I have given notice to the CEO of Yarra Ranges Council that it is my intention to move the following urgent motion at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting to be held on Tuesday 9 May, 2017.
MOTION
That Council write to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change requesting that funding generated through the collection of the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy be constrained to the purposes for which the Levy was introduced and raising concerns with the Levy funds being allocated to supplement Parks Victoria initiatives not related to the purposes of the Levy.
That Council write to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change requesting that funding generated through the collection of the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy be constrained to the purposes for which the Levy was introduced and raising concerns with the Levy funds being allocated to supplement Parks Victoria initiatives not related to the purposes of the Levy.
SUMMARY / BACKGROUND
This motion is urgent because this issue will be discussed at the forthcoming Municipal Association of Victoria State Conference on 12 May and could not be deferred to the next ordinary meeting as this will be after the MAV meeting.
It has been identified in the State Government Budget that funds have been allocated to Parks Victoria for the purpose of providing additional resources to ensure safe and equitable access to parks, which includes the redevelopment of the Parks Victoria website and a new asset management system that will replace the large asset base of Parks Victoria. Funding is also provided to Parks Victoria to start the process of acquiring land to establish three new metropolitan parks in Melbourne’s growth areas, and Anglesea Heath will be incorporated into the Great Otway National Park.
It has been stated that these initiatives will be funded from the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy.
The landfill levy which this Council contributes many dollars to annually was established to provide funding assistance to establish waste management infrastructure, support programs for industry, education programs and the resourcing of the bodies responsible for waste planning and management in Victoria. The levy also acts as an incentive to minimise the generation of waste and promote investment in developing alternatives to disposal to landfill.
It is considered that the items outlined in the budget paper for Parks Victoria do not meet the intent of the allocation of this fund.
This motion is urgent because this issue will be discussed at the forthcoming Municipal Association of Victoria State Conference on 12 May and could not be deferred to the next ordinary meeting as this will be after the MAV meeting.
It has been identified in the State Government Budget that funds have been allocated to Parks Victoria for the purpose of providing additional resources to ensure safe and equitable access to parks, which includes the redevelopment of the Parks Victoria website and a new asset management system that will replace the large asset base of Parks Victoria. Funding is also provided to Parks Victoria to start the process of acquiring land to establish three new metropolitan parks in Melbourne’s growth areas, and Anglesea Heath will be incorporated into the Great Otway National Park.
It has been stated that these initiatives will be funded from the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy.
The landfill levy which this Council contributes many dollars to annually was established to provide funding assistance to establish waste management infrastructure, support programs for industry, education programs and the resourcing of the bodies responsible for waste planning and management in Victoria. The levy also acts as an incentive to minimise the generation of waste and promote investment in developing alternatives to disposal to landfill.
It is considered that the items outlined in the budget paper for Parks Victoria do not meet the intent of the allocation of this fund.
