2018-03-06 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 2 - Public Interest Test Report

Noosa Council - Public Interest Test Report: Proposed Local Law No. 7 (Waste
Management) 2017
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    Stakeholder                                                Impacts

                        movements within high density precincts and limited scope for Council to control
                        the timing of the delivery of these services, creating a range of impacts on
                        residents and tourists relating to traffic congestion, amenity (noise), and safety.
                        This is a low negative impact;
                  (e)   Council anticipates an increased prevalence of inappropriate (or insufficient)
                        waste containers being used, presenting potential health risks (including
                        improper waste disposal practices). This is a low negative impact;
                  (f)   there would be challenges associated with managing waste collection in an area
                        with a large number of mixed-use and high rise residential developments if
                        multiple waste collection service providers operate in that environment. This is a
                        low negative impact;
                  (g)   Council’s ability to meet waste diversion targets and actions developed to meet
                        statutory obligations established by the State would be significantly reduced as
                        recycling responsibility shifts from Council led to consumer led. In particular,
                        given the nature of recycling, where the costs are incurred privately, but the
                        benefits are realised publicly, the level of demand is expected to be lower than
                        what would be deemed efficient. This is a low negative impact;
                  (h)   Council anticipates an increase in complaints, for example:-
                        •       waste collection occurring at commercial premises before 5.00am
                                multiple times a week;
                        •       improper waste disposal, including overflowing bins, bin lids being left
                                open, broken bins, waste being left next to bins, and strong odours from
                                bins; and
                        •       bins placed out for collection well ahead of collection times and days or
                                not retrieved following collection.
                                 This is a low negative impact;
                  (i)   if Council is not able to directly or indirectly limit the number of waste collection
                        contractors serving a designated area, Council will not be able to:-
                        •       manage the number of waste vehicle collections that occur within the
                                area and directly control the hours of operation of the collections; or
                        •       control noise issues for residents and tourists as effectively by
                        •       limiting the times during which service providers may undertake waste
                                collection activities; or
                        •       prescribe appropriate collection containers and the frequency of
                                collection (with a view to ensuring that any potential health impacts
                                associated with improper waste disposal and overflowing containers are
                                minimised and that service standard requirements are met); or
                        •       adequately control Council’s ability to meet targets and undertake
                                actions set out in the Solid Waste Strategy 2024 in line with statutory
                                obligations established by the Queensland Government under the
                                Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
                                 This is a low negative impact;
                  (j)   it is not clear that the undertaking of waste collection services by additional waste
                        collection contractors will drive savings given the cost structure of waste
                        collection services, which is dominated by fixed costs, and hence lends itself to
                        the benefits of scale. The current tendering process applied by Council in
                        selecting a waste collection contractor already generates a high level of
                        competition in relation to cost. This is a low negative impact;
                  (k)   waste management is a highly capital intensive industry with significant
                        investment in assets. The cost structure gives rise to economies of scale,
                        whereby the average cost to perform a collection will decline as the number of
                        properties serviced increases. The ability of Council to tender a large number of