Thurla leading `industrial ecology' charge

Mildura Weekly
Friday 11/4/2008 Page: 10

TO the casual observer heavy industry and the environment don't exactly go hand-in-hand. But Sunraysia will soon be at the forefront of a push to show they can work together. It's called 'industrial ecology' and aims to minimise and re-use waste products produced by industry. And Sunraysia's upcoming, state-of-the art Thurla Industrial Park is set to be one of the only examples of this new concept in country Australia. Melbourne-based industrial ecology company Ecopathways has been brought in to work on the Thurla project and is currently negotiating with several large companies to make the concept a reality in Sunraysia.

Managing director Markus Fraval said industrial ecology was modelled on nature. "With industrial ecology we're really trying to mimic nature," Mr Fraval said. "Instead of the by-products produced or left over from the manufacture of a product going to landfill, there's a more circular approach." Mr Fraval said waste or by-products become 'inputs' which are re-used in the manufacture of other products, rather than going to landfill or other waste facilities.

He said waste could also be treated and then on-sold to other industries. Mr Fraval said Thurla's location in an agriculture- rich area such as Sunraysia opened up opportunities for 'biomass', which is plant and animal material which can be converted into energy and fuel sources. Examples are green waste and manure from livestock which can be used to generate electricity, light, heat and fuels. "In terms of Thurla, we're very keen to target some form of biomass - anything that's agriculture or plant or animal based," he said. Mr Fraval said there were plans for a biodigester, which processes biomass, at Thurla which would put the district squarely in the national spotlight in terms of renewable energy.

"The first one is going in to the United States, a small scale one and ours will be the first, or one of the first in Australia at Thurla," Mr Fraval said. "We're looking at doing a feasibility study now to see what size biodigester would be needed." Water usage will be another focus of the industrial park according to Mr Fraval. "Water coming out of a manufacturing process comes out as a lower class, it's then retreated and re-used in another element of the industrial park," he said.

The combination of water re-use and waste recycling would mean the cost of waste management would drop significantly, which would be another attraction for businesses considering moving into the district. Mr Fraval said the next step was to engage tenants that could help build the industrial ecology side of the park. He said possibilities included biodiesel companies and food processing industries which were well suited to the industrial ecology ethos. "Our next step is to work with the Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board in the next couple of months," Mr Fraval said. "We aim to work with them to start approaching local and non-local industries to talk about the concept and the vision with a view to attracting businesses to the park."