Council calls for greater State Government support for regional waste

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At its Council meeting on 17 March 2022, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council considered a decision regarding a procurement process conducted by South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd (SEMAWP), of which the Shire is a shareholder alongside 14 other local government authorities.

The report and attachments about this decision remain confidential under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act 2020. However, Council resolved to release its decision and publish additional information as permitted over the coming weeks.

Council Decision

Moved: Cr Dixon

Seconded: Cr Bissinger

That Council:

  1. Refuses to commit to the South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd (SEMAWP) procurement process under the proposed terms and timeframe and defers any further decision on this matter for no less than 3 months.
  2. Requires the CEO and Mayor to advocate and inquire why the State Government is not prepared to underwrite a regionally significant waste project.
  3. Requires the CEO to reasonably investigate the risks associated with an unsighted waste contract for a 25-year term and unknown liability.
  4. Writes to all shareholders and board of SEMAWP highlighting Council’s significant concern with the procurement process and request a delay to the tendering process pending the provision of additional information and a response from the State Government.
  5. Resolves that the report and confidential attachments to this report remain confidential as they relate to matters specific under section 3 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act 2020.
  6. Resolves that this decision remain confidential under section 3 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act 2020 until the Council decision is disclosed via the Mayor.
  7. That the disclosure includes limited background information on the project as permitted.

Carried unanimously.

Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh

“As a regionally significant waste project, we expect the State Government to address the substantial risks to ratepayers and provide legislative certainty for the future of alternative waste.”

“A commitment to the current procurement process would have exposed the Mornington Peninsula Shire and its ratepayers to unacceptable financial risk and would have been reckless.”

“We are calling on our fellow SEMAWP shareholder councils and the board to delay the procurement process to facilitate the supply of critical information and a thorough assessment of the risks to councils.”

Background

Mornington Peninsula Shire announced last year it had joined 14 other councils in Melbourne’s south east to form a company to deliver an advanced waste processing alternative to landfill.

The aim of the company – South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd (SEMAWP) – is to help councils deliver an advanced waste processing facility that will process household rubbish instead of burying it in landfill.

Advanced waste processing facilities are regulated by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA). Any facility will need to be appropriately located, constructed and operated according to strict regulations that minimise risks to the environment and people.

Advanced waste processing solutions will play a significant role in achieving the new target to divert 80% of household rubbish from landfill by 2030.

/Public Release. View in full here.