Mayor Ruddock urges state government to support sustainable waste management

Reading a Mayoral Minute, Mayor Ruddock spoke of how he attended the Sydney Metro Mayoral Waste Summit, aimed at tackling the pressing challenges currently facing local governments in managing community waste. There he heard how concerns remain high of a looming waste capacity crisis by 2030, with analysis undertaken for the NSW Government showing that substantial additional landfill capacity, numerous organics processing facilities and effective transport options are all required within the decade.

Mayor Ruddock spoke of how there needs to be a whole-of-government approach to tackling this issue.

“Local government alone will not solve this fast-looming crisis and it is time to get all three levels of government dedicating the required attention and actions to ensure our communities waste is adequately managed,” said Mayor Ruddock.

“We invite our fellow Sydney councils to work collectively with us to reduce waste, improve environmental outcomes during waste processing and finding sustainable solutions for residual waste.

“We also urge the NSW Government to support us by investing the revenue from its waste levy for council and industry initiatives that accelerate the transition to a circular economy, build the waste infrastructure needed to meet the growing pressures of population growth, loss of landfill capacity and a lack of competition in the sector, and educate and support communities to reduce waste.”

A major concern for local councils is the NSW EPA’s mandate to introduce a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service for residents. However, insufficient organics processing capacity and uncertainty around rollout timelines pose significant hurdles for councils, resulting in $4 million-$8 million for implementation of the new service.

The Waste Levy imposed by the NSW Government generates approximately $800 million in revenue annually, with only seven per cent allocated to waste management services, and most of the funding going to other state government services.

Read Mayor Ruddock’s full Mayoral Minute at hornsby.nsw.gov.au.

Also at the meeting, Council allocated funds for its Community Event Grants Program, which provides seed funding to deliver sustainable local community events. The Berowra Fauna Fair and 2077 After Dark launch event both received grants of $3,000 each. Council will facilitate grant workshops to improve community groups capacity in applying for future funding, as well as advertise an additional Place Activation funding round to enable new, eligible groups to apply.

Also at last night’s meeting, Council:

• Received and noted the Councillors’ Expenses and Facilities Policy.
• Received and noted the Investments and Borrowings (Pre-Audit) Report for 2022/2023.
• Approved the classification of land acquired for road widening on the corner of Bridge Road and Peats Ferry Road, Hornsby as “Operational Land” and dedicated as Public Road.
• Approved the classification of Lot 1 DP 105284 being 45 Jersey Street, Hornsby classified as “Operational Land”.
• Endorsed to facilitate the delivery of public road widening, footpath and drainage works at John Road and Franklin Road, Cherrybrook.
• Received and noted Clause 4.6 of the Hornsby Local Environmental Plan 2013.
• Endorsed the Draft Voluntary Planning Agreement - 7 City View Road, Pennant Hills Road Planning Proposal to be placed on public exhibition.
• Considered a Notice of Motion regarding Nos. 1-3 Johnson Road, Galston.

The full agenda of the meeting, along with details of each item discussed, can be found at hornsby.nsw.gov.au. The video recording of the meeting will be available from tomorrow afternoon.