility are fully operational.
Tyre Recycle Tasmania proposed to build a similar facility at Longford in 2016 but a decision by the Northern Midlands Council prevented the company from collecting the tyres.
Mr Chugg hoped the facility would be fully operational by August.
“We have spent a couple of years on the proposal, we have not let ourselves be rushed to make sure we have it right, and have spent time making sure we have the markets for it which I think we do,” Mr Chugg said.
“No one else seems to be doing anything to fix the problem.”
The proposal is open for comment until Monday, February 19.
It is expected the plans would then be discussed at the next City of Launceston meeting.