Hard waste reviewed for rural residents

Baw Baw Shire’s new kerbside hard waste collection service may be extended to rural property owners not currently receiving a garbage service.

Residents who do not receive a garbage collection service may have the option to either receive a hard waste voucher to be used at a council transfer station or book a kerbside collection.

Council agreed last month to revamp its hard waste collection service from July 1 with the existing vouchers being discontinued and replaced with an on demand kerbside collection.

However, after supporting the new service, councillors were made aware of an anomaly that left rural residents without the vouchers or a hard waste pick-up.

Property owners not on a kerbside collection route who previously received free hard waste disposal voucher were not included in the new system.

The new service was adopted by council after a report called for by Cr Danny Goss. Crs Goss and Michael Leaney supported the kerbside collection but, until questioned by The Gazette, were not aware the new system would leave out some property owners.

Once aware of the anomaly, Cr Leaney said he would ensure the mix-up would be fixed.

At last week’s meeting, Cr Leaney called for a further report into extending the “at call ondemand” kerbside hard waste collection or waste card to all rateable properties that are not part of the collection area for roadside waste, with the exception of commercial, industrial and vacant properties.

The new service means every property with a council provided kerbside garbage service will be eligible for one on-demand kerbside hard waste collection of up to two cubic metres each financial year, at no additional cost.

Hard waste vouchers issued with the previous rates notices will remain valid for use until they expire on August 31.

The new system will essentially replace the voucher system.

Cr Leaney said the motion adopted by council excluded residents not on the kerbside collection service.

“It is less than 300 people who currently don’t have Solo waste come to their door.

“Every resident should have the ability to have kerbside collection or a tip voucher,” he said.

Cr Leaney said people should have the choice because many people, like himself, enjoyed going to the tip and it was a good social outing to catch up with other community people.

Cr Goss said it was an anomaly missed in the report to council.

He said he had received a lot of positive feedback about reintroducing the hard waste collection.

“It is one the best things council has done and it’s been well received. I have even had nice things said about me in The Gazette.

“This motion is to make sure all our ratepayers are covered by this,” he said.

Cr Keith Cook said was not on a garbage service route and he was aware he would lose the vouchers.

He said he weighed it up and accepted there was a wider community benefit to go with the kerbside collection.

Cr Cook said he was concerned there may be an extra cost to cover rural property owners.

In addition to the on demand kerbside hard waste collection, council will also retain the existing two annual booked kerbside hard waste collections in March and October at a cost of $62 or $30 for pensioners.

Council officers have begun to develop the specification to tender the new kerbside hard waste collection service.