Challenge Recycling Contract
The TRRRA is a non-profit association whose charter is to represent to Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) and other government bodies on behalf of TRC residents on matters that affect their interests by any person, organisation or government body.
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The below comments are made as a matter of public interest to assist Tamworth Regional Council in its decision making.
Reference is made to the community concerns raised about the Challenge recycling contract Challenge Community Services (Challenge) had been a subcontractor to Cleanaway that collected the recyclables from kerbside and delivered to the Forest road facility. The contract with Cleanaway had been at a per bin rate of $0.37 per bin (this equated approximately to $85 per tonne).
Contamination of recyclables in the yellow bins after sorting had been running at about 12 per cent, and those contaminated recyclables had to be dumped into landfill. Currently it seems that some of the recyclables are dumped in landfill without any sorting since cessation of the contract.
The recycling processing contract saw no conforming bids being submitted and Challenge was requested to provide pricing for kerbside processing from TRC. The pricing by Challenge was for processing at $170 per tonne. The previous subcontract with Cleanaway had been for $85.
Challenge was advised that TRC was seeking other pricing to determine if the Challenge pricing was current and viable.
Challenge has explained the recycling sector has undergone substantial changes in the last three years, firstly with China announcing that it will no longer accept recycled material for processing.
Following that, the market for crushed glass bottles virtually disappeared and now the bulk crushed glass is dumped in land fill while a small proportion goes into road base.
In conjunction with that was an acceptance that the plant and equipment at the Challenge site on Forest Road had to be upgraded as it was aged and subject to breakdowns and inefficiencies.
Related to that were emergence of work health and safety issues related to aging equipment.
Challenge Business Services of which their recycling operations are a substantial part, is operated on a cost recovery basis so is intended to be a breakeven. However over the last financial year 2021, the operations made a $1.2 million loss, and that situation is unsustainable.
The increase of the proposed processing charge was required to be increased from $85 per tonne to $170 per tonne a 100 per cent increase. This increase was attributed to cover significant increases in workers compensation, insurances and wages. It is estimated that this would add $22 per annum to house hold garbage collection costs.
Challenge has said that they are not necessarily in the recycling business, but they are in the business of finding secure employment for disabled people.
Challenge Recycling in Tamworth employs 30 to 35 people that has proved to be a reliable and stable work force. It provides secure employment for people with a disability, who otherwise might find it difficult to secure regular work in open employment.
Negotiations with TRC are now apparently revolving around TRC taking over the Challenge Recycling Centre, with some conjecture that less than six people with the additional of modern equipment could do the processing.
Challenge owns the site at the entrance to the Forest Road Waste Facility. TRC seems to be negotiating with Challenge to potentially secure ownership of their recycling site and plant. This is apparently being undertaken from a position of taking advantage of the economic duress resulting from the loss of the recycling contract. If that is the true situation, it is discreditable conduct and reflects poorly on TRC. TRC has community obligations.
There are other ways to deal with community waste. For example in Fukuoka Province in Japan, all rubbish is put into six different containers. These are collected and processed, and a minimal amount of that waste goes into landfill.
The most concerning feature of this current situation is the loss of employment for 30 to 35 people with a disability who have the opportunity for employment, to be more independent and to contribute to society.
TRC is urged to commence good faith negations with Challenge. TRC is requested to cease engagement in the conduct that they are currently pursuing.
Tamworth Regional Residents and Ratepayers Association
Barnaby's restaurant
"Generally how restaurants work is you go in and have a menu and they have what's on the menu for lunch and what the price is, that is how a competent decision is made and that's what we're looking for. What's on the menu and what the price is."
If that is the way it works for Barnaby Joyce, I have to ask about the Dungowan dam upgrade.
It seems that the menu choice was made but the price has changed from $150 million to $484 million and that is before the kitchen even starts cooking.
A tripling of the price represents competence eh?
Andrew Brown, Nundle
Woeful advocacy
Less than a week ago the following was the headline - "Slay the zombie PELs: Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson stands by his calls for zombie PELs to be canned" preempting the NSW Nationals Strategic Statement on Gas which declared that petroleum exploration licences (PEL's) will be retained on our great Liverpool Plains food bowl.
During the May 2021 Upper Hunter by-election deputy premier John Barilaro, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson and the now newly minted Upper Hunter MP were resolute about protecting the Liverpool Plains. So keen we're they to assuage community concern in the northern parts of the Upper Hunter electorate that they paid out Shenhua Watermark Coal suggesting that "mining on the Liverpool Plains will be prohibited, full stop" and booths in the Liverpool Plains stuck with Mr Layzell. These areas will be under the jurisdiction of the Electorate of Tamworth after the 2023 election.
Now Liverpool Plains communities have to continue the fight and suffer the uncertainty of their future because the government cynically retained PEL's that are detrimental to our great Liverpool Plains food bowl on the advice of their donors - Santos Ltd. You wonder what our democracy will look like in the future - written, authorised and spoken by Santos Ltd for the National Party, Sydney.
Sadly I don't think our Tamworth MP or his new counterpart from Upper Hunter have truly stood for anything except themselves. Where is the ubiquitous Agriculture Minister and their fearless leader Barilaro? What woeful advocacy from the former farmer's party. The footnote: You have to stand for something or fall for anything.
Mark Rodda, South Tamworth
Zombie PELs
The NSW government's decision to kill off the majority of the state's so-call zombie gas licences is welcome ("Rich farmland still open for exploration", 23/7).
But sadly, the Future of Gas Statement leaves rich farming land in the Liverpool Plains open for exploration. Not only are farmers concerned about the risk to farms and water, but the director of Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association NSW, Ashley Wells, claims the decision will lead to higher gas prices. Wells goes on to say that to ban a "safe" industry like gas doesn't make sense.
Gas is a fossil fuel which when extracted and burnt produces greenhouse gases and is a major contributor to climate change.
The World Health Organisation has deemed climate change to be the "greatest threat to global health in the 21st Century." Wells has a funny definition of safe.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Vic
Frustrating lack of action
Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has now apologised for Australia's slow vaccination rollout.
The PM ,also in relation to the unfortunate vaccine roll out matter, has stated "But what Australians want from me now is to make up the ground. I take responsibility for the problems we have had and also take responsibility for the solutions we are putting in place".
If only our Prime Minister could convey to the people of Australia a similar message as detailed above regarding his frustrating lack of action regarding human induced climate change.
Our Prime Minister's long, and still delayed, response to human induced climate change, stands out internationally.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank, South Australia