Council takes lead and action on waste management issues
11 December 2020
Ipswich City Council is showing strong leadership and taking action in terms of an enforcement mandate for waste management.
Its new Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Directive launched last week includes in the 10 guiding principles: strong compliance culture.
“We will use the full power of council’s policy and legal instruments to drive performance improvements of waste management operations within our communities. We will monitor and enforce approval conditions with greater diligence and we will hold the State Government to account to take greater action on matters for which it is responsible,” the directive states.
The current Planning and Environment Court case demonstrates council taking action and the court has expedited the hearing to next week (15 December), which recognises the urgency of this matter being dealt with.
Ipswich City Council has filed an originating application in the court against Nugrow at Swanbank.
Council is seeking a declaration that Nugrow has carried out works on its site which constitute a development offence.
Council contends that Nugrow has filled in a number leachate and stormwater ponds and built structures without seeking approval from council.
The absence of the stormwater ponds is likely to lead to an increase in discharge and associated adverse downstream flooding impacts on adjacent properties during significant rainfall events; and result in adverse impacts in terms of water quality.
Council is seeking an enforcement order to have the ponds re-instated as a priority given that it is forecast for a La Niña weather pattern over the coming months.
This is the first action council has undertaken as part of its newly adopted Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Directive and demonstrates the new regime with council being pro-active in protecting its residents and environment.
An urgent court hearing has been scheduled for 15 December 2020.
This coincides with council taking innovative steps to cut waste, improve resource recovery and drive the circular economy.
Councillors backed a new strategic and operational approach to managing and influencing systemic changes across waste, resource recovery and the circular economy, to deliver better outcomes for the city and its residents towards 2030.
The powerful Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee voted unanimously to support a notice of motion tabled by Deputy Mayor Marnie Doyle to adopt the Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Directive.
This new directive marks a significant and positive step forward on waste industry impacts and opportunities for the Ipswich local government area, which disposes a large proportion of South East Queensland’s and the State’s waste (55 per cent and 42 per cent respectively in 2019-20).
The directive details the myriad of challenges currently faced by council in dealing with the growing sector. It outlines 10 guiding principles that will inform council’s strategic and operational activities over the coming years and provides a platform for a concerted and coordinated effort across waste, resource recovery, recycling and the circular economy.
Committee Chair, Mayor Teresa Harding said she looked forward to seeing the Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Directive translate into positive outcomes for the people of Ipswich, who had been impacted for decades by previous poor decisions on waste management.
Council has already commenced proactive legal measures against other waste and landfill companies with some success and will continue to do so with the health and welfare of residents of Ipswich a first priority.
“Waste disposal issues in our region are long-running and well known to our stakeholders. At the same time, the evidence base is building for the economic and environmental benefits of the circular economy model,” Mayor Harding said.
“Our directive signals that it’s time for all stakeholders to take action. Council is willing and ready to collaborate, but other levels of government and industry need to step-up if we are to address the impacts and opportunities of the waste industry’s operations once and for all.”