Waste services will be costed before introduction

MOORABOOL Shire Council has backtracked on a decision to introduce subsidised hard waste, green waste and mattress drop-off services at some stage in the 2026-27 financial year.

The proposed services, along with a subsidised annual hard waste kerbside pick-up service for a maximum of 500 properties annually for ‘unable’ or aged residents – capped at two cubic metres – will instead be considered as part of the 2026-27 budget process.

A notice of motion submitted by Cr Paul Tatchell at the 17 December meeting sought to rescind a 3 December motion by Cr Sheila Freeman that the services be introduced.

Cr Tatchell’s motion, which was carried unanimously without debate, was in effect simply an amendment to Cr Freeman’s earlier motion that sparked intense debate at the earlier meeting.

In effect, the motion sought to refer the subsidised services to the budget process rather than directly introducing them.

At the 3 December meeting, an officer’s report outlined options for introducing subsidised services for councillors’ consideration with no specific recommendations.

But Cr Freeman moved that services actually be introduced during 2026-27.

Cr Tatchell was among those to vote against it, arguing that they had not been costed.

Those in favour of Cr Freeman’s motion were Crs Freeman, Rod Ward, John Keogh, Jarrod Bingham and mayor Steve Venditti-Taylor.

Against were Crs Tatchell, Moira Berry, Tom Sullivan and Ally Munari.

Setting the general tone for those against, Cr Tatchell said he had never voted on an uncosted budget matter during his time on the council.

Similarly, Cr Sullivan said introducing the services without a formal consideration of costings was akin to issuing a blank cheque.

As a result of Cr Tatchell’s motion, the costs of a subsidised hard waste drop-off service at transfer stations of one cubic metre of waste, twice a year and free of charge, will now be considered as part of the next budget.

Similarly, a month-long, free drop-off of green waste at transfer stations will be part of budget deliberations along with a subsidised transfer station mattress drop-off at half price for one month a year.

Cr Freeman’s desire for a subsidised kerbside hard waste pick-up service for the ‘unable’ and the elderly will go through the budget process in its original form.