Trade Waste - New Management Plan

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Consultation has concluded

Whitsunday Regional Council has approved a new Trade Waste Policy and Management Plan, which will be rolled out across the region over the next three years.

The new plan will ensure the region's waste and water treatment plants operate as efficiently and safely as possible for the community, employees, sewerage system and the environment.

For all properties and businesses which require a Trade Waste Approval permit from Council, there will be some important changes to the fees and categories under the new Plan.

The rollout of the new Plan will take place in stages over the next three years, with ongoing information, help and resources provided by Council to all property owners and businesses who operate under a Trade Waste Approval permit.

Public Information Sessions - May 2018

Public Information Sessions were held in Bowen and Cannonvale to present information about the new Policy and Plan, and answer questions from the community:

  • Bowen, 21 May | Bowen Community Centre, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
  • Cannonvale, 22 May | Mantra Club Croc, 5.30pm – 6.30pm


Key Changes under the New Plan

  • The property owner (landlord) will now be responsible for the installation and maintenance of pre-treatment devices (for example, grease traps, oil separators, neutralising pits etc), not the tenant.

  • The annual trade waste approval fees will be billed to the property owner and not the tenant.

  • Volume charging will also be introduced into the fee structure. The new fees and charges are designed to be fair and equitable, based on a ‘user pays’ system.

  • Any new businesses applying for a Trade Waste Approval will go straight onto the new system of fees and charges from July 2017 (dependant of fee structure resolved).


Why is Trade Waste management important?

Trade waste will often contain chemicals, hydrocarbons, oils, fats, grease and heavy metals which place an extra load on the sewerage system and require additional treatment.

Trade waste charges are intended to cover the cost to ratepayers of collection, transportation and treatment of trade waste, and the ongoing maintenance of the sewerage system.

As trade waste customers are the biggest users of water besides agriculture in the region, introducing volume charges will help encourage water saving measures and delay the need to upgrade water infrastructure in the region.

Whitsunday Regional Council has approved a new Trade Waste Policy and Management Plan, which will be rolled out across the region over the next three years.

The new plan will ensure the region's waste and water treatment plants operate as efficiently and safely as possible for the community, employees, sewerage system and the environment.

For all properties and businesses which require a Trade Waste Approval permit from Council, there will be some important changes to the fees and categories under the new Plan.

The rollout of the new Plan will take place in stages over the next three years, with ongoing information, help and resources provided by Council to all property owners and businesses who operate under a Trade Waste Approval permit.

Public Information Sessions - May 2018

Public Information Sessions were held in Bowen and Cannonvale to present information about the new Policy and Plan, and answer questions from the community:

  • Bowen, 21 May | Bowen Community Centre, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
  • Cannonvale, 22 May | Mantra Club Croc, 5.30pm – 6.30pm


Key Changes under the New Plan

  • The property owner (landlord) will now be responsible for the installation and maintenance of pre-treatment devices (for example, grease traps, oil separators, neutralising pits etc), not the tenant.

  • The annual trade waste approval fees will be billed to the property owner and not the tenant.

  • Volume charging will also be introduced into the fee structure. The new fees and charges are designed to be fair and equitable, based on a ‘user pays’ system.

  • Any new businesses applying for a Trade Waste Approval will go straight onto the new system of fees and charges from July 2017 (dependant of fee structure resolved).


Why is Trade Waste management important?

Trade waste will often contain chemicals, hydrocarbons, oils, fats, grease and heavy metals which place an extra load on the sewerage system and require additional treatment.

Trade waste charges are intended to cover the cost to ratepayers of collection, transportation and treatment of trade waste, and the ongoing maintenance of the sewerage system.

As trade waste customers are the biggest users of water besides agriculture in the region, introducing volume charges will help encourage water saving measures and delay the need to upgrade water infrastructure in the region.

Consultation has concluded

Have a question? Please write it here.

