The fate of the Watkins Rd Waste Transfer Station will be put to the people after an impassioned debate at Monday’s council meeting which pitted the newest and youngest councillors against some of the most senior.
Shire officers presented two concept designs for the tip after the asbestos clean-up, which is slated to take 11 months in total.
The area to be rehabilitated spans across one hectare and will need up to 30cm of capping material.
The first concept plan would bypass the use of this area in future, limiting the functions of the tip.
Green waste drop-off, recycling and the Reuse Shop would be prioritised.
But cutting the size of the tip and its uses would mean the shire would still need to provide both green and bulk waste verge collections.
Previously allowed items like batteries, mattresses, whitegoods, and e-waste would no longer be accepted.
And they would also need to find another site to manage waste from the shire’s drainage, pruning and street sweeping operations.
The entire plan would cost just over $5 million and take 23 months from go to woah.
Should the community want to adopt the second concept plan, which would re-establish the entire tip and all its former functions, it would cost just over $7 million and take two months longer.
Ratepayers will be whacked with rate increases to pay for whichever option is chosen.
“With approximately 14,000 households [in the shire], an increase of every $1million to the budget, increases the amount to be levied in the Waste Fee by $71.42. Therefore, a $5million increase in the first year of the project would equate to $357 extra for each rateable property,” shire officers said.
Therefore, shire officers recommended that the next step should be consulting the community about what they would like to see happen, with a budget of $100,000 suggested to complete the surveys.
“Given the importance of waste services to the community, it is crucial to consult with residents to determine their preferences and ensure that the selected option aligns with their needs and expectations,” shire officers said.
“Engaging with our community will also demonstrate a commitment to involving the community in decision-making processes, building trust and transparency between the shire and its residents, and empowering the community to have a voice in shaping the services that affect their daily lives.”
Cr Courtney Mazzini agreed wholeheartedly that involving the community was the right move to make.
“This is just too big a decision to be made without any formal consultation with our residents,” she said.
“And it’s one of those rare issues that will affect every single person within our shire.”
But she believed $40,000 was adequate to cover the community consultation costs and introduced an alternative motion which allocated this reduced amount.
She was supported in her campaign by Crs Nathan Bishop and Reece Jerrett who also spoke out about the importance of hearing from the community first.
But President Rob Coales was strongly opposed to spending more time and money consulting the community any further on this matter.
“Why would I spend $40,000 of ratepayers’ money to ask the community if they want a waste transfer station?” he said, adding that the community has already made their opinions loud and clear.
“Every time I go out into the community they tell me: ‘What do we get for our rates, we don’t even have an effing tip?’
“You can go out and ask four people and get four different responses, except they all want the waste transfer station open.
“I may be arrogant, but I need to make a decision as president and that’s to open the waste transfer station for green waste.”
Cr Shaye Mack echoed the president’s sentiments.
“We could come back here after months of community consultation and still be none the wiser about what they want,” he said.
“And we have viable options that have been put in front of us tonight.”
But Cr Mazzini was not moved by their case: “We take this seriously and we do it right the first time.”
The motion to ask residents how to proceed from here, was passed 4:2, with Cr Mack and President Coales against, and Cr Byas not in attendance.
