Member for Bathurst Paul Toole has officially opened Downer’s new $5.8 million Bathurst Asphalt Plant.
Located in the industrial estate at Kelso, the facility is one of the most advanced of its kind in Australia.
It was constructed using world-leading technology to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
More than 50 jobs were created during the construction phase of the development, including many from the local community and involving those in the local supply chain.
Now the plant is up and running it will support employment of about 20 jobs, plus numerous other local sub-contractors and businesses.
Mr Toole said Downer has been part of the Bathurst community for the past 40 years and that the new facility shows the commitment to the local economy with the company looking to service the Central West.
“The Bathurst Asphalt Plant can produce a wide range of products including asphalt containing tyre rubber and Reconophalt, an innovative product that contains highly recycled content from materials such as soft plastics from bags and packaging, waste glass destined for landfill, waste toner from used printer cartridges and reclaimed asphalt pavement from end-of-life roads,” he said.
“The plant has a recycling capacity of greater than 30 per cent and a production capacity of 180 tonnes per hour.”
Mr Toole said he was pleased to welcome the plant’s operations manager, Ollie Carmichael, to Bathurst with his family after making the move here from Western Australia.