Solid Waste Levy | Recycling Inquiry | Productivity Commission Inquiry Workshop No Images? Click here Vol 4: Issue 14 - Tuesday 25 June 2019 This has been a difficult week for our sector, with a massive State Government tax hike sprung on councils as many were finalising next year’s budgets. However, it’s been encouraging to see how local government has united to oppose this cost shift to SA ratepayers. As a sector we have a huge platform and voice, and we need to continue to speak up about emerging issues that will impact on our communities. The LGA will be taking every opportunity to let South Australians know that they will be paying more State Government tax through their rates, and we’ve produced a summary of the impacts on our website. I would encourage you to use this information as you speak to your own communities about the Levy, and what it will mean for them. LGA President Sam Telfer Solid Waste LevyIt’s been almost a week since our sector was blindsided by an unprecedented – and unjustifiable – 40% increase to the Solid Waste Levy. Since then we’ve learned that most of the extra $8.5 million that South Australian ratepayers will pay through the Levy will go to the EPA, and to fund the Environment Department’s renewal of Adelaide beaches. We also confirmed that even though councils will contribute $42.5 million to the Levy next financial year, they will only be eligible to share with the industry in $2.5 million of waste and recycling grants. Last week the Minister spruiked the benefits of the Waste Levy on radio, claiming it has forced councils to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. However, over the past five years the amount of municipal waste sent to landfill has only decreased 7%, despite a whopping 148% increase in the Levy. This reduction in landfill is much more likely to be the result of other measures such as all metropolitan councils introducing the three bin system, increased waste education programs and a greater focus on recycling and recovery. The Levy increase will not fix the recycling crisis we’re facing, and will not produce more sustainable waste management outcomes for our communities. Every council in South Australia has been consulting with their communities about every aspect of their budgets and working hard to deliver some of the lowest rate increases in recent years. Meanwhile the State Government was working behind closed doors to increase this stealth tax by 40% - with no consultation and no warning... Councils are already facing an extra $8.8 million per year in waste and recycling costs as a result of China’s National Sword Policy, and it’s disappointing that the State Government is adding to this burden with unnecessary increases to the Solid Waste Levy. Parliamentary Recycling InquiryIt’s astounding that the latest increases to the Waste Levy come in the midst of a Parliamentary Inquiry into Recycling that will consider – among other things – whether the Government has provided councils with adequate support in response to China’s National Sword policy. The LGA has prepared a draft submission to this Inquiry, and we are currently seeking feedback from councils to inform our final submission. This feedback is due by 28 June. We’ve also produced a Waste Action Plan that outlines the actions we think are necessary to stabilize the waste industry, ensure the ongoing commercial viability of recycling services, and establish a circular economy. Some councils may want to make their own submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry, and this document includes information that may be helpful. You can download our Waste Action Plan here. Productivity Commission Inquiry WorkshopThe Productivity Commission is currently consulting on the proposed methodology for their Inquiry into local government costs and efficiency. As part of this consultation process we’ll be co-hosting a workshop at LG House on Monday 1 July, where representatives from the Commission will provide an overview of this methodology, and answer any questions you may have. The LGA has engaged Dr Joseph Drew from the University of Technology Sydney to review the Commission’s proposed methodology, and he will also be available to provide advice regarding the technical terms in the paper, and any ramifications for local government. The feedback we receive at this workshop, as well as submissions on our issues paper, will help inform the LGA’s sector-wide submission on the methodology. Feedback is due to the LGA by Friday 5 July. Please RSVP to attend the workshop to Rebecca Muller at rebecca.muller@lga.sa.gov.au by this Wednesday 26 June. June LGA Board MeetingWe held our June Board meeting in Adelaide last Thursday, and some of the key outcomes included:
The full minutes of this meeting should be on our website by the end of the week. Vale Councillor BaylyI was saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Councillor Geoff Bayly last Tuesday. Geoff was elected to the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula in 2014, and was an outgoing and involved community member. He was passionate about his region and its people, and will be missed by the elected members and staff at DCLEP, as well as his friends and family. My thoughts and prayers go out to them all. For further information or to submit |