Lake Macquarie City Council has moved forward with a major infrastructure project, appointing the award-winning Daracon Group to deliver a crucial expansion of the Awaba Waste Management Facility (AWMF).
Securing Future Waste Needs for the Region
The council confirmed this week that the Hunter-based civil construction company is the successful tenderer for the long-planned project. The work involves constructing two new landfill cells, known as cells three and four, and upgrading the existing leachate pond system.
The new cells will provide a massive 114,428 garbage trucks' worth of additional waste storage capacity. This expansion is critically needed, as the existing cells are projected to reach their limit by March 2027.
A Trusted Partnership for Complex Works
This is not the first time Daracon has worked on the Awaba site. The company previously completed a $23 million expansion of the facility back in 2020. Their local portfolio also includes significant projects like the Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade, which earned them a Civil Contractors Federation NSW Earth Award, as well as works at Cooranbong Park and Watagan Park.
Derek Poulton, the council's manager of waste services, emphasised the importance of the project. "This facility manages the waste disposal needs of 220,000 residents and some 83,000 households across Lake Macquarie," Mr Poulton said. He added that the expansion would enhance environmental safeguards through improved leachate and stormwater controls.
Minimising Disruption, Maximising Longevity
Michael Rummery, Daracon Group's divisional manager for Hunter civil, stated that a key focus for his team would be ensuring the facility continues to operate smoothly throughout the construction phase. "Our priority is to deliver these new cells efficiently so the facility can continue operating without interruption," Mr Rummery said. "Our team brings extensive experience in complex civil works, and we're ready to deliver an expansion that we know will make a real difference for local communities right across the LGA."
The scale of waste managed by the facility is substantial. In the 2024-25 financial year alone, the AWMF accepted 64,000 tonnes of waste, equating to roughly 288 kilograms per resident. Council collection services handled over 100,000 tonnes of domestic waste, with 55,000 tonnes being successfully recycled.
Construction on the expansion is scheduled to commence in early 2026, with completion targeted for 2027. This project will extend the operational life of the Awaba Waste Management Facility until at least 2038.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz framed the investment as essential forward planning. "This expansion is about planning ahead and investing in sustainable growth, so the Awaba Waste Management Facility can continue to support our community well into the future," Mayor Shultz said. "These works set us up for longevity and will provide more than a decade of additional waste capacity for Lake Macquarie."
