A TUMULTUOUS couple of months between Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) and Challenge Community Services has come to an amicable end.
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At a meeting this week, Council has formally told Challenge it will explore other options to provide kerbside recyclable processing for the region.
Issues sparked between the two organisations over an unresolved contract and ended with Challenge chief executive Peter Maher questioning whether "highly contaminated" recycling that ended up in landfill was in fact contaminated at all.
Now, the pair has resolved to work together to explore other employment opportunities for staff at the disability support service.
Making sure ratepayers' money was spent effectively was of utmost importance throughout the decision-making process, TRC water and waste director Bruce Logan said.
"We believe pursuing other options at this time is the most financially responsible option," he said.
Challenge and TRC agreed that any other employment opportunities would need to meet the expectations and requirements of both parties, including financial sustainability.
Mr Maher said Challenge's priority is and always has been to ensure that all the staff involved in the recycling facility continue to be employed.
"We are also keen to ensure that the family of workers can continue to work together where possible," he said.
"Many of the staff at the recycling facility have been together for a very long time and have formed very strong bonds."
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The meeting was attended by Mr Logan, Mr Maher, TRC general manager Paul Bennett, mayor Col Murray and Challenge general manager Richard Hardwick.
Cr Murray said the goal was to cement a future direction for the two organisations.
"Working alongside organisations such as Challenge is highly important to council," he said.
"I look forward to seeing what opportunities the future holds for us to work together and service our community."
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