Surf Coast Shire staring down $12m Anglesea tip rehabilitation cost
Surf Coast ratepayers are staring down a $12 million bill to replace a coastal tip as the site edges toward closure within five years.
Surf Coast ratepayers are staring down a $12 million bill to replace a coastal tip as the site edges toward closure within five years.
A council meeting on Tuesday night heard the shire was facing a significant financial and operational challenge as it prepares for the rehabilitation of the Anglesea landfill, with an expansion not possible.
The landfill, which has served the community since 1974, is now filling the final available cell – a sealed section where rubbish is placed, compacted, and covered to keep it contained and protect the environment.
A report presented to councillors estimates the cost of transition at about $12.6 million, with few alternative disposal options available due to a lack of new Victorian landfill projects.
Once the tip closes, the shire will be hit with ongoing annual costs of about $320,000, mostly due to increased waste transport fees and higher charges at external facilities.
Mayor Liz Pattison said transporting waste off-site would be “far more expensive” and noted the closure timeline was dependent on waste volumes, capacity and cost fluctuations.
“The more waste we can divert from the landfill, the better,” she said.
“There are interesting times ahead for how we manage our waste.”
Cr Mike Bodsworth said the council already faced a financial challenge as the operator responsible for its rehabilitation, and that liability had increased due to tighter regulations.
He said diverting more waste from landfill will extend the life of the site and increase resource recovery benefits.
Cr Paul Barker warned the impact on ratepayer pockets could be significant unless the State Government eases some of the strict EPA rules that are limiting councils’ ability to extend the life of existing landfills.
He said if forced to close earlier than 2030, waste management costs will increase substantially and ultimately be passed on to residents.
“We need to do whatever we can to stretch out how long that landfill can last,” he said.
The meeting heard the Surf Coast shire had a strong diversion rate of just over 70 per cent, but audits show more than half of what goes into red-lid bins could be recycled or placed in food or garden organics (FOGO).
Cr Bodsworth said improving that was key, noting landfill operators were facing “very strict regulatory requirements” for both operation and rehabilitation, with the cost of compliance having risen significantly over the past decade.
Council, as the responsible authority for site rehabilitation, is already staring down a growing financial liability.
Once closed, the Anglesea Transfer Station and Resale Shop will continue to operate on the existing site.
Councillors also discussed an opportunity to advocate for access to the State-managed EPA levy fund, which councils pay into but have little visibility over.
Cr Bodsworth believed there is substantial money in that fund with one intended purpose to help cover rehabilitation costs.
“It’s a really important advocacy opportunity for us.”
The motion to note the report and its recommendations was carried unanimously.
Originally published as Surf Coast Shire staring down $12m Anglesea tip rehabilitation cost
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