Fulton Hogan Industries wants to quadruple production at the Bushells Ridge Asphalt Plant and improve processing infrastructure to meet the forecast demand for asphalt in the Central Coast and Hunter regions.
The asphalt plant at 203 Tooheys Rd was approved by Central Coast Council in 2018 to produce up to 100,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) and process 20,000 tpa of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP).
Fulton Hogan Industries has recently lodged a new development application with Council to increase production to a maximum of 400,000 tpa; increase the current importation and processing limit of RAP from 20,000 tpa to 99,000 tpa; and reconfigure and improve existing infrastructure at the site.
Improvements will include: installation of additional hot storage bins; reconfiguration of the office, parking, workshop and laboratory; an additional RAP storage area and increasing the height of RAP stockpiles; more bulk material storage bays; storing additional hazardous substances and dangerous goods; rainwater tanks; and a new wastewater treatment system.
The project won’t include any extensions to the existing development footprint, clearing of native vegetation or bulk earthworks, but there will be improvements to landscaping around the site.
The asphalt plant is approved to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It says in the development application that Fulton Hogan Industries could meet part of the increased forecast demand in asphalt in the Hunter and Central Coast regions by maximising the production capacity of the existing asphalt plant rather than establish a new greenfield development in an alternate location.
“In continuing asphalt production on a site already established for this purpose, close to the source of demand, the requirement for relocation to, or development of, other potentially more environmentally sensitive locations will be avoided,” the DA says.
More information about DA/1474/2023 is available on Central Coast Council’s website.
Sue Murray