2019-04-09 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    9 APRIL 2019


The existing licence is to receive 50,000 tonnes of waste. It is predicted that the growing weight
of annual waste received is getting very close to this volume. This is likely to lead to Council
being required to upgrade to the next ERA threshold in the next year or two.

Environmental works within the upcoming 6 months include:
   A groundwater review is due for completion. This will inform whether the direction of
     groundwater has changed since it was last mapped over a decade ago and prior to
     installation of the currently used waste cell. Findings are anticipated to inform whether any
     further investigations are required into whether or not the landfill could have any impact on
     elevated groundwater anolytes at the up gradient groundwater bores, and whether changes
     to the current groundwater monitoring strategy is required.
   An Ecological Assessment will be conducted on the area of bushland that may be impacted
     by any lowering of the groundwater table to facilitate the construction of the proposed new
     landfill cell. The ecological assessment will indicate whether any areas of groundwater
     dependant bushland may be affected as a result of lowered groundwater and whether any
     endangered or vulnerable flora or fauna will be impacted by such changes. This will provide
     valuable information on what mitigation and management plans are required to protect the
     area adjacent to the landfill.

5.   FUTURE DIRECTION

Future landfill development
The Waste Section has received an initial report from Council’s consulting engineers on the
development of the next landfill cell and future master-planning for the site. The detailed cell
design phase is a critical capital works project to be undertaken next financial year. The detailed
design phase will also examine future leachate production and management options. The revised
engineering master-planning has indicated that previous assumptions on landfill cell development
and waste-water/leachate management will have to be re-assessed. A revised concept master-
plan will be developed through this process. The main focus of the master-planning is to ensure
that leachate, waste-water and gas collection infrastructure are the key planning considerations
for future site and cell development.

Regional waste strategy
The Waste Manager and Coordinator are representing Noosa Council on a Project Control Group
overseeing a project on the feasibility of regional waste management solutions. The regional
group includes senior officers from Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Councils and Unitywater.
An initial report from the consultant engaged to conduct the feasibility study will be presented in
the next month.

Charging structure – commercial waste
Waste officers are working with officers from the Finance Branch on the restructuring of
commercial waste charges. This work will inform budget preparation and be presented to Council
separately through the budget review and approval process.

Commercial waste food trial
In late 2018, officers of the Waste Section met with Cleanaway staff and representatives from the
Boomerang Alliance to discuss the potential for a food only collection and composting service for
food premises in Noosa. The service is currently being costed. When the costs are known, food
businesses identified by Boomerang Alliance will be surveyed for their willingness to take up the
service at the nominated charge. If it becomes economically feasible, then the service may roll
out in the next financial year.



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