2015-08-24 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               24 AUGUST 2015


Trevor Lloyd Consulting conducted a Waste Scoping Workshop with Councillors and staff on 11
March 2014.

Following the workshop the consultant was engaged to develop a list of 5 Key Themes for further
investigation. The 5 themes identified were:

   Waste Avoidance
   Organic Waste
   Recycling
   Commercial Waste
   Fees and Charges.

Golder Associates successfully tendered for the contract to investigate the 5 Themes. They
developed a long list of options under the 5 themes for further consideration by Council.

From the long list of options, a short list of options was selected by Council for detailed
examination. Golders completed a comprehensive draft report to Council in November 2014
which included costs for a range of options, particularly organic waste collection and treatment.

The most significant issue identified was how to reduce organic waste to landfill. Any approach to
managing or reducing organic waste disposal has very significant costs which impact on the
whole community.

In response to the Golders report, Council resolved to establish the first Noosa Community Jury
to consider the organic waste issue. (The Golders report provided essential information to
enable staff to prepare the “Noosa Community Jury Organic Waste Information Pack” as a
briefing document to Jury Members.)

Establishment of a Community Jury
A Community Jury was established by Council early in 2015 and asked to examine the question,
“What is the best option for minimising organic waste sent to landfill?” The Jury commenced its
deliberations on 7 February 2015 and met monthly, producing a final report and a series of 9
major recommendations on 24 July 2015. (A copy of the Community Jury Verdict is attached to
this report – refer Attachment 1).

Council has considered a separate report in this round of meetings reviewing the first Community
Jury process.

Previous Council Consideration
The background information supplied in this report gives the significant history of previous
consideration by Council about Organic Waste and the Jury Process.

Finance & Risk

There are significant financial implications and risks for Council associated with implementation
of the Community Jury’s recommendations, which will affect a wide section of the community.

In response to the financial impacts and risks, the recommendations need to be considered
carefully with regard to who will receive the services proposed by the Jury, how they could be
introduced and the timing for their introduction.

The most suitable method of considering the recommendation is to refer them to a Council
Workshop where the details required to implement the recommendations can be considered in
the context of the introduction of the upcoming new waste contract.

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