More than 60 councils from across NSW have issued a united call for the State Government to guarantee fuel supplies for garbage and waste collection services, warning shortages and rising costs could soon disrupt basic operations.
The concerns were raised at a meeting convened by Local Government NSW President Mayor Darcy Bynre, who said councils across the state are already under pressure as fuel distribution issues intensify.
“Councils across NSW are gravely concerned that without a guarantee of fuel supply, garbage services will be disrupted in coming weeks and months,” Mayor Byrne said.
“That’s why we have today called with one voice for the NSW Government to commit to supplying the fuel we need to deliver basic services.”
The meeting also proposed that any fuel cost increases faced by councils for waste collections be subsidised using waste levy funds, which councils pay to the Government. This year, councils and landfill operators are expected to contribute almost 900 million dollars in waste levies statewide.
Mayor Byrne said those funds currently flow into consolidated revenue and should instead be reinvested to help offset soaring fuel prices and protect communities from service disruptions.
Concerns were also raised about the effect fuel shortages could have on other council services, including cemeteries, community events and infrastructure projects, particularly those funded under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
