Toowoomba Regional Council's (TRC) Water and Waste Committee have recommended the inclusion in the Waste Infrastructure Plan 2020 of a new Tier 6 Waste Management Facility at Bowenville.
The Committee also recommended that funding for construction of the new facility be considered as part of the annual budget process.
TRC Water and Waste Committee Portfolio Leader, Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the previous landfill at Bowenville was closed in 2012.
"Since then, there have been issues with excessive dumping at the skip bins at the rest stop at the entrance to the township and at the Bowenville Reserve and Campground located on Bowenville-Norwin Road," Cr Sommerfield said.
"To alleviate further dumping problems, the Water and Waste Committee has recommended the development of a Tier 6 facility, and I know this decision would be most welcomed by the local community."
Cr Sommerfield said if approved by Council, the new facility would be constructed on top of the previous Bowenville landfill site.
"The site of the old landfill is currently unused and requires rehabilitation," Cr Sommerfield said.
"Development of the Tier 6 facility would involve some of the work required for permanent rehabilitation.
"The costs of servicing the new Tier 6 facility would be offset by a saving in the current skip bin rental and servicing.
"The site would be reprofiled and prepared for use by the community as a small transfer station.
"A new Tier 6 waste management facility would deliver environmental benefits to the area and offer better opportunities for recycling.
"The creation of a new Bowenville site would also help maintain Council's high service level with 98% of the Region's population within a 20-minute drive of a waste management facility.
"Our new facilities provide a cleaner and tidier waste solution for the community with the waste stored on pavement and transported to landfill locations offsite.
"As a region, our communities have embraced the need to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill.
The recommendation of a new Bowenville facility would build on our Region's culture to 'reduce, reuse and recycle'."
Cr Nancy Sommerfield moved, and Mayor Paul Antonio seconded the recommendation of the Water and Waste Committee:
- That Council approve the amendment of the Waste Infrastructure Plan 2020 to include the development of a Tier 6 Waste Management Facility on the Bowenville landfill site; and
- That funding for construction of the Waste Management Facility is considered as part of the annual budget process.
The Water and Waste Committee recommendation will be considered at Council's Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday, 15 December 2020.
