WATTLE Range Council is looking at various dumping options in a bid to cut its annual $500,000 fee to use the Caroline dump near Mount Gambier.
Chief executive Ben Gower said it might be more cost effective to use a dump over 330km away near Murray Bridge or establish a new dump at Greenways in association with other regional councils.
Mr Gower floated the possibilities during a strongly worded six-minute presentation on Tuesday night to the Mount Gambier City Council which owns the Caroline dump.
Along with Wattle Range mayor Des Noll, Mr Gower formed a delegation which protested an anticipated $35,000 rise in fees set to be imposed the City Council in the New Year.
Wattle Range has used the Caroline dump for several years and ever since the EPA directed the Canunda dump to be closed and this occurred in 2011.
In his address, Mr Gower said the Caroline dump levy was set to rise to $190 per tonne.
“The cost increases have triggered Wattle Range Council to look at alternative options,” Mr Gower said.
He said an alternative site at Murray Bridge could be $100 per tonne cheaper but without transport costs factored in.
“There is a national competition policy in place whereby government agencies cannot make profits from providing services to the community,” Mr Gower said.
Councillor Christian Greco asked Mr Gower if Wattle Range and other councils would be prepared to assist the City Council with a $2m repair bill if a cell were to crack at the Caroline dump.
In reply, Mr Gower said such a situation should be covered by the City Council’s asset management and risk profile which applied to that site.
Serving councillor and former Mount Gambier Mayor Steve Perryman was an apology from the meeting but sent a lengthy statement which was read out aloud.
Mr Perryman estimated the new charges which were decided by the City Council last month would amount to $14,000 for Grant District Council per year.
“It’s chicken feed in comparison to the risk the City Council holds and chicken feed in the context of the Wattle Range Council annual budget.
“I estimate it to be less than 0.2pc of their annual budget and should easily dealt with via a quarterly budget review, like all South Australian councils do for minor changes.
“In essence, Wattle Range Council has made a strategic decision to palm off the liability and responsibility of dealing with waste to a private contractor and the City Council.
“Now they want to try and exert influence on City Council’s management of the costs and risks.
“If Wattle Range Council were a partner, they would have contributed millions of dollars in capital to build the Caroline Landfill to the strict EPA requirements and shared the burden of the regulation and compliance that come with it.
“But they have not provided a single cent, the cost of this has been borne solely by the ratepayers of Mount Gambier.”
The meeting also heard from Grant District Council chief executive Darryl Whicker and councillors also considered a written report from its own chief executive Andrew Meddle which was also highly critical of the dump fees decision taken last month.
After a few minutes of debate, the meeting decided to hold a workshop on the dump fees issue next month and then make a decision at its February monthly council meeting.
Speaking to The South Eastern Times after the meeting, Mr Gower welcomed the City Council vote to defer the dump fees decision.
“It means they can run a workshop and get as much information as possible,” Mr Gower said.
“I hope the neighbouring councils of Wattle Range and Grant will attend if an invitation is extended.”
