Council backs bulk rubbish pick up for residents

Townsville residents will save a trip to the tip with council’s Water and Waste Committee yesterday voting to call for tenders to carry out a bulk rubbish collection across the city in the 2017/18 financial year.

Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said the initiative would deliver on an election commitment.

“I’m expecting a big take-up of this service that hasn’t been offered in Townsville since 2005,” Cr Hill said.

“This was a promise I made to residents and I am very pleased to be able to deliver on it.”

The tender will be separated into portions to account for some of the city’s remote locations, with interested providers asked to tender for all or part of the contract.

It will cover all properties that currently receive waste and recycling collection on a suburb by suburb basis.

Some rural suburbs, including Rollingstone, Cungulla, Alligator Creek and Nome, will be provided skip bins given the average lot size and distance between homes.

Committee chairman Cr Paul Jacob said the kerbside collection, to occur during the dry season, would provide a convenient service to residents.

“Many residents don’t have access to a trailer to dispose of their own bulky rubbish or are elderly and simply can’t make the trip themselves,” Cr Jacob said.

“There’s also a need to be properly prepared for cyclones and the kerbside collection is a way to reinforce that message and remove potential hazards from neighbourhoods.

“From an environmental perspective, it ensured we dispose of those large, unwanted household items responsibly.”

Separable portions will include:

• Magnetic Island
• Northern Beaches communities including Balgal Beach, Toomulla, Toolakea and Saunders Beach
• The provision of skip bins at prominent locations to service areas of Rollingstone, Cungulla, Alligator Creek and Nome
• Remaining properties within the defined waste and recycling collection area divided by suburbs

Today’s committee recommendation will go to the full council on November 22 for approval.