2015-09-15 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                          15 SEPTEMBER 2015


Noosa Council is the first in the region to move to this form of environmental licensing,
monitoring and management. Other councils are expected to follow suit in the near future. The
monitoring and analysis required in the REMP has already been initiated through Council’s
environmental consultants.

Waste Management have commenced formal monthly environmental audits of the contractor’s
environmental management systems for the Eumundi Road site. The audits also extend to full
site inspections. The first audit identified the need for an amended environmental management
plan to secure compliance with current contract requirements. Waste Management staff are now
working closely with the contractor’s environmental adviser to ensure that an effective plan is
produced and implemented at the site. The internal inspection and documented reporting
process has also secured a number of environmental management improvements for the site.

Contract Management
A review and assessment of the obligations and requirements under Waste Management’s
Resource Recovery Contract was conducted in the last four months and compared to actual
on-site activities. Issues and variations identified have been brought to the contractor’s attention
at several contract meetings. Waste Management will move to finalise several unresolved
matters over the next month.

Recently commenced weekly meetings with the contractor to review and provide direction on
waste disposal contract matters will continue for the foreseeable future as significant
improvements have been noted as a result.

Workplace Health and Safety
A third party audit has been carried out on the Eumundi Road Waste Transfer Station by a
specialist consultant. The report detailed nine issues requiring rectification. Waste Management
and Cleanaway are currently in the process of addressing all issues.

Asset Review
Waste Management are about to commence a systematic review and assessment of all
documented and undiscovered assets across its three waste management facilities. A complete
asset management plan will then be produced by the end of the financial year.

5.   Future Direction
   The Community Jury handed down its report in July on the potential for organic waste
     recycling and this is to be explored in more detail by Council over the next couple of
     months. This matter is covered in far more detail in other Council reports. Waste
     Management will be responsible for ensuring that the Jury and Council’s decisions are put
     into practice through a new Waste Management Strategy. As soon as the Council decision
     is finalised work will begin on drafting the new strategy.
   Work will soon begin on drafting the specifications for the next collections, resource
     recovery and disposals contracts. As discussed above, the current contracts will end in
     August 2017. A two year lead-in period is required to draft the complex specifications, go
     through the tender process, assess the tenders, select the successful tenderer/s and allow
     time to purchase and mobilise plant and equipment. Depending on how the Council
     endorses the Jury’s recommendation to collect and compost food waste, then the contracts
     will also need to account for the selection, design, construction and commissioning of a
     composting facility.
   Waste Management’s newly appointed Waste Education Officer will soon commence work
     on the waste communication strategy. The strategy will aim in the first 12 months, to
     initiate an improvement in kerbside recycling volumes. The following 2-3 years will then
     see the priority to move to the effective implementation of an organic waste service. It is
     anticipated that in order for the organic waste recycling strategy to work, effective and
     comprehensive waste education and promotion will be critical. The current staffing levels

                                                                                     Page 61 of 73