Collaboration key to solving waste problems, says councillor

One western councillor is forging ahead with a plan for regional councils to work together and tackle the growing issue of waste.

GET TOGETHER: Cr Geoff McMullen has proposed a collaboration of southwest councils to tackle waste problems affecting the region. Picture: Blake Antrobus

A MARANOA councillor is looking to join forces with neighbouring shires in a bid to tackle the southwest's growing waste problem.

At a Maranoa Regional Council meeting last week,Cr Geoff McMullen proposed the formation of a South West Regional Waste Group and now, with the support of fellow councillors, will take his pitch to other rural councils.

"Council resolved in principle support to partner with State Development Queensland on this project, and we are going to approach all of the regional councils to the west of us,” Cr McMullen said.

"We will propose the councils get together, and form this group to collaboratively organise getting funding to help solve major waste problems.”

Around the region, Cr McMullen sees tyre disposal and illegal dumping as some of the biggest issues councils are dealing with when it comes to waste.

With the new waste levy also coming in for councils, he says now is the time to be working together.

"There is strength in numbers when it comes to cleaning up the region, and getting funding to fix problems,” Cr McMullen said.

"We in the Maranoa are involved already in the new waste levy tax, so we know reducing the amount of waste going in to landfill will help us.

"But we can also help other councils wanting to reduce their waste.”

So far Cr McMullen has received support from Quilpie Shire as well as his colleagues in the Maranoa, and preliminary talks with the Balonne Shire Council are underway.

A report on forming the South West Regional Waste Group proposal will go back to the Maranoa Regional Council at its August 14 meeting.