Coffs Harbour City Local Government Area has long had the reputation of being a bad neighbour to the Clarence Valley - this month it proves it once again

 

It doesn’t take long when discussing life on the ground during low rain periods along the Clarence River for the conversation to turn to Coffs Harbour City’s historical rapacious attitude when it comes to accessing Clarence River catchment water.

In 2023 we may be muttering about Coffs Harbour 'greed' again as Winter approaches and the Bureau of Meteorology May 2023 ENSO Outlook remains at El Niño WATCH - Braylesford and Newbold in the Clarence Valley are already listed as "Drought Affected" parishes on NSW Dept. of Primary Industries' Combined Drought Indicator mapping. 

Now it seems Coffs Harbour wishes to also gain a foothold within Clarence Valley landfill sites - as yet another lazy option to its long-term problems.

Coffs Harbour City 'red bin' solid garbage
IMAGE: ABC News, 10 May 2021

It appears that Coffs Harbour City Council sitting on a local landfill problem for at least two decades, has run through the goodwill of Nambucca, Bellingen & Tamworth and, finding the current landfill charges in south-east Queensland no longer to its liking, has decided that the Clarence Valley is the next best place to dump its unprocessed garbage.

At the Clarence Valley Council Ordinary Monthly Meeting on 18 April 2023 councillors unanimously vote to defer a decision until the outcome of the meetings proposed by Bellingen Shire Council for a regional waste solution are known.

However, Coffs Harbour continues with its approaches via the media.

The National Tribune, 11 May 2023:

City of Coffs Harbour is to ask the neighbouring councils of Clarence Valley and Nambucca Valley to allow access to their landfill sites for the City’s red bin waste for the next 4 years.

The City has processed the yellow and green bin waste for Bellingen and Nambucca Shires since 2007 and will continue to do so until the end of the current waste contract in 2027.

“Our neighbouring local government areas all have landfill sites that can accommodate residual red bin waste for decades to come,” said Andrew Beswick, the City’s Director Sustainable Infrastructure.

“In the meantime, our own waste facility is near capacity and we are having red bin waste trucked 3 times per day, 6 days per week to Queensland.

“The City would therefore welcome neighbourly assistance with accepting up to 15,000 tonnes each of the City’s residual red bin waste for the 4-year period ending June 2027. The City is offering payment for this service.

“We’re all interested in discussions over a regional plan for waste management after 2027, but the City’s immediate issue is the disposal of its red bin residual waste for the next 4 years.” …...

NSW parliamentary committee calling for submissions to the Inquiry into the response to major flooding across New South Wales in 2022

Northern Rivers Times, 14 April 2022:

A parliamentary committee is calling, for submissions into an inquiry into the response to major flooding across New South Wales recently.

In particular, the inquiry will consider the preparation, coordination and response to the flooding experienced on the North Coast and in Western Sydney.

Committee Chair and Shadow Minister for the North Coast, the Hon Walt Secord MLC, stated: ‘The floods we have seen on the North Coast and in Western Sydney over the last few weeks have been devastating on local communities. A parliamentary inquiry was established to examine concerns raised by local communities about the adequacy of support and resources available to them.’

The Chair continued: “The committee encourages all interested stakeholders, including affected communities, organisations and experts, to share their experiences and views on the response to flooding across the state as this will help us to consider lessons for the future.”

In particular, the committee is seeking views on the:

• preparation, coordination and response by government agencies to the floods

• role, composition and resourcing of key government agencies involved in the flood response

• coordination between various stakeholders including the state government, federal government, local governments, private sector organisations and the community

• public communication, systems and strategies

• implementation of recommendations from inquiries into previous natural disasters

• overall effectiveness of the flood response.

Submissions close 8 May 2022 and can be lodged online.

[my yellow highlighting]

The committee will also be reaching out directly to local communities to encourage participation given that many people may be disconnected from the internet or otherwise may not have the resources to make a submission.

The Chair said: “We are aware that people in the most affected regions may be without services and are understandably focusing on rebuilding. For this reason, we are making every effort to liaise with local, state and federal members as well as local community groups to ensure that as many people as possible can contribute to the inquiry if they wish and as they are able.”

The committee will also hold public hearings on the North Coast and in Western Sydney, providing an opportunity for local communities to contribute directly to the inquiry.

[my yellow highlighting]

For information on making a submission please see the committee’s website and the terms of reference for the inquiry.

While the personal stories of those directly affected by the floods will be valuable to the inquiry, it is important to note that the purpose of the inquiry is to make recommendations to the government.

If you have a question about how you can make a submission or contribute to the hearings, please contact the committee secretariat on 02 9230 3067 or email floods@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

Click on image to enlarge

Select Committee Membership

Chair: Walt Secord, (ALP, LC Member)

Deputy Chair: Mark Banasiak, (SFF, LC Member)

Members:

Scott Barrett, (NAT, LC Member)

Catherine Cusack, (LIB, LC Member)

Cate Faehrmann, Cate (GRNS, LC Member)

Rod Roberts, (PHON, LC Member)

Penny Sharpe, (ALP, LC Member)

• Resolution establishing the committee - 23 March 2022

• Terms of reference - Response to major flooding across New South Wales in 2022