REPAIR works to two of Gunnedah’s vital waste management facilities have been given the green light by Gunnedah Shire Council.
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Councillors voted on the proposed funds at Wednesday’s May council meeting and decided to allocate more than $35,000 of funds for repairs to the Gunnedah Waste Management Facility and Recyclit.
The first of the two proposed repairs discussed by council was $11,715 for Recyclit which is leased by Gunnedah Workshop Enterprises, to attend to the facility’s roof, which had been damaged by a hail storm in November 2017.
Included in the funds was works to install new polycarbonate roof sheets that since installation have become brittle and damaged due to the hail storm and the adding of harness points to ensure the works could be carried out.
Cr Owen Hasler questioned the motion during the meeting, inquiring if it was possible for the repairs to be covered by council’s insurance policy.
“What I am wondering is, does it have to be classified as a natural disaster for council’s insurance to cover the costs,” Cr Hasler said.
“Simply put, I am asking if it’s necessary for council to pay for the repairs.”
The question was then answered by council’s director of corporate and community services Colin Formann who told the meeting, the costs were to be covered by council due to excess on council’s insurance policy.
“As it currently stands the excess on council’s insurance policy is $10,000,” Mr Formann said.
“So when weighed up with the cost of the repairs it has been resolved that drawing the funds from the budget instead of through insurance is beneficial.”
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Deputy mayor Gae Swain spoke in favour of allocating the funds.
“I think it’s appropriate we allocate the funds and get on with the repairs,” Cr Swain said.
“I personally wouldn’t want to work in an environment that could be potentially inundated with water, not that it appears likely with our current weather.”
The remaining $24,000 of repair funds was allocated to the Gunnedah Waste Management Facility for works to repair the site’s weighbridge.
A calibration of the weighbridge in November last year found that the cells on the weighbridge were twisting and pulling the electrical cables that provide the weighbridge weights and functions of the ‘TipSite Systems’ computer.
According to the business paper, council states the contractor undertaking the calibration advised that there is a “real risk” that these cables will break, resulting in the weighbridge not being able to function at all.
Council’s director of planning and environmental services, Andrew Johns told the meeting the works would help ensure the weighbridge’s future.
“From what I have been told the life span on the current system has been 15-years,” Mr Johns said.
“This upgrade should allow for at least another 10-years based on that.”
Cr Rob Hooke told the meeting he thought the repairs were essential.
“I think these works are necessary,” Cr Hooke said.
“They will be vital for the future of this essential facility.”
Funds for the repairs will be taken from council’s 2017/2018 domestic waste management budget.