The meeting heard the Majors Creek and Araluen sites “lack the infrastructure” to handle green waste. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Residents of two towns will have to drive to another site to dispose of their green waste.
At a recent meeting, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) unanimously voted to shake up its green waste management in parts of Capital country.
Meeting papers state residents of Araluen and Majors Creek have had access to bin compounds after their village landfills closed in 2014.
For several years, residents have been directed to the Braidwood Waste Transfer Station, which has been serving as an alternative drop-off point for green waste.
However, these documents describe the “continued stockpiling” of the waste as costing more than $250 per tonne (for removal and processing) and representing a “high-risk exposure” to QPRC.
“The acceptance of green and organic waste at the Majors Creek and Araluen sites is now inconsistent with contemporary waste management practices,” the papers state.
“These facilities lack the infrastructure required for safe, lawful, and environmentally compliant handling of such material.”
The compounds have also been plagued by dumping, leading the council to propose measures that would limit vehicle access to the sites.
During the meeting, Councillor Katrina Willis sought reassurance that no resident would be disadvantaged under the plan.
She said the switch could result in people travelling “as far as 100 metres” to dispose of waste and suggested that QPRC talk to residents about whether a closer site was available.
“That might be fine for fit people, but if people are carting a lot of recycled materials, I’m just wondering whether 100 metres is a bit too far.”
Queanbeyan Council has been overhauling its waste management facilities in preparation for FOGO collections, which need to be installed by 2030. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The towns’ waste facilities are classed as ‘Category 3: Bin Compounds’, which means they can accept household waste, co-mingled recycling and (in the future) FOGO waste.
But Cr Willis called for more information on the latter.
She said that while the collections needed to be in place by 2030 (under NSW Government law), the timeline would depend on the local community’s feedback.
“How might that happen? Do the progress associations have to write to the council and ask for that?
“Obviously, it needs to [have] a management plan and a budget.”
In response, a staff member said community groups could raise it with the council.
He also pointed to the planned consultation around the Braidwood Waste Transfer Station as an opportunity for people to have their say on the timeline.
Councillor Morgan Broadbent sought to confirm whether the proposed changes would come with extra cost for the council.
A staff member said they were “not asking for an uplift”, with improvements to the Majors Creek and Araluen compounds included in the approved operational plan.
“The amount of money hasn’t been issued there, but it does clearly say that it’s covered under the operational plan and budget.”
The vote means QPRC will push ahead with the proposal.
Meeting papers state it includes installing fencing and pedestrian access pathways at the Araluen and Majors Creek bin compounds, in the hopes of preventing dumping of green waste.
“These improvements are partially complete; however, vehicle access restrictions have not been implemented.”
QPRC will also carry out consultation around possible changes to the Braidwood Waste Transfer Station, which is expected to be available until FOGO collections start.
