By JESSE GRAHAM
WESBURN’S Waste Transfer Station may have its hours dialled back to four days a week with three weeks left for the public to comment on the proposed change.
Yarra Ranges Council is advertising its intention to change the hours at the tip following a decision at its 25 March meeting.
The proposed reduction of hours at the Wesburn tip was part of a review of operations for the tip and its Healesville counterpart, with the council advertising its intention to close the Healesville service.
A council officer’s report lists dramatically lower visitation to both the Healesville and Wesburn tips when compared to Coldstream, with 3824, 6619 and 56,753 visitors last year at the respective services.
However, despite both Healesville and Wesburn’s attendance being a fraction of Coldstream’s, the report lists the Wesburn tip as around 31 kilometres from Coldstream, emphasising the need for it to continue.
Councillor Jim Child voted in favour of the hours reduction and said that, while it was a hard decision to make for his ward, there had been poor attendance at the tip.
“We’re taking a hit, to go back to four days, but I agree with the officer’s report that it is the trend,” he said.
“The times I’ve been up there, it’s been quiet.”
He said that it was important for the tip to continue running because it services an extremely wide area.
“Just looking at the O’Shannassy Ward, it’s the largest ward in the municipality – the other eight wards would fit into it!” he said.
Cr Child said it is not yet clear what days the tip would be open as a result of the reduction but he said the days would be chosen to maximise attendance at the tip.
As of Tuesday 1 April, three weeks remain to make public submissions on the proposal to reduce hours at the Wesburn tip and to close the Healesville tip.
Information on making submissions and the proposed changes will be advertised at the Wesburn tip site and at the council’s Community Link offices.
