Maddocks has advised the ACT Government on its arrangements for the design, build and operation of a new state-of-the-art recycling facility for the Territory that is expected to become one of the country’s most advanced in material recovery.

The Australian and ACT governments are partnering with waste, water and energy management company Veolia to design, build and operate the new facility with construction scheduled to begin next year.

The new facility will be able to sort paper and cardboard, glass, plastic, steel and aluminium, and increase recovery rates, while producing high purity in materials for recycling. The project will also include the demolition of the previous material recovery facility. More than 130 jobs will be created with the new facility also removing the need to transport the ACT’s recyclable materials interstate.

Maddocks advised Transport Canberra and City Services and Infrastructure Canberra, through the ACT Government Solicitor, on the legal arrangements supporting the infrastructure project. The Maddocks team initially assisted with procurement advice and contract structuring, before acting as legal adviser on the procurement process, including the contract arrangements through to negotiation support on contract negotiations to close out the transaction documents necessary for this PPP style arrangement.

Infrastructure Partner Pria O’Sullivan and waste contracting expert and Partner Joshua Same led a cross-office team from Canberra and Sydney with assistance from Senior Associate Sarah De Ceglie and Lawyer Susan Guo, as well as the firm’s property and PPP specialists.

Pria said: “We were very pleased to have worked closely with Infrastructure Canberra and TCCS to close out the procurement of a specialist waste contractor to deliver and operate a replacement recyclables facility that will continue to service not only the Territory but surrounding regions in NSW on a long-term basis.

“It was the result of number of years of work by our combined teams in Sydney and Canberra using our specialists across the entire procurement process including in waste contracting, construction, public private partnerships and property.”

The new Materials Recovery Facility is supported by the Australian and ACT governments through the Recycling Modernisation Fund.

The Recycling Modernisation Fund is a national initiative expanding Australia’s capacity to sort, process and remanufacture glass, plastic, tyres, paper and cardboard. When combined with co-investment from all states, territories and industry, the Recycling Modernisation Fund will give a $1 billion boost to Australian recycling.