Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley councillors have voted unanimously to defer a decision on whether to allow Coffs Harbour City Council to dump 15,000 tonnes of waste a year at the Grafton Regional Landfill, hoping a regional waste solution will soon be achieved.
After Coffs Harbour City Council CHCC wrote to Clarence Valley Council CVC in March 2023 requesting permission to dump between 20,000 and 40,000 tonnes of waste at Grafton Regional Landfill for 10 years, in May CHCC then requested CVC accept 15,000 tonnes of residual waste for four years from July 2023 to June 2027.
In a letter to CVC General Manager Laura Black dated May 16, CHCC General Manager Natalia Cowley suggested CVC act in a ‘reciprocal, neighbourly fashion’ and allow the waste to be dumped.
“The City continues to collaboratively support CVC with access to quality raw water at times of need by CVC,” Ms Cowley wrote.
“In a reciprocal, neighbourly fashion, the City is requesting access to CVC’s waste facility, taking into consideration the City’s historical support with CVC’s water needs and the fact that it has been reported that CVC has approximately 56 years of waste capacity.
“However, the fees should not be the highly surcharged ones currently included in CVC’s Fees and Charges document.
“The City also remains open to working towards a regional approach to Waste Processing and Disposal post 2027.”
At the April CVC meeting councillors unanimously resolved to defer a decision on CHCC’s request until the outcome of meetings proposed by Bellingen Shire Council on a regional waste solution are known.
A meeting was held on June 9 between the General Managers and relevant staff of Bellingen Shire, Nambucca Shire and Clarence Valley Council to discuss solutions for solid waste (to landfill), green waste and recycling.
At the meeting which CHCC representatives resolved not to participate in, actions in relation to the next steps for treatment of green waste and recycling as a regional approach were agreed on for investigation, with the next meeting scheduled for July 2023.
Despite the assertion by CHCC that CVC has approximately 56 years of waste capacity, council staff reported the Grafton Regional Landfill has a future life of 48 years.
“Acceptance of additional residual waste from CHCC would substantially reduce the future life of the Regional Landfill and bring forward our need to plan for a new landfill facility,” CVC’s June meeting agenda stated.
“Commercial waste contractors operating within the Coffs Harbour LGA are already disposing 9,000 tonnes of waste per annum at the Grafton Regional Landfill.”
At the June 27 CVC meeting, Cr Debrah Novak moved and Cr Allison Whaites seconded the council officer’s recommendation that council;
- Note the latest request from Coffs Harbour City Council seeking the dispose of 15,000 tonnes per annum of residual waste over 4 years from July 2023 at Grafton Regional Landfill, dated 16 May 2023.
- defer any decision to endorse Coffs Harbour City Council’s disposal of waste to landfill in the Clarence Valley until such time as the outcome of meetings initiated by Bellingen Shire council to achieve a regional waste solution, are known.
The motion was supported unanimously.