2019-09-10 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                             10 SEPTEMBER 2019


Environmental Compliance
In July 2019 Eumundi Road RRC and landfill received a full compliance inspection and audit from
DES against the conditions of Council’s Environmental Authority and the new requirements of the
landfill levy. The site came through with zero non-compliances noted by the team of inspectors.
This is a testament to the continued high standard of environmental management at the site by
Waste and Cleanaway staff. Internal weekly and monthly environmental inspections will continue
to be conducted by Council’s new Environment Officer.
Management and control of environmental impacts remain the top priority of the Waste Section
through the planning process for the construction of the next landfill disposal cell, due to
commence in the next two to three years. Preparatory work currently includes commissioning a
detailed flora and fauna study of the land surrounding the landfill site. The study will be used to
guide the detailed design phase being conducted in 2020FY and ensure that impacts are
controlled.
Landfill leachate system
In November 2018 important repairs and upgrades to leachate collection and pumping
infrastructure at the Eumundi Road landfill was undertaken. The works were completed in early
2019. Works included switchboard/control box replacement, improvement to the telemetry
system to ensure more accurate remote monitoring and control, replacement of monitoring
probes, a new upgraded emergency shut-off valve and a new and upgraded pump has been
installed in the landfill sump. The Waste section working with Unitywater have also secured an
agreement to discharge higher volumes of leachate to sewer during wet weather periods. This
allows Council to take pressure off the landfill leachate system more quickly following high rainfall
events.

FUTURE DIRECTION
Regional Waste Treatment Options
Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Unity Water, Moreton Bay
and Sunshine Coast Regional Councils in 2018 to investigate the feasibility of providing
advanced waste treatment on a regional basis to reduce reliance upon landfills. Stage 1 of the
study has been completed and a draft report submitted for evaluation by project partners. The
project partners will consider the most effective future waste treatment options available for bio-
solids, organic waste and non-recyclable waste with consideration for the potential to generate
energy from waste. Stage 2 of the project to commence shortly will identify which of the options
are most suitable for future detailed review. All project partners have recently restated their
commitment to collaboratively moving the project forward throughout 2020FY.
The Wide Bay and Bundaberg Regional Organisation of Councils (WBBROC) have also recently
tendered for a regional waste treatment feasibility study. Noosa Council also took advantage of
participating in this study.
Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 15 February 2018, Item 16, Page 9
That Council note the report by the Manager Waste and Environmental Health to the Services
and Organisation Committee Meeting dated 6 February 2018 providing an update on the
activities of the Waste Management Section for the period 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2017.
Finance
Refer to Section 1 – Finance.
Risk
In June 2019 the Waste Section engaged Crowe Howarth to conduct a third party review of the
previously identified WH&S risks around areas of public interface at the Eumundi Road site,
particularly in the resource recovery area. The report has now been provided and it specifies

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