Operation Clean Up
As a result of the recent Christmas and New Year severe weather events on the Gold Coast we are ramping up OPERATION CLEAN UP.
We have a mammoth task ahead with damage to a significant number of areas across the city.
Operation Clean Up is the City's response to clean up the devastating storm and flood damage that has occurred to so many Gold Coasters.
It will include kerbside pick-up or skips depending on how affected your area is.
There will also be grants for eligible residents.
Please DO NOT mix any other waste with your green waste.
We ask that only those who are storm affected take advantage of this service to allow our teams to focus on those most in need.
A website will be available shortly to provide all these details and more.
Please be patient as we continue to work through cleaning up the city.
Please continue to use your green organics bin for small green waste.
Visit one of our Waste and Recycling Centres to dispose of larger waste items.
Delayed Issuance of Rates and Water Notices
As part of the City's cohesive response to the significant storm and flooding events that have impacted the Gold Coast over the last week, we have made the decision to delay the distribution of the next round of rates and water notices.
The details of these distribution delays are as follows:the next planned water billing will be delayed by 2 weeks – water notices that were due to be issued 8 January 2024 will now be distributed on 22 January 2024.
The next planned rates notices will be delayed by 2 weeks – rates notices that were due to be issued on 22 January 2024 will now be distributed on 5 February 2024.
We are conscious of the effect that the recent weather events has had on ratepayers, if you are experiencing difficulties in paying your notice by the due date, you are encouraged to contact us to discuss payment options.
Mosquito Management
Following recent extreme weather events, elevated numbers of mosquitoes are being experienced across the City.
Storms, rainfall, elevated tidal inundations and hot weather have provided ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
In response, we will continue aerial treatments of mosquito larvae, as well as scheduling ULV misting programs for suburbs affected by increased mosquito populations in the coming weeks.
Our Pest Management Technicians are also checking and treating all known mosquito breeding areas throughout the City on a daily basis.
Further areas will be scheduled as we assess mosquito populations and weather conditions.
An alert has been added to the City's website.
You can protect yourself from mosquitoes by:
- Limiting your time outdoors around dawn and dusk
- Applying mosquito repellents regularly
- Wearing loose fitting, light coloured protective clothing when outdoors
- Screening doors and windows or using mosquito nets or air-conditioning.
- Using mosquito coils.
You can help prevent mosquitoes breeding on your own property by:
- Disposing of all water-holding containers in your yard
- Emptying flower vases, pot plants and other containers which hold water, at least once a week
- Ensure house gutters are kept free of leaves and they drain freely, leaving no pools of water in low points
- Screen all openings to tanks, wells or other large water containers with wire gauze, not coarser than 1 millimetre aperture mesh.
Normal waste collections
Please put your bins kerbside the night before as our waste collection services will operate from 5am. The weather has affected our waste collections and service routes.
Due to impacted roads, there is no guarantee we can attend to missed bin collections until your next service days.
Waste and Recycle Centres
The following facilities currently have extended opening hours of 6am to 6pm
Pimpama Green Organics Drop and Go
Molendinar WRC
Reedy Creek WRC
Reedy Creek Landfill
To assist with the severe weather clean up:
Residential customers disposing of green waste, and general waste load size restrictions are currently relaxed.
All charges for commercial customers disposing of green waste at the City's Waste and Recycling Centres (WRCs) and landfills are currently waived.
All charges for commercial customers disposing of spoiled food waste at the City's WRCs and landfills are currently waived.
Waste Levy Disaster Exemption
Commercial customers disposing of disaster-related wastes at WRCs and landfills can advise the City weighbridge officer that their load is storm-related and no State Waste Levy charge will be applied. Note that the disposal fee component of charges will still apply.
Residential customers are not directly charged the Waste Levy when they dispose of waste at the City's WRCs and landfills as this is charged by the State directly to the City.
The State Waste Levy disaster exemption means that the City will not be charged the Waste Levy for the extra volumes of wastes produced by residential customers due to the storm impacts, meaning that there are no levy exemption-related savings associated with the exemption that can be passed onto the City's residential customers via Rates Notices.
Safety
Roads across the city are still impacted.
Please DO NOT disregard Road Closed signs, as this could prove life threatening.
We are in the process of assessing the roads to ensure they are safe for you to drive on – and if it's flooded, forget it.
For your safety, please avoid visiting public spaces that have been impacted by fallen or damaged trees and stay away from any debris as a result of the severe weather.
Do not allow your children to play on or near any parks or playgrounds near fallen or damaged trees and supervise them at all times.
To report any fallen, damaged trees or debris please report it through the Report a Problem City App.
Facilities
Due to impacts from the severe weather events the following facilities are closed:
Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium.
Beaches and waterways
Gold Coast beaches are now open, with the exception Tallebudgera Creek beach.
We continue to ask everyone to avoid waterways such as creeks and rivers due to poor water quality and large amounts of debris following the severe weather.
There is a strong link between rainfall and flooding events and the health of our waterways. If the water looks at all discoloured or smells bad - don't swim.
Community Recovery Hubs
Community Recovery Hubs are a place where residents experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support.
