Pottinger Not Convinced By Waste Minimisation Plan

Council’s capital programme for the fourth quarter of the 2021/22 year was the largest on record, but its waste minimisation plan has been labelled a complete failure.

A report to council’s risk and assurance committee last week outline a net operating surplus of $7.9 million as a result of revenue from Government subsidies for capital projects.

Manager of strategy and policy Rhiannon Suter told the committee that the 68% delivery of its capital programme was the largest ever by the ICC, and that was an achievement in itself.

But Cr Ian Pottinger questioned the implementation of the Waste Minimisation Management Plan, (WMMP), and said WasteNet – who oversees solid waste in the province, hadn’t met since June 2020, and that was a risk in itself.

The WMMP that was formed in June 2020 was now non-compliant with the Waste Minimisation Act, because of its failure to consult under its guidelines, he said.

Councils are required to review and consult on its waste minimisation plan every six years.

The committee heard waste costs rose by $700,000 in 2021/22, with an increased volume of waste going to landfill.

“It’s called a minimisation plan, we seem to be operating under a maximisation plan,” Pottinger said.

Council staffer Steve Gibling said the Waste Minimisation Advisory Group had met in April, because of the WMMP, and had engaged with the Ministry of Environment on the matters the council has raised.

A report would be brought to the infrastructural services committee on the assessment of the 2020 process, “so at least there is a process in place.”

“What I see is a massive failure and this committee is about dealing with failures, and this shouldn’t have occurred, because you have an Act that you go through all the stages.

“No-one takes responsibility and these are the things that have happened because of that,” Pottinger said.