2018-06-27 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                27 JUNE 2018


These issues compounded the problems already faced by Queensland, which already has one of
the lowest recycling rates of all state jurisdictions.

In response to these unfolding crises the Queensland Government released the ‘Transforming
Queensland’s Recycling and Waste Industry - Directions Paper’.

2.     Transforming Queensland’s Recycling and Waste Industry - Directions Paper

It is recommended that Councillors be familiar with the content of the Directors Paper which is
provided as Attachment 1 to the report. The key issues in the document are summarised as
follows:
Part A discusses the landfill levy and the mechanisms for its introduction. The levy will initially be
$70 per tonne and be applied to all general waste streams, including municipal from 1 January
2019. To offset the financial impact on the domestic ratepayer the Queensland Government
plans to provide Councils with an annual advance on levy charges for municipal domestic waste.
The advance is based the previous year’s amount of waste to landfill. The section goes on to
outline the regions impacted by the levy and the methods for collecting fees and legislating the
changes.
Part B discusses the Queensland’s Government’s plans for the future and the use of the levy
money. This includes: setting objectives and targets; investing in infrastructure; compliance and
education; landfill disposal bans on selected waste; product stewardship; exploration of waste to
energy options; national engagement on inter-jurisdictional waste issues; and improved
monitoring and reporting.
Submissions are invited on the Directions Paper and are due by 29 June 2018.


3.     Council review and submission

Council’s Manager of Waste of Environmental Health has scrutinised the Directions Paper and
has also attended a meeting of local government stakeholders, facilitated by the LGAQ. A
detailed submission has been prepared and is provided as Attachment 2 to the report. It is
recommended that this submission be endorsed by Noosa Council. The submission states
Noosa Council’s support for the landfill levy and goes on to discuss the following matters in
detail:
1.     The methodology for assessing the rebate amount to take into account and reward Noosa
       Council’s recent innovations, i.e. the introduction of a garden waste bin across the Shire;
2.     The application of the levy with regard to waste from street litter bins, stockpiles of
       recyclable material, earth used for landfill operation, self-hauled domestic/commercial
       waste, multi-unit developments and bulk kerbside collection;
3.     The short timeframe allowed for local government to prepare for the introduction of the
       levy; and
4.     The Directions Paper discusses the development of waste to energy. This has been seized
       upon by the LGAQ which have suggested the construction of large regional waste to
       energy plants. It would be Noosa Council’s preference that waste solutions be locally
       based and that a range of technologies be explored prior to large scale incineration.


Previous Council Consideration
Nil.




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