Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre

The ACT Government wishes to progressively rehabilitate areas of completed landfill cells at their Mugga Lane facility. Their preference was for a system incorporating native vegetation to align with the National Capital’s bushland character.

Tonkin’s specialist waste management team, led by Dr. Melissa Salt, has been engaged to provide design and construction services for final landfill caps and associated site works.

Tonkin’s multi-disciplinary team is working closely with the ACT Government to develop tailored solutions to meet this project’s unique needs, which includes design and construction of composite caps, as well as a phytocap trial.

This mixed capping approach will enable the ACT Government to select the options that best meet their timeframes, budget and regulatory requirements.

Phytocapping uses natural water balance techniques to control the movement of rainfall into the waste. By modelling the climate, soil and vegetation for the site, we can alter the soil and vegetation to minimise drainage into the waste. As well as improving the visual amenity of the landfill, phytocaps can deal with fugitive gas emissions to further reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill.

View the video below to hear from Dr. Melissa Salt, on the important role phytocaps can play in the environmental rehabilitation and long-term future of landfill sites.

While Tonkin has delivered phytocap design and construction projects in many locations around Australia, the Mugga Lane project will be the first phytocap trial we have undertaken in the ACT.

We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the ACT Government, which has set ambitious plans to create a carbon neutral waste sector in line with its leading position on environmental sustainability.

The project is set to draw on Tonkin’s extensive waste management expertise and will involve auditing site operations, stakeholder consultation and engagement, composite cap and phytocap design, planning and approvals support.

Tonkin provides specialist waste management services nationwide and is recognised as a national leader in phytocap design and construction phase services.

Our team of experienced engineering and science professionals has a strong track record in responding to the needs of technically demanding and challenging waste projects.