There is no guarantee a proposed $100 million clean energy plant announced for Tumut will proceed.
Visy Industries announced the plan to convert waste wood to electricity and steam in June, when its second pulp and paper mill at Tumut was officially opened by New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard opened a new clean energy plant for Visy in Melbourne last weekend.
Visy spokesman Tony Gray says the company is weighing up the benefits of Tumut against two other sites now being considered, in Sydney and Brisbane.
“Now we’re looking at not only the use of waste wood and waste from the recycling project but other forms of waste as well,” Mr Gray said.
“We’re taking a sort of national view of where might be the best situation for those sites to be placed. Tumut is definitely one of three sites where one of those major facilities might go.”
Mr Gray says the company is now looking at recycling municipal garbage.
He says while Visy needs to consider locating near city garbage tips, Tumut is still in with a good chance because it has major power needs.
“Since the expansion of the Tumut site, we consume a lot of power there, so if we can generate that power in a cleaner more economical way that replaces the power that we buy from the grid and we can supply some of our own power, well that could actually be very economically attractive,” Mr Gray said.
Tumut Shire Mayor John Larter is still confident Tumut will be chosen for the $100 million development.
“Look, at the end of the day Anthony Pratt made that announcement in collaboration with the Premier Mr O’Farrell,” he said.
“If they’ve made that commitment there, I think they’ll honour it. Whether they’re looking at other sites as well, I don’t see why … we’re in the best position.
“This mill is probably one of the cleanest mills operating anywhere in the world.
“The community’s right behind the mill. There’s plenty of room out there to expand it and I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t honour their commitment.”
A decision on the location of the clean energy plant is expected next year.
