A GRANT district elected member has described a response by State Environment Minister David Speirs to concerns over the skyrocketing solid waste levy “as airy-fairy.”
This follows council writing a letter to Mr Speirs expressing its opposition to the 40pc hike in the solid waste levy.
A handwritten note by Mr Speirs on the official letter was also described as a “snide remark” at this week’s council meeting.
The note suggested council should put effort into reducing waste to landfill rather than “just passing motions.”
“Words on paper do nothing to halt or reverse our waste challenge,” the handwritten words said.
Speaking at the meeting, Cr Shirley Little – who initially raised issue in council – described the letter from Mr Speirs as a “very airy-fairy” response to what the council wanted to know.
“They are getting extra money, but are they going to give the council any extra money to deal with the rubbish?” Cr Little questioned.
“I think it is a standard reply to our letter and that is the end of it.”
The letter asked the minister to justify the massive increase given the government’s rate-capping agenda.
This hike will be charged on every tonne of rubbish dumped at landfills across the region.
This means it will affect every council as well as potentially businesses and ratepayers.
Council has been critical of money from the solid waste levy being used to cart sand to Adelaide beaches.
Cr Barry Kuhl said the letter did not mention the government spending money on coastal protection in Adelaide from “our waste levy.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Richard Sage suggested it appeared minister did not like the point about the coastal protection Adelaide works.
“That’s why we got a snide remark back,” Mr Sage said.
Cr Little suggested in the near future that council hold a workshop on the rubbish issue.
“On television there are a lot of ads and they have pink, blue and green bins. We do not have it here and it is given people the wrong impression what you put into what bins,” she said.
“I would like to have a workshop with the staff so we can come up with something and they (the government) can give us some more money.”
Cr Little also told the chamber that Roxby Downs had solved its rubbish problem by burning waste.
“I think there is a lot more to this and they (the government) are wiping us off.”
Cr Brad Mann also revealed an Adelaide council was developing a $12m recycling processing plant.
“They are going to run it themselves and make money out of it,” Cr Mann said.
Deputy Mayor Gill Clayfield also added to the debate revealing Scotland was making road base from recycled plastic.
“It is only in it first stage, but they are actually using all plastic rubbish and making it into roads,” Cr Clayfield said.
“They believe it will last 10 times the length of time that bitumen lasts.
“People are looking for solutions all around the world. I think Shirley is right, we need to be looking at it locally too.”
