Charlotte Varcoe
THE final decision as to whether residents at Cape Douglas will be included in a mobile bin collection service is due to be made near the end of the financial year.
Recently, the District Council of Grant received a request for an internal review into its decision of implementing the service to residents in the area.
Last year council decided to impose bin collection services to be extended to the outer townships including Cape Douglas after the private service ceased.
A small number of residents expressed their concerns about the decision prompting a petition being presented to council and a S270 internal review was also requested.
The review discovered the initial decision was invalid due to not supplying the appropriate maps; however, it also determined the council was within its rights to make the decision overall.
During this month’s council meeting, Cr Megan Dukalskis questioned the overall price of the internal review – which was prompted by a resident in Cape Douglas.
District Council of Grant chief executive Darryl Whicker stated he believed it was between $8000 and $10,000 with the final invoice yet to be seen.
Elected members opted to continue the pause of the service until council discussed the final decision in its annual review.
Speaking with The Border Watch, Mr Whicker said the review found the decision was invalid primarily based on council omitting Cape Douglas in the mapped area.
“It also found council has the statutory power under the local government act to its community,” Mr Whicker said.
“The report outlined some areas for council to improve the administrative processes and we have altered the policy accordingly.
“One of the decisions made was annually, any expansions of the bin services will be encapsulated in consultancy with the annual business plan and budget which is where the expansion will be considered.”
He said other changes to the policy included the possibility of an invoice system rather than a statutory charge.
Other changes included providing council with the opportunity to expand bin collection services in emergency situations where it was not feasible for elected members to wait until the next financial year.
The final decision will be made leading up to the annual business and budget review.
