Review of festivals helps minimise rising recycling charges

30 July 2018

Kingston Council has reviewed its annual Festivals program in an effort to reduce costs passed on to residents following rising recycling costs.

Council was facing a $31 per household increase in recycling costs next year due to instability in Australia’s recycling industry caused by changes to the type of material China will accept for recycling.

Mayor Steve Staikos said Councillors did not want to pass on the full $31 increase to ratepayers and had instead reviewed the Festivals program to make significant savings.

“In order to save $400,000, Council will be making changes to our annual festivals program,” Cr Staikos said.

“We’ll still be presenting our signature events – the Mordialloc Food, Wine and Music Festival, Carols by Kingston and our Australia Day breakfast for the community to enjoy and making these events even bigger and better. However our less attended events in Carrum and Clayton will not proceed this year and we will also make savings by combining a number of smaller-scale events.”

“Instead of two volunteer appreciation events we will now host one and we will also combine two Kingston Charitable Fund events into one.”

“These savings will allow us to cover $6 per household and only pass on a $25 increase in recycling fees, which is much lower than some other Melbourne Councils are facing.”

As part of the Festival changes, the Carols by Kingston event will be held at Bicentennial Park in Chelsea in 2018.

“Our annual Carols event is much-loved and I’m sure South Ward residents will embrace the event in their neighbourhood this year,” Cr Staikos said.

Council will trial the amended festivals program over the next 12 months and then review how to proceed in future years.