Sarah Oliver
Moorabool could be seeing changes to the way waste and resources are handled by council in the coming years.
The council approved to release the development of the waste and resource recovery strategy 2030 to the community for consultation and feedback at a meeting on February 2.
With the population of Moorabool expected to grow to 72,000 by 2041, this strategy is designed to prevent pressure put on existing services and infrastructure.
In its agenda, council said: “The new strategy explores innovative, circular and local approaches to waste and resource recovery and will undertake community engagement to gauge levels of appetite for implementing creative and cost-effective ways to tackle the waste challenges we all face”.
“The strategy recognises a shared responsibility between council and the community, and all members of the community play a vital role in the management of waste.
“Council needs to provide ongoing education and behaviour change campaigns that empower the community to make informed decisions that avoid unnecessary waste.”
Residents have taken to Facebook to express their frustration with rubbish dumping in the area.
“Has anyone noticed the rubbish being dumped on the corner of School Lane and Bacchus Marsh-Geelong Road,” one resident wrote.
“It is an absolute disgrace, I have [rang] the Council and they are monitoring it…I am so sick of people thinking we are a dumping ground. What is happening to our town?”
“(Rubbish dumping) is happening a lot,” another wrote.
“Hard rubbish collections would be so much more helpful, environmentally friendly and cost effective. Not to mention another persons trash can sometimes be others treasure.”
Examples of actions to achieve within the strategy include options and costing of mandated services (separate FOGO and glass bins), help residents with hard waste disposal, review operations of transfer stations and educational resources including on littering and illegal dumping.
Community consultation will occur at a later date and run for four weeks.
