BASS COAST SHIRE COUNCIL WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2015 – 2025 Version: 1.0 Date of issue: August 2015 Prepared For Bass Coast Shire Council 74 McBride Avenue Wonthaggi Prepared by Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd 18-38 Siddeley Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Acknowledgement Bass Coast Shire Council wishes to acknowledge the community’s generous contribution of their time to the development of this report. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background Bass Coast Shire is the fastest growing local government area in Gippsland with the resident population of about 30,000, increasing to over 70,000 during peak holiday periods (www.forecast.id.com.au). The area also attracts visitors to Philip Island Nature Parks and the Motor Cycle Grand Prix and is well renowned for its special natural environment, with eco-tourism opportunities and major motorsports events attracting millions of visitors every year. The generation of waste is expected to increase in the future in line with projected population increases, which has been predicted to rise to approximately 45,000 by 2031, an increase of approximately 42%. This, coupled with a number of identified waste management challenges and issues provides significant drivers for consideration of a new waste management strategic direction and sustainability initiatives across the Shire. Purpose The Waste Management Strategy (WMS) has been developed as part of the commitment Bass Coast Shire Council has made to provide sustainable solutions for the collection, disposal and resource recovery from waste generated within the community. The Strategy’s main purpose is to guide the management of waste over the next 10 years, 2015 - 2025. The WMS will form the basis of waste management planning, including waste technologies, infrastructure, education programs, and collection and recovery services, i.e. whole of waste cycle. The strategy has been developed in consideration of the needs of the municipality as well as regional and Victorian waste policy objectives as a whole. This is not a Waste Management Plan whereby specific actions to be undertaken are documented, rather the WMS identifies strategic outcomes to be achieved and suggested options to work towards achieving those outcomes. Bass Coast Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2025 ii Final July 2015 WMS Development The development of the WMS was a collaborative approach between Bass Coast Shire Council and the community, with support from specialist waste management consultancy Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd (ERM). It has been undertaken in the following stages with a strong focus on community engagement: Process Stage Details 1. Project scope Proposed scope of works, roles and responsibilities and data requirements were finalised. Preliminary key waste management issues were identified to be considered in the development of the WMS. 2. Develop Community A Community Consultation Plan was developed to provide the opportunity for identified Consultation Plan. key stakeholders as well as general community representatives to participate in the development of the WMS, prior to its drafting, as well as post draft development. This approach is consistent with the Metropolitan Waste Management Group WMS template. It is considered that early community involvement is more meaningful as it allows for the identification of issues early in the project so that they are addressed in the development of the WMS. 3. Develop Long Term Consistent with current federal, state, regional and municipal strategies and policies, a Vision and Objectives. position paper articulating Council’s long term waste management vision and objectives was developed. These formed the basis of the WMS as the strategic outcomes and suggested options were tailored to the proposed objectives. 4. Review Current Waste Available current waste data was reviewed and tabulated to assist with its interrogation Information. to provide a profile of waste management across the municipality and highlight data gaps, potential areas of concern or issues, as well as areas of potential opportunities. Comparisons with similar municipalities and state information were undertaken to identify similarities or otherwise, and to assist with identifying areas where waste management services/facilities is considered to be adequate and where potential improvements can be made. The review included an assessment of the Bass Coast Shire Council provision of services and facilities in consideration of the recently implemented Victorian waste policy “hub and spoke” model (Sustainability Victoria, 2013). 5. Develop preliminary The Preliminary Strategic options document was developed after a review of current options document. waste information completed in Stage 4. It documented current waste management practices, services, facilities and performance, considering waste generation, diversion, and contamination rates, trends, and comparisons to similar municipalities. It highlighted identified issues and data gaps. Preliminary strategic outcomes and suggested options were developed in consideration of the Victorian government strategy, Council long term vision and objectives, as well as potential economic, social and environmental implications. This document was used as a basis for community consultation. Bass Coast Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2025 iii Final July 2015 Process Stage Details 6. Community Public consultation was undertaken by Bass Coast Shire Council consultant, ERM, with Consultation. support from Bass Coast Shire Council representatives in consideration of the agreed consultation plan. It is noted that there were divergences from the agreed plan, such as increased number of information sessions and continued liaison with community members past the agreed timeframe for consultation to ensure that the community concerns and ideas for improvement were included for consideration in the draft WMS. Information was sought from identified stakeholders, including residents, local organisations, government agencies and private waste contractors, on their key waste management issues and their thoughts on the vision/objectives and strategic outcomes/suggested options. 7. Draft Waste The draft WMS was developed in consideration of the works that were conducted to Management Strategy date, importantly the feedback provided by the community. Updates to the vision and development. objectives, key issues, strategic outcomes and suggested options were made. 8. Draft Waste Formal presentations provided to Internal Reference Group and Council prior to their Management Strategy approval to finalise and present for adoption at Council. The Community was provided Review the opportunity to view the draft WMS on Council’s website four weeks prior to the Ordinary Meeting of Council. It is noted that this is a divergences from the agreed plan by not going out to the community for a full second round of community consultation. It is considered all strategic issues have been identified. 9. Waste Management Finalised and presented to Council for adoption, and to commence implementation. Strategy In an endeavour to develop a Strategy that addresses the expectations of the local community with respect to the waste management strategic vision, input from the local community and key stakeholders was considered essential. Community consultation was undertaken prior to the development of the draft WMS to identify waste management key issues important to the Shire community; businesses and community organisations. The final draft document was then placed on Councils website and sent to targeted stakeholders prior to adoption by Bass Coast Shire Council. Bass Coast Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2025 iv Final July 2015 Vision and Objectives The Council’s long term waste management vision and objectives have been informed by relevant federal, state, regional and municipal policies, strategies and plans and the overarching waste hierarchy. The vision and objectives provide the long term direction of waste management for Council and form the basis for the development of the 10 year WMS. Strategic outcomes and options (suggested) were developed in consideration of, and to work towards, these objectives. The outcomes and options provide a framework and strong, clear direction for Bass Coast Shire Council and the community to strive for best practice waste management. The vision is: To reduce the impact of waste generation on Bass Coast Shire by using innovative approaches to: reduce waste generation; increase reuse of waste; increase resource recovery from waste; and, dispose of residual waste such that environmental, social and economic impacts are not to the detriment of future generations. Objectives are: • Provision of waste management services and infrastructure to community, residents and businesses to meet their needs as efficiently and equitably as possible, in a financially, socially and environmentally responsible manner; • Support the provision of waste management services and infrastructure by private companies to meet the needs of the community; • To reduce the carbon footprint of Council’s waste management facilities and services; • To engage, educate and support the community to responsibly, sustainably and innovatively manage waste generated, recognising that waste management is a shared responsibility between government, industry and the community; • To be compliant with applicable legislation and guidelines such that best practice is achieved at all