Councillor Adrian Cameron has been proactive this year in getting answers from Council on issues he feels Council have been silent on, and the upcoming December 18 meeting is no different, with two questions put to Council.
His questions and responses are as follows:
Q: “At the October 23 2025, YVC Meeting, during discussions on Item 6.6; approximately 1.12.20 on the video recording, the following comment was made in reference to the previous Yass Valley Council Sustainability Advisory Committee: ‘I saw… this committee, in the last term, with no disrespect, as a means to undermine the Councillors and the elected body. “This is an unsubstantiated allegation, which now forms part of the record of the meeting. It was also used in support of the motion to remove that committee from the current term of Council. “How can this unsubstantiated allegation be corrected and/or removed from the official record of that Council meeting?”
A: “The purpose of the requirement to publish recordings of meetings on Council’s website is to promote transparency and ensure accountability to the community for the content of debate and decision making at meetings. Recordings of meetings should not be censored to remove content that others may disagree with or object to. Content may only be removed from recordings where compelling grounds exist, for example, where the Council has received legal advice that the content is potentially defamatory and may leave the Council legally exposed.
“The Minutes of the 23 October 2025 Council Meeting, where this item was considered, have since been adopted.”
Q: “Several questions have been raised with me about the costs of managing rubbish by Yass Valley Council, in particular, green waste. In 2023, our Sustainability Advisory Committee raised a number of questions about the Yass Valley Council Waste Management Policy, which remain unanswered. Would you please advise on the status of this Waste Management Policy?
What is happening with green waste going to the Yass Valley Council Waste Transfer Station?
Does the income raised meet the current costs of managing this waste?
What other strategies have been investigated as alternative strategies that might ensure better management of green waste?
A: “Green waste at Council Waste Transfer Stations is stockpiled, and once there is sufficient volume, Council engages a contractor to shred the material, which is then transferred to various processing facilities. Currently, income from processing green waste does not cover the cost of removal.
“Recently, Council staff have developed a waste operations plan to address the management of Yass Valley Council’s waste. This plan is currently in draft, but takes on some of the recommendations provided in the 2018 service review, which are currently guiding priorities of implementation. Council is currently seeking a consultant to undertake a full Waste Services Review to guide Council’s waste management practices. This review will include how Council currently manages its green waste and the implementation of FOGO. The waste service review is planned to be completed this financial year.
“Once the review is completed, Council will be in a better position to develop a robust Waste Policy and Strategy which will be presented to Council for endorsement at a future Council meeting.”
– Jack Murray
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