Revealed: The tip on how rubbish fees for increase for Gold Coast householders at city dumps

Your charges for getting rid of household waste will increase. Either in your annual bill or a dump fee — or both. This is what you need to know.

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YOUR charges for getting rid of household waste will increase. Either in your annual bill or a dump fee – or both. This stink began on the quiet several months ago and it’s important to know how it will all end with your rate bill.

Councillors this month sensationally parked their plan to introduce dump fees for residents. Rather than include a $38 tip visit fee in next week’s budget, they agreed to go out for community consultation.

Illegal rubbish dumped on the Gold Coast.

But after the State Budget on Tuesday confirmed the government was phasing out its waste management subsidy to council, Mayor Tom Tate indicated the road ahead – city would “not absorb the cost”. It amounts to about $88 a person.

Behind closed doors for months at Evandale, councillors have been debating about when to push the button on extra fees, and how this could be achieved without both themselves and tip staff copping abuse.

Water and waste director Paul Heaton provided a written brief for all councillors explaining the options, council insiders say.

Photograph of illegal rubbish dumped on a footpath sparking an investigation on the Gold Coast.

Now councillors cannot discuss this because the material is on grey papers and confidential.

Only new councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, who is opposed to tip fees, gave a hint. On his Facebook page, he suggested the government would remove the waste subsidy.

In response, residents said there would be more illegal dumping on the streets.

Your columnist located a confidential waste management financial sustainability report delivered in late April, of which parts are now public.

Waste Services had developed two financial models to help make decisions around “long-term financial sustainability”.

Illegal rubbish being dumped on the Gold Coast.

Those options were a 10-year financial model and a full cost pricing model (FCP) that determined price strategy.

The FCP means the price set to you, the ratepayer, would fully recover council’s costs.

Officers would use the FCP to determine which parts of the service showed the best and worst returns, whether waste services were “draining or sustaining reserves” and could this section of council “fully fund itself”.

“Depending on the answer to the above questions, tariff reform initiatives may be required to ensure Waste Services recover sufficient revenue to ensure that it is financially sustainable now and into the future,” a senior officer wrote.

All the interesting bits which impact on your pocket – how much revenue council is getting, what are the costs of the service, how much more money is needed? – were blacked out.

Photos of garbage left outside a Biggera Waters home due to a Gold Coast illegal dumping spot. Photo: Supplied

Importantly, council officers identified two risks here.

Firstly, losing the government subsidy and the demand for waste could affect council’s short-medium term financial position.

The other risk was the services not being priced at a level affordable to you.

Council insiders suggest the loss of the state finances will create a budget black hole of about $21m. Ultimately, the waste services must pay for themselves.

So if there is to be public consultation, this is up to you. Increased fees will kick in just before these councillors return to the polling booths.

Do you want to pay a little bit extra annually, and keep your free tip service? Or do you want weigh stations at dumps? Perhaps a bit of both?

Please tell me how we can sort out this rubbish.

EARLIER: COUNCIL FORCED TO INCREASE WASTE FEES

THE Gold Coast council will be forced to increase waste fees after the State government axed its subsidy in Tuesday’s budget.

The Bulletin in a series of reports has been highlighting closed door meetings where councillors have been talking about the impending fee loss.

Mayor Tom Tate at a media conference at midday on Wednesday is to reveal more details from the impact of state budget cuts.

The loss of the subsidy could mean up to $75 fees.

The Bulletin understands the increased cost to council equates to $88 per person in extra costs, which may lead to dump fees.

Cr Tate said the decision to axe the waste subsidy would put pressure on council waste stations.

“To be honest, the decision stinks,” he said.

“We have just been through our 2021-22 City Budget and the issue of possible user-pay charges at our waste transfer stations was hotly debated.

“Our 2021-22 proposal is that there will be zero gate-fee charges for residential customers in the next financial year.

“That said, this State decision means we will face huge costs from 2022-23 given the State is pulling its $20 million subsidy for residential customers.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Jerad Williams

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick delivers his budget speech at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“In general terms, that means a potential $75-per-ratepayer impact on our bottom line.

Cr Tate suggested: “It may mean some form of pay-as-you-dump fee for our residents from 2022-23 onwards.”

He added the Gold Coast community could minimise the impact on rates by “doing the right thing now” via household recycling efforts.

“As we head towards this State-imposed waste levy, council will ramp up its education programs throughout 2021-22 so we can all recycle more, and consequently rely less on visiting our local dumps.”

Environment Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said there would be a review into the waste levy program in an effort to reduce household waste.

“We will work with councils through that review, and negotiate the arrangements that will apply after that period,” she said.

“That is the sensible and fair approach.

“We have a strong record of working with local government, and we will continue to do that through the review and consideration of the annual waste levy rebate framework going forward.”

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Originally published as Revealed: The tip on how rubbish fees for increase for Gold Coast householders at city dumps