National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) State Affiliates provide an overview of industry and policy changes across the country.
NSW floods and impacts on waste management
Our thoughts are with the flood-affected residents and businesses in the north of New South Wales and across the river communities in eastern NSW.
These recent weather events have highlighted the vulnerability of waste disposal for Sydney, that currently relies on two putrescible waste landfills. With flooding and landslides closing the rail line to Woodlawn for over a week, great pressure was placed on Lucas Heights which received double the March record for rainfall.
While the waste industry and councils are very well placed with contingency plans and a general goodwill to help each other out of a tight spot, there has never been a situation in Sydney that has resulted in the widespread closure of transfer stations and significantly limited the ability of transporters to take waste to landfill.
NSW resource recovery framework
WCRA and our C&D waste group, along with WMRR’s C&D group, continue to work with EPA on the possible revocation of the resource recovery orders (‘RROs’) and exemptions for recovered fines.
At the same time, EPA has commissioned an independent review of the NSW resource recovery framework by Dr Cathy Wilkinson, with submissions due on Friday, 6 May 2022. WCRA welcomes this review of the NSW resource recovery framework by Dr Wilkinson. We understand the EPA needing to review the RROs for recovered fines and we support and have recommended some changes. What we find difficult to understand is why the EPA is intending to make substantive changes to the recovered fines framework, when these changes should be part of the review being undertaken by Dr Wilkinson.
WCRA, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Chain of Responsibility training
WCRA was recently awarded funding by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) for Chain of Responsibility training (CoR) in NSW and the ACT. The vast majority of WCRA members operate heavy vehicles and must comply with CoR regulations.
WCRA supports the NHVR and regulations that provide a linear system for managing all aspects of fleet operations including CoR and fatigue management. WCRA believes our members benefit from having a national regulator that manages the adherence to regulations and systems that are consistent across the country.
This funding will prove invaluable for WCRA members to further support their ongoing compliance and staff education in the management of their heavy vehicle fleets which will ensure better road safety outcomes. To enquire about this training please send an email to memberservices@wcra.com.au
WRIQ – Queensland
New Levy Rates, 1 July 2022
Queensland’s waste levy rates for 2022-23 have been published. From Friday, 1 July 2022, the existing levy zone will be divided into two new areas – metropolitan and regional. Levy rates within both areas will increase at different rates. [Information page]
Applicable event called for 22 Queensland councils
On 1 April 2022, Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning Steven Miles declared the rainfall and flooding event that occurred in South East Queensland in February and March 2022, to be an applicable event under the Planning Act 2016. This applicable event is effective from 4 April 2022 until 30 June 2022 and applies to 22 Local Government Areas.
As clean-up and recovery efforts continue across South East Queensland, these provisions may be relied upon to ensure the planning framework can respond appropriately to the ongoing impacts of this event. The event declaration also applies to Priority Development Areas identified under this event arrangement.
This facilitates Temporary Use Licenses applying to all DAs to assist with waste recovery. A temporary use licence (TUL) to change or vary existing development approval conditions or other operating constraints may be permitted in the circumstances. Further information is available here
Review of Transport Training Materials
The following TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS training materials are currently open for review this month:
TLI Mobile Crane Operations – Draft training materials are available to view and feedback is invited, closing Tuesday 26 April 2022.
TLI Driving Instruction – Final draft training materials are available to view and feedback is invited, closing Thursday 21 April 2022.
TLI Materiel & Deployment Logistics – Draft training materials are available to view and feedback is invited, closing Friday 6 May 2022.
More news from WRIQ can be found here.
WRINT – Northern Territory
WRINT welcomes Adam Gray as its new CEO. Adam will also continue in his role as CEO of WRISA and takes over from Rick Ralph, who is moving into the CEO role of NWRIC this month.
Adam has extensive experience across local government, private consulting and peak industry associations, specialising in waste and recycling, natural resource management and climate adaptation. He is looking forward to engaging with WRINT members over the course of this year and continuing the fantastic work the association has progressed during Rick’s time.