Plans for $20m Avalon construction recycling hub

A GEELONG-BASED civil construction company is planning to build a $20 million recycling facility near Avalon Airport in a project that would create dozens of new jobs for northern Geelong.

Symal has submitted plans to build its “state-of-the-art” hub at 1-43 Beach Road, Lara at the existing site of Sycle’s Material Processing and Recycling Facility.

Sycle is the recently started recycling arm of Symal Group and converts construction waste back into materials for the company’s suite of projects.

It presently uses temporary facilities at the Avalon site and plans to build a permanent office and warehouse, to combine with Symal’s assets and logistics divisions expand its workforce.

Sycle predicts the expanded site would have capacity to divert up to 70,000 tonnes of construction waste away from landfill and into new builds.

The new development would house more than 120 full-time staff once up and running, with about 60 of those to be advertised in the Geelong region.

In its submission to the City of Greater Geelong, Symal said its project would have wide-ranging community benefits if approved.

“By combining Symal’s and Sycle’s operations on site, we expect to have over 120 full time staff based at Avalon alone, bringing much needed employment to the Geelong area. Of these, we expect 60 positions to be advertised to the local community once the facility is opened,” planning documents stated.

“With an already excavated quarry and approved recycling permit, this site is unique in Western Victoria.

“The vacant land at 1-43 Beach Road is the only location Symal can combine its current operations with Sycle’s Material Processing and Recycling Facility.

“During construction, we expect to have over 50 employees and contractors on site, with the expected cost of the facility exceeding $20 million. Of this, we expect to subcontract out $14-15 million to local contractors and consultants, reinvesting in the Geelong community.”

The subject land is presently zoned for farming, but planners argue the land in question is no longer suitable for agriculture so the project would not detract from surrounding land uses.

Symal set up shop in its Geelong office at Federal Mills in 2020 after several years of delivering projects in south-west Victoria.

In addition to its Avalon site, it has also recently acquired the Fyansford landfill site.

Notable projects the company has delivered in the Geelong region include the Mount Gellibrand Wind Farm, a recent upgrade of Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road and Deakin University Sporting Fields at Waurn Ponds.