Gympie council considers other options for Bonnick Rd dump after it was expected to be full

Time is running out to find an alternative place for Gympie residents to dump waste, as the council continues to explore options six months after the existing site was expected to reach capacity.

A review into an alternative waste option for Gympie is still ongoing more than six months after the Bonnick Rd dump was expected to exceed capacity.

The tip was reportedly on track to be full by the end of 2021.

This sparked a full review from Gympie Regional Council of the region’s waste services.

Now, more than a year later, Community Sustainability Director Adrian Burns has revealed the review is yet to be finalised as council continues to explore options.

It comes as a council spokesperson said the dump had not yet reached capacity, despite the record-breaking February flood contributing to a rise in the amount of rubbish and debris kept at the site.

Council’s mission to find an alternative waste strategy has been an ongoing project since March 2021, when former CEO Shane Gray announced the review was underway.

The Bonnick Rd dump (pictured here) was reported to reach capacity by the end of 2021, but is still nearing its peak even with a rise in the amount of debris and rubbish at the site after the February flood.

Mr Burns said the council were now involved in a Wide Bay-wide project looking at recourse recovery, transfer station and landfill options for the Gympie region its surrounding LGAs in the Wide Bay.

It’s understood the rubbish could be transferred to Maryborough in the Fraser Coast LGA.

“This work has been sponsored by Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and Department of Environment and Science (DES) funding and is looking at seven stations plus Bonnick Rd operations to consider efficiencies and value for money for rate payers,” he said.

Community Sustainability Director for Gympie Regional Council Adrian Burns said the review into Gympie waste management is yet to be finalised as council continues to explore options. Photo: LinkedIn

One of these options was an additional cell at the Bonnick Rd site, Mr Burns said, but the dumpsite footprint itself will not be expanded.

A draft budget to undertake this work in the coming financial years had been allocated, but the 2022/2023 financial year budget was yet to be announced.

The total cost of this project is yet to be confirmed, also.

Businesses clean up in Mary Street were among the worst hit Gympie after the record-breaking February flood. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

Mr Burns said a previously discussed multimillion-dollar waste transfer station on Laurenceson Rd, Gympie, was also still under consideration.

“There are lots of positives to this location but also some constraints that council are working through with design and capacity and site conditions,” he said.

“Ultimately council wants to deliver the best cost effective facility for the long term befit of rate payers and the community.”

Mr Burns said the council was also looking at its longer term strategy for landfill and resource recovery.

An estimated date on when the tip will reach capacity is yet to be established.