• June 19, 2025
• By JEP Team
• Articles, News

Sydney Metal Traders Pty Ltd proposes to establish a Metal Recycling Facility at 88 Murrays Flat Road, Towrang NSW 2580. The facility will process up to 30,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals through receival, sorting, cutting, shredding and storage operations.

The Site is located within the Goulburn Mulwaree Local Government Area and is zoned E4 General Industrial under the Goulburn Mulwaree Local Environmental Plan 2009. Development of a metal recycling facility is permissible with consent in this zone. The total lot area is approximately 32.3 hectares, with the operational footprint occupying 6.6 hectares along the western portion of the Site. 

Importantly, the Site is located within the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment, and the Proposal is therefore classified as Designated Development under Clause 45(4)(c) of Schedule 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required, and the application will be assessed by the Southern Regional Planning Panel as Regionally Significant Development.

The Facility will include the following components and infrastructure:

• Tipping, inspection, and initial sorting areas for incoming scrap metals;
• Plant and equipment including pre-shredder, hammermill shredder, stationary shear and oxy-cutting facilities;
• Bays for the separation, recovery, and temporary storage of processed ferrous and non-ferrous metals;
• Adaptation of the existing on-site cottage into office and staff amenity space including staff parking area;
• A fully enclosed 32m x 15m x 12m structure for plant maintenance and operations;
• Additional plant including loaders, conveyors, radiation detection equipment, and sorting systems;
• Weighbridges for the accurate measurement of materials and heavy vehicle management;
• Landscaping and visual Screening via a 20-metre-wide landscaped setback along the western and southern site boundaries;

• Paved hardstand access ways using existing access points; and
• Water quality protection measures with all operational areas will be constructed of compacted road base incorporating HDPE liners beneath operational areas, stormwater capture systems, and detention basins. 

The Facility will receive and process scrap metal sourced from Sydney, Goulburn, the ACT, Southern Highlands, and surrounding regional areas. Incoming vehicles will enter and exit the Site from Murrays Flat Road and the Hume Highway. Processed materials will be transported to both local and overseas markets for recycling and end use. 

The final plant and equipment chosen for the Proposal will be based on requirements of the Facility and best practice to achieve all criteria and legislative requirements for air quality, noise and other amenities. 

The facility will make an important contribution to the NSW Government’s recycling target of 80% by 2030 as defined in the Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.

In addition, the development will create 10 jobs in construction and 10 full time ongoing jobs during operations. It is expected that a capital investment of $10 million is needed to construct the development.

Neighbour and community feedback is being sought on the proposal. More information can be found in:

• Fact sheet
• Scoping report
• Webinar presentation

You can provide your feedback about our proposed development by contacting JEP Environment & Planning via email or phone:

• E: admin@jacksonenvironment.com.au 
• T: 02 8056 1849

We greatly appreciate your feedback on this project which will benefit both the environment and the local economy.