Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
Moved by Councillor Forster, seconded by
Councillor Chung -
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
Cleansing
Operations is among the City’s largest and most complex frontline services with
approximately 230 staff operating across three depots servicing more than
700,000 runs across the local government area each year;
(ii)
the
service includes servicing city streets and civic spaces, street litter bins
and removing illegal dumps (non-booked) and hazardous waste;
(iii)
service
levels across the local government area are designed to balance service
outcomes against available resources, however these service levels are flexible
and can be adjusted based on factors including spikes or changes in demand, for
example, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic;
(iv)
between
January and November 2019, the City received 15,740 reports of illegal dumping,
which increased 62 per cent to 25,537 reports between January and November
2020;
(v)
a
further breakdown of the City’s data by village shows illegal dumping in areas
with more transient populations in east Sydney, Redfern and Glebe accounting
for the majority of complaints;
(vi)
to
combat illegal dumping the City’s Waste Education team works and engages with
the community on more responsible and sustainable waste practices;
(vii)
the
City also offers a free ‘book a pick-up’ service, which provides residents with
an unlimited number of pick-ups and removal of bulky household waste items.
Demand for this service increased by 31 per cent in 2020;
(viii)
the
City also has multiple rapid response crews operating in each area to
immediately respond to high priority or urgent requests. These requests are
generally closed off within 24 hours;
(ix)
over
the past few weeks my office has received an increasing number of complaints
about illegal dumping in the Darlinghurst area with some reports of waste
remaining on the street for multiple weeks; and
(x)
my
office has also received feedback that illegally dumped rubbish is only dealt
with once it has been reported by residents and that the City could be more
proactive in addressing this issue; and
(B)
the
Chief Executive Officer be requested to:
(i)
increase
illegal dumping patrols in the Darlinghurst area and identify illegal dumping
hotspots; and
(ii)
investigate
and identify additional proactive actions that the City can implement to ensure
illegal dumping across the local government area can be minimised and is dealt
with in a timely manner.
Carried
unanimously.
S129260
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 09/08/2021
Date of decision: 09/08/2021
Decided at meeting: 09/08/2021 - Council
Accompanying Documents: