New era for Magnetic Island waste management
Date published: 18 February 2016
Magnetic Island’s world class environment will be a big winner when the Townsville City Council ushers in a new era of waste management on the city’s tourism icon in early March.
All waste will be transported from the new transfer station on West Point Road to the mainland from March 7 as part of the council’s waste strategy for the island.
The announcement comes after the council’s latest survey of the island’s Picnic Bay landfill in February showed the facility had finally reached its capacity after 28 years of operation at the current location.
Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said the transfer of waste to the mainland was the culmination of years of planning by the council and the local community.
“The closure of the Picnic Bay landfill and the transfer of waste off the island is a significant milestone for the island community and for council,” Cr Hill said.
“At the opening of the transfer facility in October we anticipated that the landfill had six months space left, and Council’s senior staff have advised that the latest survey has shown that there is virtually no space left to take any more waste.”
Deputy Mayor and local council representative Vern Veitch said closure of the landfill and the transportation of waste and recyclables off the island was a win for the community and the environment.
“This is a great result for the council and local residents, and marks a new era for waste management on the island,” Cr Veitch said.
“Magnetic Island is located in the World heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which makes it unique and a wonderful asset for our city.”
Water and waste Committee chairman Cr Ray Gartrell said the completion of the Magnetic Island Waste Facility at West Point Road late last year meant the infrastructure was in place for transfers to commence to the mainland.
“Years of planning and consultation with the local community have gone into the island’s waste strategy and council’s waste services are ready to roll with the first shipments to the mainland,” Cr Gartrell said.
“No further waste will go into the Picnic Bay landfill, and the council will be undertaking on going works over the next few years to cap and rehabilitate the site.”
All waste on the island will be taken to the new waste facility and transported along with recycling in containers to the mainland in four shipments a week totalling an estimated 280m3.
The transportation costs are estimated at around $350,000 annually and will be funded from the Waste Services operational budget.
Transporting waste for the balance of this financial year is expected to cost an estimated $100,000.
