The Queensland Government has unveiled an exemption to the waste levy for businesses and councils in flood-hit regions as the major clean-up continues across the state.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the move while will inspecting flood damaged areas in the southeast on Wednesday morning.
“Local councils, I know, have a big job to get the rubbish off thousands of streets,” she said.
“What we’re doing today is we’re announcing that we’re going to be waiving the levies for all flood-related waste.
“Households don’t pay these levies but businesses and industries do.”
12 councils will be included; Gold Coast, Logan, Brisbane, Noosa, Moreton Bay, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Somerset, Toowoomba, Fraser Coast and North Burnett.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said under the exemption, all flood-related waste including damaged goods will be disposed to landfill without incurring the levy.
“We want our affected communities and businesses to get back on their feet as soon as possible, and the waste levy exemption is one of many ways the Palaszczuk Government is providing support,” Minister Scanlon said.
“It means they can help to clean up their properties without worrying about the cost.
“We’re working with waste sector representatives to determine their processing capabilities to help manage the clean-up, as some waste industry businesses have also been affected by the recent rain event and flooding.”
The Premier also urged New South Wales to implement a similar exemption as a lot of rubbish has made its way over the border from flood affected towns in northern NSW.
“Some of the rubbish is also coming up from northern New South Wales from businesses and everything,” the Premier said.
“Perhaps the NSW Premier can look at something similar there, but I’ll leave that to them.”
