Why Gympie Regional Council biowaste plan is now in chaos

The council’s biowaste disposal plan has been clogged by the unsightly discovery that the two preferred local tenderers don’t have approvals for the job

Gympie council’s plan to contract a business to dispose of its biowaste has been clogged up by the discovery neither of the two businesses preferred for the job have correct approvals in place.

Gympie Regional Council’s plan to dispose of its biowaste has been plunged into disarray following the discovery the two preferred businesses for the job do not have all the necessary planning approvals in place.

Councillors voted in March to award the $300,000 job to Traveston-based Corbet’s Group, despite the company not then having key State Government environment licences.

The company was given 30 days to secure the licences, without which the contract would go to Sutton’s Cleaning.

But while Corbet’s had obtained the necessary state approvals, councillors were told on Wednesday the company lacked council planning approval to transport and dispose of the waste at Lower Wonga.

Council staff asked councillors to consider giving Corbet’s another 30-day grace period, a recommendation backed by Valley councillor Bob Fredman, who argued at the March meeting the company should have been given a 60-day window to get its ducks in a row.

The $300k contract was awarded to Corbet’s on the provision all the necessary approvals were in place. Photo: Philippe Coquerand

This was challenged by Mayor Glen Hartwig, who said overturning their original plan to offer it to the next best tenderer under these circumstances risked showing preferential treatment to one business.

“We cannot keep shifting the goal posts in favour of one tenderer,” Mr Hartwig said.

“We have already extended it once for (Corbet’s).”

Unfortunately, the next company in line, Sutton’s, also has issues.

Sustainability director Adrian Burns told councillors Sutton’s claimed its Cinnabar disposal site was fine, but “legal advice says they might not be”.

The council is working to secure a new disposal site for its biowaste, which is currently being stored at the Gympie Sewage Treatment Plant.

Mr Burns said each company likely faced a two or three month wait to get the approvals it needed; as such, neither Corbet’s nor Sutton’s were likely to be able to satisfy requirements to safely dispose of the waste within the next month.

Councillors ultimately let the staff recommendation lapse and stuck to the original plan.

If Sutton’s is unable to meet requirements within the appropriate time frame the council is expected to reopen the tender – this time in the hope that the groups applying will have all of the needed approvals in place.

The waste is currently being stored at the city’s Sewage Treatment Plant.

Originally published as Why Gympie Regional Council biowaste plan is now in chaos