At a WasteNet advisory group meeting yesterday, a report was tabled outlining guidance for the future of Southland’s waste operations
WasteNet is a joint venture between the Invercargill City Council, Gore District Council and Southland District Council.
The report commissioned by WasteNet Southland representative Cameron McIntosh highlights the benefits of a regional approach but also seeks clarification from the WasteNet councils on whether they want to continue working together on the delivery of recycling services.
The tender process for the region’s recycling contract ended last year after the Southland and Gore District Councils voted Smart Environmental as the preferred tenderer, but the Invercargill City Council did not support the recommendation.
Current recycling services are being delivered by Southland DisAbilities Enterprises after a contract extension was granted until June 30.
At the WasteNet advisory group meeting yesterday, Gore deputy mayor Cliff Bolger said it seemed as if they were "driving in circles"
"Those are the principles [the WasteNet regional approach] we all agreed to ... at the foundation of WasteNet. These are the principles we employed and asked our staff to go through on the tender or expression-of-interest process. We’ve already done this, we’ve already agreed — and then I’m afraid Invercargill City [Council] for whatever reason decided to depart from those principles.
"I don’t want to put councils ... through a process of futility to just get stymied around the table of Invercargill City."
WasteNet chairwoman Alex Crackett asked councillors to focus on the report presented.
She said the report was a way to get WasteNet representatives to consult with their councils.
"I personally would love to move on," she said.
The next WasteNet council meeting was pencilled in for March, when a decision about the future of the recycling contract was expected.
