RESIDENTS will have to pay more for the privilege of keeping a weekly red bin collection after April next year if councillors decide not to move to a fortnightly service, but the have been promised any fleet costs incurred by the garbage contractor in anticipation of fortnightly collections would not be passed on.
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According to the Orange Ratepayers Association, the cost to Orange City Council could add up to more than $1 million because contractor JR Richards has already ordered bigger trucks in preparation for a fortnightly collection, despite councillors voting to trial fortnightly red bin collections first.
Council has already said moving to fortnightly red bin collections would save about $450,000. That saving would be lost if the weekly collection is maintained.
Association secretary Garry Kind said another truck would need to be ordered if the garbage collection was shifted back to weekly after the trial.
“It’s a substantial amount to get another truck because they cost $400,000-$500,000 each, and the staff,” he said.
“We’re concerned we’re not going to be able to avoid increases in garbage rates.”
However a council spokesperson said this was not correct and any fleet purchases JR Richards had made would not put an additional cost on the garbage service.
According to a report to councillors in May, a weekly collection would cost the council $485,640 more, leading to ratepayers footing $391.92 instead of $368.92 for a fortnightly collection.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
