Riverina roads to get sustainable

05/06/2017

Downer is pleased to announce the opening of the $4.2m state of the art Wodonga Asphalt Plant.

The asphalt plant will set a new benchmark in sustainability and innovation in the Riverina.

The capability Downer’s new Wodonga asphalt plant brings will see the Riverina district start to benefit from the introduction of sustainable asphalt with higher recycled content from materials such as Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP). More importantly, the new plant can incorporate new streams of waste materials such as toner from printer cartridges and crumb rubber from used tyres – materials that would typically be stockpiled or sent to local landfills.

“We are pleased to continue investing in the local Riverina area, and continue working closely with local government and road authorities to improve sustainable outcomes in the region,” said Jim Appleby, National General Manager, Downer Road Surfacing.

“The Downer Wodonga Asphalt Plant has four full time employees and has an asphalt laying crew of 12 locals who support about 90% of the locally required asphalt produced for roads and developments. The innovation our new facility brings will see us not only lower our carbon footprint, but start to incorporate new streams of waste materials into the asphalt we lay, further improving sustainable outcomes for the region.”

“It is pleasing to see Downer invest in the local area with their new Wodonga asphalt plant that will see long-lasting benefits to our local community. We look forward to seeing them bring sustainable infrastructure to our local council areas,” said Mayor Cr Anna Speedie from Wodonga Council.

“Sustainability is a watchword for Albury and our Waste Management Centre is leading the way in recycling and reducing waste, so we’re thrilled that Downer is not only investing on the border, but doing so in a way that reduces our community’s carbon footprint while taking material that might end up in landfill and re-using it in developing critical infrastructure,” said AlburyCity Mayor, Kevin Mack.

The technologically advanced plant has best practice controls in place that will see 20% less energy used in operations, lower noise levels, and up to a third less odour emitted as compared to the previous plant. The new plant can also produce high performance warm mix asphalts which also require less energy to manufacture.