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.
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| 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.” …...
