A new asphalt manufacturing plant in Launceston incorporating recycled materials is a private sector vote of confidence in Tasmania's record road-building program.
The Rockliff Liberal Government is expanding the use of recycled materials for our roads around Tasmania as a commitment to waste reduction in Tasmania.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said the newly-commissioned plant demonstrated industry's confidence in Tasmania's future road-building program.
"The Government is spending $2.2 billion over the next four years on roads and bridges and last year alone spent a record $565 million. This is more than four times what was spent just 10 years ago,'' Mr Ferguson said.
"Tasmania has been using recycled rubber from truck tyres in road resurfacing on several resurfacing sites in the north of the State, including on the Bass, East Tamar and West Tamar highways.
"We know that about 1.3 million tyres reach the end of their life each year in Tasmania, most of which ends up in landfill or stockpiles, and now some of these tyres are now being processed into crumb rubber and blended with bitumen for use as asphalt in the State road maintenance program.
"Now we are seeing more recycled materials being used in road resurfacing and it was exciting to see Downer's $10.5 million state-of-the-art asphalt manufacturing facility open for business in northern Tasmania.
"It's great to see this project come to life after two visit prior visits to the site. It's a solid commitment from an ASX Top 100 company to a long-term future in Tasmania which is wonderful for our State.
"This major investment complements our record $2.7 billion injection to build roads and bridges across the State over four years.
"Pleasingly since 2018 Downer has laid 11,079t of Reconophalt in Tasmania, resulting in diversion from landfill of:
- 9,503,000 plastic bag equivalents;
- Toner from 277,300 toner cartridges;
- 2,652,000 glass bottles; and
- 1108 tonnes of recycled asphalt paving material.
"The Rockliff Liberal Government will continue to work with industry to look for further opportunities to utilise sustainable products on Tasmanian roads."
