By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE’S Waste Transfer Station (tip) could be on the chopping block next year, following a decision at next week’s Yarra Ranges Council meeting.
The council’s agenda, posted online yesterday (Wednesday 19 March), lists a review of operations for the Healesville and Wesburn tips, with a proposal to close down Healesville’s facility as of February 2015.
The report cites significantly low numbers of paying customers over 2013, with 2718 as compared to Coldstream’s 41,926 and Wesburn’s 4535.
According to the report, the council will look at two options on Tuesday 25 March – to close down the Healesville tip as of 14 February 2015 while reducing Wesburn’s opening hours to four days a week, or to keep current services as they are, provided that visitor numbers don’t drop below current levels.
Healesville Action Group (HAG) member John Anwin criticised the council for not notifying residents before placing the item on the council’s meeting agenda.
He said that access to the tip had been difficult in recent years, due to it only opening on weekends, but losing the facility completely would have a negative impact on the town.
The council’s report lists the Coldstream facility as being 16 kilometres from Healesville – the same distance for residents in Belgrave and Monbulk to their closest facility.
The report also states that the council could save around $900,000 over the next seven years by ending its contract with Knox Transfer Station for the Healesville tip early.
If the council resolves at the coming meeting to keep the tip open, visitor numbers to the Healesville tip falling below the current monthly visitation level would result in a report being presented to the council and the facility closing.
If the option for closure in 2015 is endorsed by the council, the public would be notified by notices at the tip and at the council’s Community Link buildings.
Written submissions could be made for four weeks following the 25 March decision, should the sale be endorsed, with submissions reported back at a later council meeting for consideration.
For the full story, read next week’s Mail, and see the result of the meeting on Wednesday 26 March at mail.starcommunity.com.au.
