Significant seven turn up volume in landfill cost fight

Seven mayors are calling on key state ministers to consider an urgent rethink to major waste tax changes with only three weeks left before residents feel hip pocket pain at the landfill gate.

Dumping waste at Rockhampton Landfill is about to get a whole lot more expensive. Photo Sharyn O'Neill / The Morning Bulletin

There is only three weeks left before the impact of increased State Government waste charges are imposed on seven major regional communities across Queensland and mayors are making an 11th hour collective bid to plot a less damaging pathway to reducing waste.

The changes to be introduced by the State Government in the 2025/26 financial year will affect Rockhampton, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Fraser Coast councils.

The mayors have written to Treasurer David Janetzki and Environment Minister Andrew Powell calling for an “urgent rethink” to the plans with only weeks to go before the increased charges charges.

They are asking for a “collaborative approach” to develop industry in the regions and identify and develop waste diversion and resource recovery solutions prior to the waste tax changes.

The state’s waste tax levy was first introduced in 2019 by Labor to reduce rubbish at landfills by targeting better diversion of commercial trash, while residents were covered from the levy cost courtesy of the domestic rebate.

However the rebate for domestic use was legislated to begin to slowly reduce over the next six years and, by 2031, larger councils including Rockhampton, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay and Townsville, will only be refunded 20 per cent of the initial 2019 tax which is paid by commercial operators.

Mayors say that cost will add up to $132m.

The mayors say that in 2023, state and local governments across these regions developed and released Regional Waste Plans that outline resource recovery opportunities and options to reduce waste to landfill.

They say those plans clearly show a lack of competition, infrastructure and scale that is preventing industry development to allow waste solutions in regional areas.

“Our seven councils have tried to work constructively with successive Queensland Governments to plan, develop and mature our waste and resource recovery sector,” they said in the letter to the ministers.

“This is something that each of us, as mayors, are strongly committed to and recognise as a long overdue requirement.

“We can all agree that the waste sector needs to change; and that we all have a role in delivering that change. But the Government’s plans to impose these new charges on our communities when we have no way of reducing, offsetting or alleviating the impact of tax is short-sighted, premature and wrong.

Residents unload green waste at the Rockhampton landfill.

“We know this because we have worked with the Department of Environment to develop waste plans that set out options for waste diversion and the real and practical pathways to do this.

“What those plans identified was a lack of competition and maturity in the market and that no present and tangible solutions could be put in place today to achieve the required diversion and offset.

“There are unfortunately no easy solutions to this problem. Instead, it will take a collaborative approach between all levels of government with industry and the community to deliver the change that’s needed.

“We are committed to achieving this and want to work with the Government on this issue.

“That is why we are calling for your government to rethink plans to introduce these waste tax charges and instead work with us to develop and support implementation plans which will foster and mature the waste sector and achieve diversion from landfill.

“Work with us to create an environment that allows our communities to offset the tax so that it does not impact those among us who have the least capacity to pay.

“Please rethink this policy and reinstate the existing arrangements which provided our seven councils with a top-up or rebate of 100 per cent as we work through this issue with you.

“We know that time is of the essence and implore you to recognise that this current approach will only harm our communities, not help them.”

A landfill transfer station in Rockhampton. Photo: Contributed

Mr Powell responded Wednesday afternoon June 11, indicating that the changes would not be delayed but he remained committed to working with the councils to assist with improved waste management.

“The waste levy is not a new concept,” he said.

“Labor introduced the waste levy way back in 2019 and baked in to the legislation the subsidy drop off (starts July 1).

“What should have happened was that Labor worked with councils to have infrastructure in place to boost recycling rates in these areas.

“I am absolutely committed to continuing to work with mayors to get more waste out of landfill so we can all ensure that councils don’t pay one cent of the waste levy.

“Our government has put $130 million on the table to work with councils to get on with the job of getting more waste out of landfill.

“Because if we do that – they don’t pay.”

The $130m funding does not kick in until next year.

Originally published as Significant seven turn up volume in landfill cost fight