Council will ‘save $25m’ with a new waste plan

A NEW waste infrastructure plan will help save ratepayers $25 million.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s water and waste committee has recommended the adoption of an updated Waste Infrastructure Plan 2020, which will guide the region’s future waste facility upgrades.

The recommendation will be considered for adoption at tomorrow’s ordinary council meeting.

Water and waste committee chair Cr Rebecca Vonhoff said the committee’s recommendations would allow the council to revise its infrastructure program, resulting in a projected $25 million saving in previously planned capital works projects.

Cr Vonhoff said the Waste Infrastructure Plan 2020 built on the principles of the previous plan and adhered to the council’s strategic priorities around optimising service levels, increasing diversion of waste from landfill and balancing operating costs.

She said a review of the Waste Infrastructure Plan was prompted by an assessment of landfill space at the region’s waste facilities which identified opportunities to extend the useful life of several regional landfill sites.

“Council’s decision in February this year to rescind the planned construction of a waste facility at Wyreema aligned with the review findings into the revised plans for future waste facility upgrades,” Cr Vonhoff said.

Water and waste committee portfolio leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the council had upgraded waste management facilities at Cooyar, Evergreen and Cecil Plains under the previous Waste Infrastructure Plan, adopted in 2017.