State backs Stanhope bio-digester, turning waste into heat and power

John Bourke will build a bio-digester which will turn potentially damaging greenhouse gases from waste into heat and power for a new horticultural business growing lettuce and herbs.

Picture from today's Shepparton News.

Yesterday Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced Mr Bourke’s company, Waranga Green Energy, would be getting $1 million from the government’s new energy jobs fund grants.

Waste left over from the bio-energy plant will be dried and sold as fertiliser.

Ms D’Ambrosio said the project represented a significant investment for the region, with more than 30 local jobs expected to be generated.

‘‘It’s one of 24 grants which will be announced in coming months, with Waranga Green Energy obtaining funding under the technology category,’’ she said.

Ms D’Ambrosio said the project would minimise greenhouse gases, maximise energy efficiency and remove waste disposal constraints which are currently preventing expansion of the piggery.

Mr Bourke’s 250-sow piggery in Middle Rd, Stanhope, turns off about 200 pigs weekly for the domestic market.

The German-built bio-digester can process up to 200 tonnes of agricultural waste a day and will be assembled on a former dairy farm in Hill Rd, adjacent to Mr Bourke’s property.

Stanhope and District Development Committee secretary Bob Holschier was in favour of the new project.

‘‘Once it’s completed, it will employ almost as many people as Fonterra does,’’ he said. ‘‘Stanhope badly needs it. We are very reliant on the dairy industry and with the industry the way it is, being so depressed, small towns like Stanhope and others are in a pretty bad way. We need an injection of some enthusiasm more than anything and this project, once it’s up and running, will give us that enthusiasm.’’

The Goulburn Valley Waste Resource Recovery Group chair Wendy Buck said the project was a ground breaker and smell shouldn’t be a problem.

Similar story by Warwick Long on ABC Rural.