Greenwaste given the green light
Published on 28 May 2015
Rockhampton Regional Council is nearing the end of a long and costly challenge to restore greenwaste services to the Region.
Regular mulch distribution has been unavailable since December 2013, following discovery of asbestos containing material (ACM) in the greenwaste area at the Lakes Creek Road Landfill.
Although small in quantity, the ACM find has meant large-scale remediation and disruption to the service for the community. Council has spent the past 18 months undertaking a range of testings to ensure greenwaste is free of contamination.
Council’s Chair of Business Enterprise Committee, Councillor Neil Fisher said it has been a trial Council has faced proactively.
“It has certainly been a long process caused by the irresponsible actions of a minority – in saying this however, we have been able to rectify the situation to the best of our abilities,” Councillor Fisher said.
“Council has worked with the Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Division to provide ACM free greenwaste. We’ve had numerous samples sent for testing, instigated on site monitoring and set standards that will assist in the future.”
Councillor Fisher said Council is now reaching the end of the long haul and that regular greenwaste mulch will again be available for use very soon.
“We have reached the point where we can reopen the greenwaste services and offer small portions of mulch to residents and property owners from the end of June,” Councillor Fisher said.
He is encouraging all to pay close attention when disposing future greenwaste.
“At the end of the day, irresponsible dumping of waste means a waste of money for rate payers. Close to $1million has been spent from December 2013 until now remediating the ACM issues. When you think about what else this money could have been spent on, it’s frustrating,” he said.
“We know that this kind of thing isn’t always intentional but it can be avoided by taking extra care. We want to ensure the safety of the community and we want to continue to supply this free service for all to enjoy.”