Yarra City Council to bring in security for ‘bin tax’ meeting

A move to draft security officers for Yarra Council’s next meeting over a proposed “bin tax” has been slammed as an outrageous insult.

The City of Yarra’s waste charge has angered many residents.

Security officers have been drafted in for Yarra Council’s next meeting to manage an expected large turnout of residents concerned about the proposed “bin tax”.

It comes after revelations residents will be slugged with a bin tax of up to $115 this year — a levy over and above their household rates bill.

The inner-city council’s proposed “waste management charge”, revealed by the Herald Sun last month, will be considered by councillors next Tuesday.

Yarra, unlike other councils, has traditionally embedded its waste costs in its rates bills, but now it is being separated and won’t be subject to any rate cap.

The council, which includes Richmond, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Clifton Hill, did not reveal if householders’ rates would go up this by the 3.5 per cent cap, a limit set by the state government.

The security move was immediately declared outrageous and heavy-handed.

Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly is leading opposition to the bin tax. .

Independent councillor Bridgid O’Brien said bringing in security staff was an overreaction.

“It’s all a bit concerning — we are not exactly expecting neo-Nazis to turn up.

“It will be community members who just want to express their views.’’

Cr O’Brien, along with Crs Michael Glynatsis and Stephen Jolly, will seek to defer the motion to separate waste charges from domestic rates.

Cr Glynatsis said residents simply wanted to ask questions at the meeting.

And Cr Jolly said the security crackdown was an outrageous insult to residents.

“This is all because ratepayers have the temerity to turn up to exercise their democratic right.’’

Cr Herschel Landes, who was one of the leading opponents of the previous bin tax plan in 2017 before being elected in 2020, has indicated that Yarra’s financial plight means action has to be taken.

He denied the waste levy separation was a “cash grab’’.

“There will be no net increase in revenue in this budget,’’ Cr Landes said on Facebook.

The latest security moves in the council chamber are unlikely to see the return of a barricade — labelled the Great Wall of Yarra — which was installed between the public and councillors last August.

Yarra last year reduced the time and number of questions that residents can ask.

City of Yarra bosses have been crying poor, even though the half-year financial report to December 2022 showed that the council was tracking $15m better off than budgeted.

The council report said the waste levy was vital – otherwise other vital services could be cut.

“Separating the waste charge from general rates is a critical component to ensuring council’s future financial sustainability is not eroded further,’’ it said.

“The total impact for properties … would be approximately $12 to $115 ($2

per week).’’

Cr Jolly said he feared the bin tax would increase sharply in following years.

“Yes, we know it’s more expensive to collect bins, but why are we not looking at savings?’’

The council also denied it had plans to change the frequency of residents’ general rubbish collection, from weekly to fortnightly.

But 1300 households in Abbotsford have had fortnightly waste collections for the past four years, as part of a “holistic waste trial”.

A series of neighbourhood meetings over the bin tax have been held in recent weeks as opposition to the levy grows.

A Yarra Residents Collective spokesman said “Bin Tax 2.0” was being introduced to bypass rate caps.

“They (the council) are desperately trying to mischaracterise the tax as a ‘separation charge’ in what is nothing more than a bit of PR spin to avoid the fact that over the next five years they plan to hike the fee well beyond the rate cap to boost the council revenue at the cost of ratepayers.’’

Yarra tried to introduce a similar waste levy in 2017 but was abandoned amid a public outcry.