Waste facility hours changing this weekend

Following a recent survey, opening hours will be changing at several of council’s waste facilities in line with community needs.

The survey, run through council’s Have Your Say, Central Highlands platform, attracted 107 responses from people in Bluff, Duaringa, Rubyvale, Springsure and Rolleston.

Most participants using the Rubyvale transfer station said they were happy with the current hours, while residents from the other towns requested some changes.

‘The survey showed most people would prefer the transfer stations to be open five days per week, however the majority were happy with three days as long as they are open for some time outside of standard business hours – in particular Sunday or Saturday morning,’ General Manager Communities John McDougall said.

‘So that’s what we’ve tried to achieve with the new timetable. We have also considered a petition regarding the Capella facility and changed its hours according to similar feedback.’

Mr McDougall said while the reviewed opening hours wouldn’t suit everyone, he hoped it showed council are listening and committed to finding solutions.

‘Since the Queensland Government reintroduced its waste levy in 2019, a lot has changed in an effort to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and increase recycling,’ he said.

‘Eighteen council waste facilities, including 15 unmanned sites, turned into 10 staffed facilities and five gated bin stations with local key access. Rather than pass the cost of these operational changes onto ratepayers, we decided to decrease opening hours at some facilities.

‘This is the third time we have consulted with our communities about the hours and we hope we’ve found a good balance between your needs, and our parameters as a business.’

From Saturday 18 September the below facilities will change to:

Bluff – Mondays and Thursdays 12.00 pm – 4.00 pm, and Saturdays 8.00 am – 12.00 pmDuaringa – Mondays and Thursdays 8.00 am – 11.00 am, and Saturdays 1.00 pm-  4.00 pmCapella – Mondays and Thursdays 8.00 am-12.00 pm, and Saturdays 8.00 am – 3.00 pm

From Sunday 19 September the below facilities will change to:

Springsure – Tuesdays  and Thursdays 8.00 am – 11.30 am, and Sundays 8.00 am – 4.00 pmRolleston – Tuesdays and Thursdays 12.30 pm – 3.30 pm, and Sundays 7.00 am – 12.00 pm

For all facility opening hours and downloadable calendars head here.