Green waste trial continues

By Lachlan Ellis

Council has narrowly voted in favour of continuing a trial of free green waste disposal, with the Chair’s tiebreaking vote required to get the motion across the line.

A free green waste month was held in November 2022, with Council officers recommending that Council “do not hold a second green waste month within the 2022/2023 financial year and instead continue with the trial and collection of the data”.

The motion to continue the three-year trial was moved by Cr David Edwards, and seconded by Cr Moira Berry with an amendment asking for Council to provide statistics for dumped green waste during that period.

Data collected so far from last year’s free green waste month found that 73 per cent of free green waste deposits were received at the Bacchus Marsh Transfer Station, 24 per cent at the Ballan Transfer Station, and 3 per cent at the Mt Egerton Transfer Station.

Council officers also acknowledged that “the uptake for the free green waste month held in November 2022 was smaller than anticipated”.

Cr Paul Tatchell dissented to the motion, arguing that other shires with free green waste disposal, who had been contacted for their views on the concept’s success, “said they were lucky to get 20 to 25 per cent take up”, and that Moorabool Shire Council was “in the business of 51 per cent” – in other words, arguing that all ratepayers shouldn’t need to pay for a service used by a minority of ratepayers.

Cr Edwards argued that “illegal dumping is a big problem that will continue to be a problem”, that free green waste disposal would help mitigate.

“Cr Tatchell does raise a persuasive argument. A three-year trial doesn’t mean you have to do the three years…perhaps we should be backing off,” Cr Tom Sullivan argued.

In the end, Crs Edwards and Berry voted for the motion, and Cr Tatchell and Cr Sullivan voted against.

Mayor Cr Rod Ward and Cr Tonia Dudzik were apologies at the meeting, and as Acting Chair with a 2 – 2 vote before her, Deputy Mayor Cr Ally Munari declared the motion carried with her tiebreaking vote.