Waste plan just another cost

This policy driven by metropolitan needs has been forced on country ratepayers.

We have been given lots of information about how great it is going to be, but no discussion about the cost.

I understand that with our small population and infrastructure of four towns to maintain, our rates are high.

Average rates in Sydney are $1500. My rates here in Finley are $3000. Soon to be $3150 with the new organics waste levy.

On top of this increase you need to add an extra cost of taking plant matter to the recycle centre at $13 for private and $24 for business for a small trailer load.

Compared with most city dwellings, one of the pleasures of living in a small rural town, like ours, is that we have large yards, many with the traditional quarter acre block or larger.

We have trees, shrubs, rose gardens and creeping vines. All of these will need pruning and cutting up into small pieces to fit into the organic waste bin, and for many of us the prunings will not fit.

We will be forced to pay the new charge to utilise the green waste dump, or to burn it or find alternate dumping sites.

Last Sunday I was at the Finley recycle centre and had a discussion with council officers about the impending new changes/charges.

I mentioned the impact on landscape gardeners and their businesses.

The response was “they can pass the additional costs on to their customers”.

These customers are generally older people on pensions, unable to do their own gardening. Another hit for those people who are facing financial pressure.

I know these policies are driven by state and federal politics and that compliance determines council funding.

We should not be bullied into accepting policies which may make sense in metropolitan areas that account for 90 per cent of the population, but do not make sense out here.

Even with the mantra of “it’s for the environment”, the fact that the green waste is being trucked 140km to Echuca, makes this a very environmentally unsound policy.

Yours etc.

Michael O’Leary

Finley