Council digs in with trusted partner for waste facility expansion

Award-winning civil construction company Daracon Group has been tasked with the long-awaited expansion of the Awaba Waste Management Facility (AWMF).

Lake Macquarie City Council said this week that Daracon was the successful tender for the landfill project, which involved building cells three and four.

The new cells will be capable of storing 114,428 garbage trucks' worth of waste.

The leachate pond will also be upgraded as part of the expansion.

The council manager of waste services, Derek Poulton, said the expansion was essential because the existing cells were expected to reach capacity by March 2027.

"This facility manages the waste disposal needs of 220,000 residents and some 83,000 households across Lake Macquarie," Mr Poulton said.

"It also strengthens environmental performance through improved leachate and stormwater controls."

In 2017, Daracon was awarded the tender for the $23 million expansion of the AWMF, which was completed in 2020.

The Hunter-based company has worked on Cooranbong Park, Weemala at the Lake and Watagan Park in Lake Macquarie, and last year won the $10 million to $30 million project value category at the Civil Contractors Federation NSW Earth Awards for its Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade.

Daracon Group divisional manager Hunter civil Michael Rummery said ensuring minimal disruption to regular waste disposal services was a main focus for his staff.

"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," Mr Rummery said.

"Our priority is to deliver these new cells efficiently so the facility can continue operating without interruption."

The AWMF accepted 64,000 tonnes of waste in the 2024-25 financial year or 288 kilograms per Lake Macquarie resident.

More than 100,000 tonnes of domestic waste were collected through the council's red, green and yellow bin waste services, of which 55,000 tonnes were recycled.

The expansion will begin in early 2026 and is due for completion in 2027. It is expected to expand the AWMF's life to at least 2038.

"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," Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said.

"These works set us up for longevity and will provide more than a decade of additional waste capacity for Lake Macquarie."

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