Orroroo Waste Transfer Station
**EXTENSION OF CONSULTATION PERIOD** to 15 MARCH 2023
Due to an oversight with the dates on the closure of the consultation period following the Goyders Line Gazette, this important consultation period has been extended to enable a greater opportunity for community participation.
The District Council of Orroroo Carrieton (Council) provides waste and resource recovery services to residents including kerbside waste & recycling bins, a recycling centre, and a small landfill and transfer station, at Orroroo.
It was identified that the Landfill requires investment to meet EPA licence conditions and improve the site to meet customer needs, customer safety and environmental expectations. These requirements would require significant additional operational and capital costs to Council.
To guide the decision-making process for the future use(s) of the site, consultants were commissioned to review the Landfill at a high level and identify options. Rawtec is one of Australia's leading consultancies in circular economy, waste and resource management sectors.
The Rawtec review was discussed at a Council briefing session on 2 November 2022 and formally considered on 25 January 2023. Options were presented and considered by Council including:
Option 1 – Improve Orroroo Landfill site and operations to meet full EPA license conditions. No fee for residents to use the site, operation as usual. Estimated annual costs $104,000.
Option 2 – Convert the Orroroo Landfill site to a transfer station. All waste to be removed off-site, cease landfill dumping. Gate Fees commensurate to neighboring councils to be charged per use to offset operational costs. Estimated annual costs $58,500.
Option 3 – Close the Orroroo Landfill site and provide alternative services to neighboring council transfer stations via rebate to ratepayers. No landfill or transfer station. Estimated annual costs $44,000.
Council considered the overall service to ratepayers when balanced against the overall cost of providing the service.
Option 2 was chosen as the preferred model by Council, this is consistent with the practices of neighboring Councils.
Gate fees are not yet determined, however it is relevant to note that Council have an intention of moving to a ‘user pays model’ with a cost recovery outcome.
Currently all rate payers that incur a ‘Waste Management Collection fee’ applied via rates notices are subsidising the cost of the landfill, within the $390 per annum charge.
Importantly, it is estimated that the Waste Management Collection fee will reduce by approximately $70-$100 per annum in your rates notice once new fees are adopted. Essentially this ensures that only those that use the transfer station site are funding the usage rather than all ratepayers that are receiving a waste service. Council may consider periods of free dumping of ‘green waste’ during the lead up to fire danger season.
The full Rawtec review and the subsequent Council report can be found on Councils website www.orroroo.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/1262483/Council-Meeting-Agenda-21-December-2022-Public.pdf (page 35 of the document).
Council continues to invite interested persons to make submissions to Council regarding the Orroroo Landfill throughout the public consultation period up until the COB 15 March 2023.
Communication can include written submissions titled ‘Transfer Station Consultation’ at council@orroroo.sa.gov.au or alternatively make an appointment with Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer on 8658 1260.
The consultation period feedback received will then be consolidated into an open public report for further consideration at a future Ordinary Meeting of Council.
PLEASE NOTE: There has been a ‘questionnaire document’ created separately from formal Council consultation period, in some cases this document has been returned to Council. This document is solely for the purpose of the ‘creator of the document’ and is not relevant to the ‘Council Endorsed Consultation’ process.