The City will invest $560 million across key waste management, sewerage and water service programs in 2022-23 – almost one third of the entire $1.7 billion City budget.
This is made up of waste management ($121 million) and water/sewerage ($436 million).
Key areas include managing the city’s waste and recycling centres ($13.2 million) and operating the solid waste landfill sites at Stapylton and Reedy Creek ($12.7 million).
“Waste disposal makes up $63 million of the $121.8 million,” said Mayor Tom Tate.
“Waste collection is a further $22.6 million while City cleaning has a budget of $19.4 million.”
Key initiatives in 2022-23 include:
- Cleaning roads, malls, bikeways and oceanways – $4.3 million;
- Collecting litter from roads, beaches, parks and footpaths – $3.3 million;
- Service 3200 public litter bins – $3.2 million;
- Clean public toilets, barbecues and picnic areas – $3.2 million.
The City’s Water Services business has a budget of $288 million. This includes $207 million to purchase bulk water from SEQWater (State) and distribute it to every city customer.
In 2022-23, Council will:
- Upgrade and renew infrastructure – $20.2 million;
- Install smart meters (3200 meters in 2022-23) to assist customers to manage their water use – $1.7 million.
The Sewerage Services aspect of the business will cost $147.5 million in 2022-23.
Key works include:
- Upgrade, renew and construct infrastructure – $47.6 million;
- Upgrade Coombabah Sewage Treatment Plan – $10 million;
- Construct water treatment plant at Merrimac to produce Class A recycled water – $1 million.
“Our investments are focused on making City facilities more sustainable. The upgrade, renewal and construction of infrastructure will include advanced technologies that reduce our impact on the environment,” said Mayor Tate.
“The City will roll out new wheelie bins made from recycled plastic. Current bins are 35 percent recycled with the new bins to be constructed from up to 60 percent of recycled plastic. This will come at no additional cost to the City with the bins to be introduced from 1 July this year.
Other safety and sustainability projects for 2022-23 include:
- Safety – $500,000 to upgrade CCTV technology at WRC’s and landfill, including thermal detection capabilities enhancing the safety and efficiency of these assets for all users;
- Sustainability – $400,000 to implement an expanded commercial food waste program focussed on reducing organic waste to landfill for the hospitality sector in Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise;
- Sustainability – $100,000 to review and improve the public place recycling network;
- Sustainability – $2.5 million to develop an innovative water supply scheme to service existing recycled water customers in the northern cane lands after the Beenleigh Sewage Treatment Plant is decommissioned;
- Sustainability – $920,000 to continue the Recycled Water Network Expansion, enabling increased climate resilience and the enhancement of green spaces across the city;
- Sustainability – Establishing a $10 million fund (supported by a new $5 Recycling Utility Charge) to deliver future initiatives like community recycling hubs and programs, green organics drop-and-go sites and recycling infrastructure aimed at minimising waste to landfill.
- Open space/green space – $1.7 million to remove Luscombe Weir and revegetate stream, improving waterway health and increasing recreational usage opportunities of the Albert River.
