Delay continues for $14m landfill

It is the 13th deferral on the $14 million project, with a last-minute bid for an independent inquiry into the issue winning the day at a meeting on Monday. Councillors are divided over the 20-year project and faced two notices of motion at the full council meeting.

The first, moved by Herman Beyersdorf, called on Council to re-affirm and fast-track its commitment to the project.

But this was defeated with councillors instead adopting a three-pronged notice from Margaret O’Connor. That called for a full  costing of the proposed new landfill; a look at other, interim waste disposal options and for an independent inquiry to look at Council’s waste management strategy.

Cr O’Connor said the delay would take about two-and-a-half months. She said she was not against the new landfill project, however, she wanted to “look at other options”.

“Since this last assessment was done, there have been many developments in waste management,” Cr O’Connor said.

“I think we should consider a carbon-negative waste management strategy.”

But Crs Gadd, Beyersdorf, Richardson and Maher opposed any further delay. Cr Gadd said it would be the 13th such delay since the project’s inception.

Cr Maher said ratepayers were paying $1369  each day the project was delayed, since Council was paying interest on a $14 million loan, as well as costs associated with the new build escalating by $300,000 per annum.