Toowoomba Regional Council votes down bulk kerbside collection despite support from public

Despite strong support from the community, the council will not proceed with a bulk kerbside collection service.

The council has rejected a trial program for a kerbside bulk rubbish collection.

Toowoomba Regional Council will not proceed with a bulk kerbside collection trial of any kind, despite the concept earning support from residents.

Councillors voted at Tuesday’s committee meeting to follow council waste services manager Matt Torr’s recommendation and not consider a program.

Three councillors, Kerry Shine, Megan O’Hara Sullivan and James O’Shea, all voted against the motion to reject bulk kerbside collection.

This was despite council’s own community consultation showing residents were highly supportive of a street service, with 68 per cent of more than 900 respondents backing it.

Mr Torr’s report to the councillors outlined a number of issues with implementing a bulk kerbside service, including the start-up costs, safety hazards associated with leaving waste near the road, an increase in scavenging and illegal dumping and its impact on similar private businesses.

His four options included a trial program capped at $500,000, but ultimately he recommended the councillors maintain the status quo.

However, Ms O’Hara Sullivan launched an impassioned defence of the concept, saying the council should back the community’s wishes.

“When we talk about doing things at council, we always talk about the community feedback,” she said.

“68 per cent of respondents support the introduction of this service, and I place importance in this.

“Rather than just throw this whole scheme out, let’s consider providing some sort of service to the community.”

But Councillor Bill Cahill said the report outlined the reasons why the council couldn’t proceed with the plan.

“Most of the points have been raised around the room – 20-25 per cent would benefit from this, the rest would subsidise it.”