It has lodged a development application for a drill mud processing facility at 100 Sinclair Street, on the southern side of the existing waste management centre.

The development, proposed for a 2.65 hectare council-owned site on the southeastern end of Sinclair Street, is one strategy aimed at extending the landfill’s 15-year life.

Drilling mud is the waste produced from hydro-excavation, such as trenching and utility repairs, and contains mud and water.

Utilities director Marina Hollands said the waste management centre had been accepting this material in a dedicated disposal area for some time. DA documents lodged by Cardno state that about 380 tonnes is received every month, mostly from three companies disposing from the local area.

“(We) have lodged a variation to our EPA licence to enable us to accept it on a permanent basis in purpose- built drying beds,” she said.

The DA is for construction of purpose-built drying facilities at the Waste Management Centre.

Up to three megalitres of drilling mud (or three Olympic size swimming pools) could be received every year. 

The application involves construction of a “limited pond arrangement” to cater for current volumes, with potential to increase capacity in future stages, based on demand. The first stage is valued at $500,000 and subsequent stages at $1.5m. 

Ms Hollands said the earth/clay lined collection dam would receive the drilling mud. Cardno anticipate four daily truck movements in initial stages, accessing the site from an upgraded existing road to the centre. The material would then be dried through natural evaporation over about three months.

“It is then mechanically removed as a dry material for use as a cover material or as clean fill (soil) in the landfill,” she said.

The council is exploring ways to extend the landfill’s life. A 2016 analysis estimated a further 15 years of usage. But a master plan completed in 2017 found that a further 30 years could be achieved if more landfill sites were built to the southeast of the site.

The DA is on public exhibition until July 16 and public submissions are invited.