Cockburn Council Adopts 30-Year Master Plan for Henderson Waste Recovery Park
The future of the Henderson Waste Recovery Park in Cockburn has been reimagined with the adoption of a comprehensive 30-year development plan by the Cockburn council. This strategic move comes in response to concerns over rapid population growth in the area, aiming to ensure sustainable waste management for decades to come.
Long-Term Vision and Strategic Scenarios
The new master plan, which spans from 2026 to 2055, includes detailed short, medium, and long-term scenarios. City of Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett emphasized that the development process will consider multiple critical areas to enhance the park's functionality and environmental impact.
Essential site activities will continue to include ongoing landfill operations, community drop-off services, and green waste facilities. Additionally, a range of discretionary activities will undergo thorough business modeling to assess financial viability before any development proceeds.
Mayor Howlett stated, "There is a range of future revenue streams that could be developed, and decision-making will be based on 'best value' principles to consider environmental, community, and financial aspects."
Potential Developments and Environmental Considerations
Key considerations under the plan involve developing additional landfill cells, installing a repurposed shop operated by volunteers, and commercializing the weighbridge. Environmental factors are also a priority, with proposals to utilize solar and wind farms to promote sustainability.
The rapid growth of the Cockburn community, with a predicted 14 percent population increase from 2020 to 2041, underscores the urgency of this plan. Mayor Howlett highlighted that the city's waste management services must evolve to meet this increased community need.
"There is a range of options that we must investigate to ensure the ongoing viability and requirements of HWRP, which the City owns and has operated for the past 35 years," he added.
Current Waste Management and Future Projections
Currently, City of Cockburn ratepayers receive six trailer passes with their rates notices, allowing them to drop off eligible household or green waste at no extra cost. Henderson Waste Recovery Park receives approximately 160,000 tonnes of waste annually, with 146,570 tonnes being landfilled.
However, landfill waste at the site is anticipated to decrease significantly to about 86,500 tonnes per year. This reduction is largely due to the recent opening of the more sustainable East Rockingham Waste to Energy facility in Rockingham.
City of Cockburn director of infrastructure services, Anton Lees, explained, "This reduction will be due to the contents of red-lid general waste bins being delivered to the East Rockingham Waste to Energy facility by the city and other local governments who dispose of their waste at Henderson by the end of 2027."
Of the projected 86,500 tonnes, only 8,250 tonnes will come from city sources, including verge hard waste, residential drop-off, and internally generated waste. The remaining 78,300 tonnes will originate from commercial and non-residential drop-off waste.
Planning Process and Adoption
The city's waste strategy for 2020 to 2030 was reviewed and updated in May 2025, when initial discussions for a long-term plan for the Henderson site began. The 30-year master plan was formally adopted by the council at its meeting on March 10 and will be subject to ongoing reviews to adapt to changing needs and technologies.
This forward-thinking approach aims to balance environmental stewardship with community and financial considerations, ensuring the Henderson Waste Recovery Park remains a vital asset for Cockburn's growing population.
