2015-08-24 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   24 AUGUST 2015




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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                                        24 AUGUST 2015

               GUIDELINES (What should be taken into consideration?)

               The Jury agreed ona set of criteria to guide their development of recommendations and urges the
               Council to adopt these eight guidelines when considering ways to minimise organic waste to landfill.

               1. Minimise cost to ratepayers
               The Waste Management Business Unit within Noosa Council must be self-funding’. Revenue
               generated from actions implemented to minimise organic waste to landfill must cover the costs of the
               business as much as possible. The cost of implementing recommendations address long-term
               financial risks, but have a minimal impact on rates.

               2. Aim high
               Noosa Council's response must match Noosa’s “global profile as a special place to live and visit” ’°.
               Noosa is an internationally-acclaimed tourist destination and was the first Queensland town to be
               recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. Council's response should enhance our environmental
               credentials, increase our appeal as a holiday destination and set us apart from our competitors.
               Council’s response should also be consistent with, and reflected in, the Noosa Plan’.

               3. Invest in long term behavioural change
               Use this opportunity to think generations ahead and plana staged program of actions that delivers
               substantial benefits for our community and the environment. A long-term strategy that encompasses
               technical solutions and behavioural change will allow Noosa to progress towards a future where 100%
               of organic waste is diverted from landfill.

               4. Look beyond our borders
               Look for proven and effective solutions nationally and globally that could be implemented in Noosa.
               Consider national global trends in waste management and potential pending legislation.

               5. Include domestic residents
               Domestic residents produce the majority of organic waste in Noosa‘. To achieve maximum benefit for
               Noosa Council, recommendations must involve residents and encourage lasting behavioural change.

               6. Encourage collective action
               Previous initiatives in Noosa involving home composting and worm farms were initially successful, but
               have proven to be unsustainable over time (e.g. Veggie Village Community Garden in Peregian Beach).
               Collective action with centralised treatment of organic waste has been found to be more cost-
               effective and sustainable in comparable communities (e.g. Bunbury and Lismore Councils).

               7. Recognise community diversity
               To be successful, any change in Noosa Council policies needs to encourage all sectors of the
               community to participate. Council’s response should acknowledge the special needs of the diverse
               Noosa community, including tourists, nappy users, rural residents, high-density accommodation and
               commercial businesses. These groups will need help to participate successfully and solutions should
               be tailored to the different groups’.

              8.   Involve commercial producers
               Although domestic residents produce the majority of organic waste in Noosa, it is important to ensure
               that large commercial producers and any future developments are designed to aim for zero organic
               waste to landfill.

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