Andrea Friend sets the record straight on Livingstone Shire Council dump vouchers for Capricorn Coast residents

Livingstone Shire councillor Andrea Friend has moved to clear up confusion surrounding the council’s waste voucher policy following “misinformation” being spread on social platforms including the Yeppoon Families Facebook page.

Councillor Andrea Friend and principal waste officer Leanne Randall. Picture: Contributed.

A “great amount of misinformation” being spread on social media platforms has prompted Livingstone Shire councillor Andrea Friend to set the record straight on the council’s waste voucher policy.

Cr Friend said as the portfolio holder of Waste, Water, and the Environment, she thought it was important to have “clarity and transparency” in order to give the residents of the shire peace of mind.

Cr Friend stressed that 10 domestic waste vouchers would continue to be afforded to residents in rural and urban areas of the shire.

“These include single unit dwellings, residences, multi-unit dwellings (flats), units or secondary dwellings,” she said.

“It has always been the case where vacant blocks of land without a dwelling are not included.

“These vouchers have always been issued once per year, every August, along with the rates notices to every eligible ratepayer.

“I am very pleased to say that they will continue to be offered, unlike other local government areas that have abolished them.”

At a December 2021 council meeting, a waste voucher policy was introduced by Livingstone.

Cr Friend said this policy specifically noted there were 10 vouchers and council had, at this time, no intentions of reducing them, nor phasing them out.

“The waste voucher policy does however exclude ‘Primary Production’ categorised as L6, L6A or L6B in schedule 1 of the rates revenue statement,” Cr Friend said.

Council figures show that waste vouchers used up to January 31, 2022, were about 6855 (rural - or those without kerbside collection) and 24,049 (urban - or those with a kerbside collection).

The predicted total voucher cost to the council by the end of the 2021/2022 financial year is $740,170.

This cost covers the processing and distribution of the waste into landfill to meet State Government requirements.

“Councils dedicated officers are working hard to improve innovation to the waste sector, with the planned resource recovery centre at the Yeppoon landfill and other future initiatives,” Cr Friend said.