Getting it sorted: Tenterfield Ratepayers Association president Peter Robinson with some of the petitions.
A public meeting will be held tomorrow night in an attempt to clear the air over Tenterfield’s contentious new waste transfer charges.
Tenterfield Ratepayers Association president Peter Robinson said petitions left at local real estate offices and produce stores have generated an amazing response, reflecting the general feeling in the community about the new charges.
“I’ve been involved in ratepayer issues for the past 10 years, and I’ve never seen a reaction like this,” Mr Robinson said.
Tenterfield Shire Council’s general manager Lotta Jackson and Environmental Services program manager David Stewart will be in attendance, and Mr Robinson is urging anyone with concerns about the waste charges to attend so that the community can deal with the issue and move on.
He stressed, however, that the meeting was being convened to address the issue in a constructive manner.
“It’s not a slanging match,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for council to explain to people the economics of it all, and where the money goes. We want to get it all sorted out in one go instead of council staff having to respond to queries on an individual basis.”
Mr Robinson said community fears that people will start dumping their rubbish in ditches to avoid paying charges at the tip are already being realised.
“And that’s so bad for council. It reflects badly on the community, especially as far as visitors are concerned.
“We also feel that dealing with money (at the waste transfer station) is not a sensible way of using staff.”
The waste forum will be held in the RSL Pavilion at the rear of the Memorial Hall starting at 5.30pm.