Items of Interest – Wednesday 15 May 2019

Council today approved a recommendation made by the Traffic Advisory Committee to reduce the number of taxi parking bays on Byrnes Street Mareeba. The number of taxi parking bays will be reduced from eight to four, removing two outside the Priceline Pharmacy and two opposite the Post Office Centre. The advisory committee determined the eight bays were never all occupied by taxis and would be more beneficial to the general public.

IN the leadup to the 2019-20 budget, Council adopted the scheduled of waste fees and charges. While the increase to Council’s fees and charges are minimal to meet cost recovery, the Queensland Government is introducing a waste levy which Council is obliged to collect and hand over to the State.

An advanced payment from the State Government will subsidise kerbside wheelie bin collection and self-hauled domestic waste taken to the transfer station. Domestic waste excludes bulky items, recycling waste, E-waste, regulated waste and scrap metal.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Alan Pedersen explained, “If you are renovating at home and want to dispose of concrete and building waste, you will be charged the additional State levy of $7.50 per 100kgs at the gate, which is a mandatory fee payable to the State Government,” he said.

“The State is imposing this levy in a bid to reduce waste going to landfill and encourage recycling.

“Council reminds residents that illegal dumping against the law and there are penalties in place for those found to be doing the wrong thing,” Cr Pedersen concluded.