Pressure works! It was announced on Tuesday, 10 September, that the state government will make a welcome investment in Lismore City Council’s waste services, including the purchase of a fleet of new waste trucks, and apprenticeships for their ongoing servicing.

This is exactly what Councillors Vanessa Ekins and Adam Guise have advocated for, high quality council jobs and services which ensures Council money stays in the local economy. 

This investment is thanks to the sustained pressure from Councillors Ekins and Guise, the campaign of local workers in the United Services Union and the public outcry about increased waste charges.

The poor decision to privatise our waste collection services may be reversed, but does this resolve the distress over the 50% fee increase in waste collection charges for some 10,000 residents? Or the reduction in frequency of organics collection for parts of our LGA? Or charging of fees for recycling by rural residents?

To be clear, there is much that has not been said about our waste management and remains unresolved by the Krieg majority.

Our community has a right to know about and have a say in any proposed changes to the services they rely on. The changes made in confidential session without consultation are significant and mean Council’s adopted circular waste strategy has been put on hold. This strategy enables us to process our waste locally, producing compost and separating plastics, cardboard and glass into useful materials. 

Council led the way in reuse of crushed glass in asphalt for roads and as a base for laying pipes. Council was working with the Southern Cross University to process plastics into valuable pellets for remanufacturing. These innovative solutions to waste management deserve to be funded and implemented. 

This recent announcement vindicates Councillors Ekins and Guise standing up for our community, demanding transparency and accountability and opposing the privatisation of our waste services. When you vote in the coming days, consider choosing a Council that will be genuinely community focused, that values open discussion and consultation in decision making.

Council jobs by Council workers.

Vote 1 Greens for Council and Vote 1 Vanessa Ekins for Mayor.

Organised by Luke Robinson for the Lismore Greens