By KATH GANNAWAY
WESBURN Waste Transfer Station (tip) will have its opening times reduced to four days a week as from February next year.
The reduction comes after a failed bid by the Healesville community at the the Yarra Ranges Council meeting on Tuesday 10 June to keep the Healesville tip open.
Knox Transfer Station Pty Ltd agreed to let the council out of the remaining seven years of a 10-year contract to service the Healesville tip, in return for reducing open days at Wesburn.
Mayor and Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister questioned the rationale behind allowing Knox Transfer Station to dictate the terms of keeping Wesburn in the contract when the tip was privatised, but not accepting Healesville.
Only four submissions were made in relation to Wesburn – one in support of reducing open days on the basis it would help maintain viability, two against and one from a business wanting to assist with recycling programs.
Healesville Action Group’s John Anwin also questioned the original contract, along with the gradual reduction in opening hours at Healesville over a period of time.
“Is this the same strategy that is being used now to ultimately close Wesburn and will we be back in two years going through the same process for Wesburn?” he asked.
