Tip vouchers to be trialled

By Lachlan Ellis

A three-year trial for tip vouchers has been narrowly passed by Moorabool Shire Council, despite some Councillors’ concerns of low take-up.

Cr Rod Ward moved the motion at Council’s 6 April Ordinary Meeting, which was seconded by Cr Tonia Dudzik and opposed by Cr Paul Tatchell.

Cr Ward said tip vouchers for Moorabool residents had been “debated for several years”, and a trial was the only way to gauge whether a tip voucher scheme would be successful.

“I think the only way we can get meaningful feedback from the ratepayers on whether they want this service or not is to run a trial. I think we need to run it for three years – that way, the new Council will have the benefit of ratepayers’ feedback,” Cr Ward said.

“This has been voted on on a couple of occasions…what was significant to me was the results from both the urban and rural areas show the majority of participants in the survey, and there were 743 responses, indicated they would support tip vouchers.”

Cr Dudzik agreed that tip vouchers were a service Moorabool residents supported.

“Tip vouchers have been wanted for the 10 years I’ve been on Council. I think a trial is a good thing because we can see whether it works…this is one way to fight illegal dumping, and gives the community what they’ve asked for for many years,” she said.

However, Cr Tatchell and Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan were cautious of the cost and take-up rate of a tip voucher scheme.

“Tip vouchers are great for local residents, but you get what you pay for. The take-up rate has always been less than 30 per cent, which means people are paying for the benefit of other people,” Cr Tatchell said.

Cr Sullivan said he believed the concept of tip vouchers “sends the wrong message”.