The organisers of the annual Coffs Harbour industry event have responded after the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) announced plans for a new conference in NSW next April.
WMAA CEO Martin Tolar says that he met with Impact Enviromental Consulting (IEC) shortly after starting in post in September to explore WMAA’s future participation in the Waste 2016 conference and exhibition, with the aim of increasing benefits for the association and its membership.
In a statement from WMAA, Mr Tolar said: “A large number of WMAA members over the years have made significant investments, both in terms of time and money, into the NSW Coffs Harbour waste management conference in the belief that they were supporting WMAA and the waste and resource recovery industry. Unfortunately, this was not the case as almost all of the profits generated by this event have been retained by a commercial entity.
“When I became the CEO of WMAA in mid-September, one of the first meetings I had was with the organisers of the Coffs Harbour conference, with a view to striking a better outcome for WMAA members and the industry as whole. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached, and following a suggestion from the conference organisers, we have decided to hold our own event,” he added.
WMAA has now confirmed it will run a new event, the WasteNSW 2016 Conference, which will take place between 27 and 29 April at the Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley. Mr Tolar highlighted that this “will be run by the industry for the industry”, with all profits generated invested for the benefit of members.
The Waste 2016 conference and expo at Coffs Harbour is scheduled for 3 to 5 May.
“We have plans to re-engage in the policy debate across the country, unveil an industry accreditation program and improve our communication channels,” added Mr Tolar. “All of this takes resources and, without maximising revenue opportunities when they arise, then WMAA will not be in a position to provide the level of service members have come to expect from the industry’s peak body.”
Managing Director of IEC, Greg Freeman, said that he is “shocked” about WMAA’s course of action following years of a “cooperative and collegial relationship” between the two organisations. As such, he emphasised that IEC was keen to reach a resolution.
Mr Freeman traces the origins of the Coffs Harbour conference back to when IEC founded it in 1996, at which time there was no other industry-wide conference being held in NSW. From 1996 until 2009, the Coffs Harbour City Council was a major beneficiary of the event, due to its cooperation and support.
“Since 2010, an agreement has been in place between IEC and the WMAA for the latter to receive a percentage of the profits from the Coffs Conference. This agreement is in place until 2017,” said Mr Freeman.
“IEC is dismayed and disappointed that WMAA would endeavour to organise a competing conference one week before next year’s Coffs Conference with no advance notice and in violation to our existing agreement.”
Mr Freeman highlighted the fact that it provided no preferential treatment in terms of exposure or presentation for any industry participant was one of the great strengths of the Coffs Harbour conference, adding that IEC was proud of its history and support from industry stakeholders.
Mr Freeman confirmed that IEC has written to the WMAA Board to explain the position and request the cancellation of its proposed Hunter Valley event.
“It is worth noting that IEC is a member of the WMAA and, as 20-year veterans in this industry, continue to seek to promote and advance all of the interests of the sector,” stated Mr Freeman.
“IEC has an agreement in place with the WMAA. Our aim is to engage with the WMAA to progress the arrangement beyond 2017. In the meantime, IEC will continue to work hard to ensure that Waste 2016 is as successful as possible,” he concluded.
Details of the new WasteNSW 2016 event can be found on the WMAA website.