Confusion marred the start of the TC Fina clean-up as residents headed for Shoal Bay dump
The Cyclone Fina clean-up began with confusion. Read what was needed.
Confusion about where private citizens were able to dump green waste marred the first working day since Tropical Cyclone Fina’s outer winds battered the Top End.
A City of Darwin Facebook post on Sunday afternoon announced Shoal Bay waste management facility would be closed to the public until further notice. Council’s roadside rubbish collection crews had first use of Shoal Bay, with the facility also opened to commercial users from 1pm.
The notice urged residents to not place waste, including green waste and building items onto the verge, and promised updates later, with the next expected about 3pm.
The notice didn’t mention that an alternative location to dump waste had opened at Hidden Valley nor that access within Shoal Bay was restricted because an internal road had collapsed.
Angry residents took to Facebook’s comments page to criticise the late announcement and the reasons behind the decision.
“That’s not very helpful,” Kate Stone replied.
“What about the trees the community has cut up off the roads? Where would you like us to put that,” Jason Taylor commented.
“This is an extremely poor notification,” noted Dave Dyer.
Karma MLA Brian O’Gallagher, a former City of Darwin councillor, also said it should have been handled better.
“I believe this is a poor decision by City of Darwin,” he said.
“Council should offer free disposal for at least two days - including for residents and commercial businesses - the minute the emergency has been declared over.
“Leave all the gates open so as to minimise queues and waiting times. Council can seek reimbursement from the NT and federal governments to recover costs later, but local residents and businesses must come first.”
A lone security guard employed by Wilson was ‘policing’ the exterior gate at Shoal Bay directing residents to an NT Government dump established at the Hidden Valley racetrack car park.
Most residents who were turned away were relaxed about the Shoal Bay ban but frustrated by the lack of information provided about the alternative Hidden Valley facility.
Even Secure NT, the NT Government’s emergency website, incorrectly said Hidden Valley carpark would open from 1pm Monday, despite it being open much earlier.
Nightcliff resident Kate Taylor, who was one of a number turned away from Shoal Bay, criticised communications.
“Not enough communications,” Kate said. “I didn’t realise that was closed, and I don’t really know where to go in Hidden Valley. There definitely could be more information.”
Wulagi and Wagaman residents Huy Bui and Van Nau Nguyen were also turned away.
“I didn’t know we weren’t allowed here,” Mr Bui said.
“They should have had some of better communication,” Mr Nguyen said. “Everybody tries to clean-up after the cyclone. We’ll have to go to Hidden Valley because we’ve got a lot to clean up.”
At Hidden Valley, representatives from VTG Waste & Recycling had been on-site since 6am preparing for first-arrivals, with traffic increasing as awareness grew.
Managing director James Prakash said they were partnering with government to provide a solution to speedy green-waste disposal.
“We’re accepting waste from all over the Top End. I know there was a lot of confusion around where people could go, but it’s happening now,” James said.
“Started off a bit bumpy and there was a bit of confusion and the communications has improved a lot. People going to the landfill were being turned away and were pretty frustrated, but once the message got out there it’s certainly picked up and it’s very busy.
“Both residential households as well as commercial trucks and light vehicles keep on coming through.”
David from Bees Creek welcomed the availability of a Top End green-waste refuge.
“I didn’t really have a choice because all the other dumps out that way are closed at the moment,” David said. “We’re limited to the rural dumps and couldn’t use Darwin if it was open, so it’s good.
“I think it’s brilliant. With Marcus the same thing was done out near the airport. It makes it a lot easier because with the space at the dumps there isn’t a lot of room for green waste.”
Herbert resident Drew Gontscharow welcomed the availability of the green waste dump.
“We got a power outage early morning for about half-an-hour and then we managed to keep the power throughout the whole cyclone,” he said.
“We’ve got five acres and just one trailer load, so it wasn’t too bad.”
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Originally published as Confusion marred the start of the TC Fina clean-up as residents headed for Shoal Bay dump
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