  • Share Hi, While doing some calculations for the new recycling program I noticed that with all the new fees and changes to rates it could be worth recycling the rating system at the same time or at least starting on an improvement and as with the above moving to user pays. The state governments review about local councils did apparently mention aspects such as being able to use pay for access to services. So moving from the earlier logic of a block of land drives around and uses the water and sewerage system to more modern logic of individuals using the councils road, water, sewerage and council facility services could be a good move. Some simple calculations suggest that the current system has a significant level of unfairness(the pensioners doing the heavy lifting theme is apparent). Moving to rating for provision of services to land and individuals etc makes sense and also has the potential to make the Whitsundays more fair free modern liveable etc. Whether the council can also allow for ability to pay or rates as a percentage of income which the federal government can with different tax brackets would be another good democratic fair sort of modernisation. Some questions could be is there any risk to councils because of the current unfair rating system and why do the above changes mention the property owner pays rather than the tenant or user and yet it says moving to a fairer user pays system? on Facebook Share Hi, While doing some calculations for the new recycling program I noticed that with all the new fees and changes to rates it could be worth recycling the rating system at the same time or at least starting on an improvement and as with the above moving to user pays. The state governments review about local councils did apparently mention aspects such as being able to use pay for access to services. So moving from the earlier logic of a block of land drives around and uses the water and sewerage system to more modern logic of individuals using the councils road, water, sewerage and council facility services could be a good move. Some simple calculations suggest that the current system has a significant level of unfairness(the pensioners doing the heavy lifting theme is apparent). Moving to rating for provision of services to land and individuals etc makes sense and also has the potential to make the Whitsundays more fair free modern liveable etc. Whether the council can also allow for ability to pay or rates as a percentage of income which the federal government can with different tax brackets would be another good democratic fair sort of modernisation. Some questions could be is there any risk to councils because of the current unfair rating system and why do the above changes mention the property owner pays rather than the tenant or user and yet it says moving to a fairer user pays system? on Twitter Share Hi, While doing some calculations for the new recycling program I noticed that with all the new fees and changes to rates it could be worth recycling the rating system at the same time or at least starting on an improvement and as with the above moving to user pays. The state governments review about local councils did apparently mention aspects such as being able to use pay for access to services. So moving from the earlier logic of a block of land drives around and uses the water and sewerage system to more modern logic of individuals using the councils road, water, sewerage and council facility services could be a good move. Some simple calculations suggest that the current system has a significant level of unfairness(the pensioners doing the heavy lifting theme is apparent). Moving to rating for provision of services to land and individuals etc makes sense and also has the potential to make the Whitsundays more fair free modern liveable etc. Whether the council can also allow for ability to pay or rates as a percentage of income which the federal government can with different tax brackets would be another good democratic fair sort of modernisation. Some questions could be is there any risk to councils because of the current unfair rating system and why do the above changes mention the property owner pays rather than the tenant or user and yet it says moving to a fairer user pays system? on Linkedin Email Hi, While doing some calculations for the new recycling program I noticed that with all the new fees and changes to rates it could be worth recycling the rating system at the same time or at least starting on an improvement and as with the above moving to user pays. The state governments review about local councils did apparently mention aspects such as being able to use pay for access to services. So moving from the earlier logic of a block of land drives around and uses the water and sewerage system to more modern logic of individuals using the councils road, water, sewerage and council facility services could be a good move. Some simple calculations suggest that the current system has a significant level of unfairness(the pensioners doing the heavy lifting theme is apparent). Moving to rating for provision of services to land and individuals etc makes sense and also has the potential to make the Whitsundays more fair free modern liveable etc. Whether the council can also allow for ability to pay or rates as a percentage of income which the federal government can with different tax brackets would be another good democratic fair sort of modernisation. Some questions could be is there any risk to councils because of the current unfair rating system and why do the above changes mention the property owner pays rather than the tenant or user and yet it says moving to a fairer user pays system? link

    Hi, While doing some calculations for the new recycling program I noticed that with all the new fees and changes to rates it could be worth recycling the rating system at the same time or at least starting on an improvement and as with the above moving to user pays. The state governments review about local councils did apparently mention aspects such as being able to use pay for access to services. So moving from the earlier logic of a block of land drives around and uses the water and sewerage system to more modern logic of individuals using the councils road, water, sewerage and council facility services could be a good move. Some simple calculations suggest that the current system has a significant level of unfairness(the pensioners doing the heavy lifting theme is apparent). Moving to rating for provision of services to land and individuals etc makes sense and also has the potential to make the Whitsundays more fair free modern liveable etc. Whether the council can also allow for ability to pay or rates as a percentage of income which the federal government can with different tax brackets would be another good democratic fair sort of modernisation. Some questions could be is there any risk to councils because of the current unfair rating system and why do the above changes mention the property owner pays rather than the tenant or user and yet it says moving to a fairer user pays system?

    dwhit asked over 6 years ago

    Hi dwhit, thank you for your enquiry. The Whitsunday Region is a large region with a relatively small ratepayer base and we therefore have to charge costs that will allow us to provide services to the community.

    Council strives to help its community grow and prosper and we are always striving to improve our system. Your rates payment is used to look after and build a better region, and provide services and facilities.  As a property owner, the money you pay goes towards the everyday maintenance and construction of new roads, street, parks, drainage, water supply, sewerage treatment works, waste removal and disposal facilities.  Council also funds community facilities including youth activities, economic development, tourism promotion, arts and cultural pursuits.

    Services such water, sewerage and waste are only charged to properties that are in those declared serviced areas. Our system already has some user-pays features, for eg. Waste collection and recycling collection utility charges are only applied on the Rates notice where these services are provided to the property. Commercial waste fees at landfill sites are charged per tonne and domestic residents pay for their share of this through the utility charge – most domestic waste brought in by ‘mums & dads’ is free to dispose of. Waste which costs Council less to recycle or dispose of also costs less for users to deposit at Council landfill sites. There are also discounts for pensioners which apply to most charges.

    The changes to the Trade Waste policy above mean that fees and charges for trade waste operators will be on a ‘user pays’ principal, and is measured by quality and quantity of trade waste per property. Sewerage fees and charges are levied to the property owner under the Local Government Act 2009, not the tenant, which is one of the reasons for the change in Policy. The trade waste policy will typically only apply to commercial properties discharging waste to sewer other than domestic waste. Trade waste is measured through either the main water meter, sub-meter or sewerage flow meter and Council is working with property owners and trade waste operators to make sure their devices are up to standard.

    Thanks,

    WRC Team

  • Share When is consultation/meeting for Cannonvale to be held? on Facebook Share When is consultation/meeting for Cannonvale to be held? on Twitter Share When is consultation/meeting for Cannonvale to be held? on Linkedin Email When is consultation/meeting for Cannonvale to be held? link

    When is consultation/meeting for Cannonvale to be held?

    quest2sea asked over 6 years ago

    Hello,

    At this stage, Council officers are meeting face-to-face with affected property owners and tenants and if you would like us to visit, please call us on 4945 0614 to arrange a time.

    If you would prefer to wait until the public information sessions, these are intended to be held in October, with final dates and locations to be advised. We will advertise here, in the newspaper and online once we have confirmed details.