THERE was a minor backlash on social media to the Parkes Shire Council's decision to close the Parkes and Peak Hill tips to the general public; and those questions and concerns were addressed at this afternoon's council meeting.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council's general manager Kent Boyd responded to a request by councillor Bill Jayet to allay frustrations vented by some residents on social media.
"We don't close these facilities easily," Mr Boyd said during Tuesday's online meeting.
On Sunday, after the statewide lockdown was enacted, the council announced its decision to close the waste facilities in Parkes and Peak Hill.
That meant the tips would be closed to the general public, but open for receival of commercial construction and demolition waste, health and medical, aged care, hotel, and other commercial and industrial waste at normal operating hours.
Residential properties will still continue to receive their normal waste collection service from JR Richards this week, with both yellow (recycling) and green bins (organic waste) to be collected.
Mr Boyd said at the meeting that is was no simple matter to determine whether the waste facilities should remain open or not.
"The tip is a difficult one, there are a number of reasons why we chose to close.
"The lockdown orders are really there to encourage people not to leave home, so our discussions with police were around whether going to the tip is a valid reason to leave home to go to the tip.
"It's also about two, or more, people congregating, and if the tip was open to the general public that rule would be very hard for us to police and enforce," said Mr Boyd.
There is no definitive or formal direction from NSW Health or the police on whether taking domestic waste to the tip is a valid reason to leave home, so the decision was made to be safer, rather than sorry, after concerning results from recent Parkes sewage tests which detected traces of COVID-19.
Mr Boyd assured residents that regular household waste needs would still be looked after, and said that those outside the collection area could make appointments to go to the tip - although they need to ensure it was absolutely essential.
"Home collection service will certainly still continue which deals with immediate hygiene issues.
"To those outside the collection area we are allowing a booking service...however residents just need to be mindful whether it is a valid reason to go to the tip...you need to make your own determination on that," Mr Boyd said.
For those outside the roadside pickup areas in the 2870 and 2869 postcodes, appointments can be made through the Planning AND Environment Department on 6861 2321 to deliver your waste to the tip.
When booking please provide your name, address, nominated vehicle registration and contact phone number.
A time will be allocated for you to attend the Parkes Tip this week on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday or the Peak Hill tip on Thursday or Sunday.
This will be done in half hourly intervals to allow non-contact drop off and exit, and there will be a requirement for prompt adherence to your allocated time - or entry cannot be permitted.
Cash will not be accepted.
Remember, our entire state is in lockdown, and you should only be leaving your house if it is absolutely essential.
Let's all do our part to look after the entire shire of Parkes.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
Bookmark www.parkeschampionpost.com.au
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram