Rockhampton council split on vote to waive green waste fees for 48 hours following major storms

Rockhampton council debated whether green waste fees should be waived for 48 hours following major storms after residents were slugged for helping clean up roads and pathways from last week’s weather.

Rockhampton Regional Council workers clear a fallen tree from the High Street Bridge on January 19 following a violent storm.

A bid to waive green waste fees for 48 hours to thank Rockhampton Region residents who clear debris following major storms in the area was rejected after spirited debate at the council meeting on Tuesday.

Cr Edward Oram raised the motion, saying he was aware of many residents being out of pocket after picking up tree and vegetation debris from roads and pathways after last week’s storms.

He said free landfill fees for green waste for a limited time would encourage others to help clear roads and footpaths and actually reduce costs for council’s workforce.

“I think when we have significant weather events in our area we have a great deal of people which take pride in their streets and will often be picking up the green waste from the front of their footpaths which is a reduction in work for our staff and a reduction of time that takes them away from their core business,” he said.

“It’s a show of good faith to our community that we appreciate the work that they are doing and a small gesture on our behalf to try and keep our town tidier in a quicker more efficient way.”

A tree is uprooted in a Rockhampton street after Cyclone Marcia hit Rockhampton on February 20, 2015.

Cr Cherie Rutherford said she understood the sentiment behind the motion but in practice it “doesn't work” as every storm was different it would be hard to determine which areas of the region would qualify for free landfill fees.

“I have been at this table for a long time and have seen a lot of things go pear shaped that have come from good intentions and this is one of those for me,” she said.

“We are a community and I would hope we have civic pride to pull together and do what we can do to help ourselves.”

Entrance to the ski gardens boat ramp is blocked by fallen trees in Rockhampton after Cyclone Marcia. Photo Sharyn O'Neill / Morning Bulletin

Cr Drew Wickerson said the green waste cost wasn’t that excessive at $7 a trailer load which was the “price of a cup of coffee”.

“When we have tried this before there are a huge lines of people, so if one of the aims is being more efficient it won’t achieve that,” he said.

Cr Elliot Hilse said he was aware of a Mt Archer resident who paid $17 for a ute load on the weekend due to its weight being over 150kg.

Ricky Duivailala unloads a trailer of green waste at Rockhampton landfill following the storm that hit the region on January 25. 2013. Photo Frazer Pearce / The Morning Bulletin

He said that suburb was often affected by storm debris.

“The residents of Mt Archer on the weekend all gathered together and loaded up a few trailers of trees and branches that had fallen and took it to the landfill and they do that all the time,” he said.

“So the odd instance where we were able to give them some help so they don't have to pay for it all would be a great thing moving forward.”

Cr Grant Mathers warned that if they did waive green waste fees region wide it would open the door to exploitation.

“If we open our gates for 48 hours what stops everyone in Yeppoon who probably got the same storm loading up all their rubbish and bringing it to Rockhampton for free?” he asked.

Council voted 5 – 3 against the motion with Cr Oram, Cr Hilse and Marika Taylor in favour.

Originally published as Rockhampton council split on vote to waive green waste fees for 48 hours following major storms