Delivering a cleaner, greener future

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has looked to the future in its 2011/12 Budget, continuing a strategy for responsible environmental management.

Environment and Community Services portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill said the budget built on a sound foundation for protecting and enhancing the way of life of the region's residents.

"As well as our green initiatives, the budget allows council to improve and replace equipment in the City Safe monitoring room, as well as upgrade an exterior CBD camera," he said.

"The City Safe program has proven itself time and again as a vital component in helping stamp out anti-social behaviour on our streets, ultimately protecting residents and visitors to the area. And we're eager for this program to continue."

Cr Cahill said council was looking to give shoppers better access to CBD parking by continuing the use of electronic Vehicle Detection Units (VDUs).

"It is a more effective method of monitoring problem areas in the city and our trials have shown the use of VDUs leads to improved vehicle movement which, in turn, frees up parking spaces for our shoppers.

"Better regulating our inner city parking, continuing our focus on animal management and maintaining the safety of our residents through the City Safe program might not grab the headlines, but they're all part of the fabric of maintaining a quality of life that we enjoy in the TRC region."

Cr Cahill said council would continue to put money into community development and immunisation programs as well as projects that entertain and engage the region's youth.

He said a workable and consistent Waste Management scheme was essential for the whole region, and it should be developed with the close participation of the community.

"We need to get this process right and that is why $16.4 million had been assigned for managing refuse collection and waste disposal, reuse and recycling in this year's budget.

"Many residents will be aware that the State Government, through the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has become increasingly active in regulating Local Government environmental activities," Cr Cahill said.

"We will be working and consulting with the general public to create the best-possible proposal that minimises the impact to the community."

Cr Cahill said from December 1, 2011 the State Government strategy requires council to collect and return to the state a $35/tonne waste disposal levy that will apply to commercial waste disposed of at council's waste disposal facilities. Uniform gate fees will be introduced at sites where the levy is to be collected.

"Waste management is a very apt description of the process," Cr Cahill said. "Long gone are the days where you just backed the ute up to the nearest hole, pushed everything in and then went on your way.

"It's why they're no longer called dumps. In these modern times, we need to address how we manage our waste as a resource, with disposal as a last resort.

"In accordance with the state's waste management strategy, gate fees will be based on a user pays/polluter pays principle and, in addition to the State levy, will reflect the true costs of waste facility operations, including future capital works.

"And, as difficult as some of these decisions might be, through public consultation we're confident of producing the right plan for a better, cleaner future. We owe it to our children, our grandchildren and the generations beyond."

Capital Works budget:

• Upgrade and rationalisation of waste disposal and handling facilities         4,707,098 (total)
• City Safe (replacement of equipment)                                                                64,683
• Animal holding facilities                                                                                     17,559

Operational budget:

• Youth                                                                                                    183,421
• Civic Assets General                                                                        3,029,780
• Civic Assets Parking                                                                         1,245,377
• Community Development                                                                   501,724
• Community Support                                                                             526,944
• Animal Management                                                                          1,105,433
• Environmental Health                                                                         2,299,351
• Immunisation                                                                                      202,633
• Conservation & Pest Management                                                     2,871,394
• Refuse collection                                                                                8,330,031
• Waste Management                                                                           8,086,527