By Grace Jones | posted on June 1, 2019
ALBANY residents will need to be more conscious of how their rubbish is separated from January after Council voted unanimously to implement the new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) waste management practice on Tuesday night.
Before the official vote, Albany Bali Style Accommodation owner/operator Terry Hodgkinson pleaded with council to vote against implementing the new service stating it wasn’t a good option for businesses.
“You’re using Bunbury as a model who have been doing this for years,” he said.
“I don’t know if you’re trying to reinvent the wheel, but the studies you have done don’t include commercial operations.
“Am I supposed to start sorting through the rubbish after each guest and picking out the used condoms, sanitary items and needles?”
Councillors Paul Terry and Anthony Moir moved the motion and supported the implementation.
“The community of Albany should be proud,” Cr Moir said.
Cr Terry said approximately 95 per cent of Spencer Park residents had supported the FOGO trial earlier in the year and thanked everyone for their support.
Albany residents will need to separate their food and garden organics into their green bins from next year to be collected fortnightly and weekly from December to February.
Council also voted unanimously to receive $250,000 from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and to contribute a further $250,000 to go the Albany Artificial Surf Reef Planning and Feasibility Grant.
Deputy Mayor Greg Stocks said it had been “a bit like pulling teeth” getting the project off the ground.
“We need to bank the check and get on with it,” he said.
Council also voted in support of the City of Albany and Albany Cemetery Board to enter a 50/50 funding agreement to start works on the Albany Memorial Park Cemetery on Middleton Road.
Both parties will contribute $29,203 to improve the appearance of the park.
