Page 1718 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 7 June 2016
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activities that can be directly measured and regulated. The law will apply to waste activity within the ACT, including transportation, regardless of whether the waste was generated within or outside the ACT, that is, there will be no regulatory advantage or disadvantage from transporting waste into or out of the ACT.
While waste may only be taken to a suitable facility, we cannot legally determine what is suitable outside our borders. Agencies will pursue the possibility of an agreement with New South Wales in relation to the use of facilities and the exchange of activity data.
Efforts to encourage higher levels of recycling and reuse will, to an extent, rely on innovation in waste treatment and resource recovery facilities. Acknowledging this, the bill is designed to accommodate and encourage change. Regulations will include powers for the waste manager to direct owners of commercial and multi-unit developments to properly provide for storage and collection of waste. This will, among other things, help to ensure that commercial and residential laneways are not unsightly, dangerous or unhealthy.
Consultation on this legislation has been extensive. It commenced in December 2014 when industry representatives were approached for their initial views on how the waste industry should be regulated.
The ACT waste feasibility study set up a number of industry, community and expert forums to discuss the proposed legislation and the broader issues relating to waste management in the ACT. Those discussions guided the drafting of this bill, which was released for public discussion early in November 2015.
The bill I present today reflects the valuable contribution made by people who engaged in those discussions. I wish to acknowledge the involvement of industry and community participants and the contribution of directorate officers to the development of policy arguments and the drafting of the bill.
This legislation represents the waste feasibility study’s first suite of waste reform recommendations to the government. It brings the ACT’s statutory framework to the point at which change can be introduced and managed into the future. I urge members to support this bill and what it aims to achieve: a cleaner, greener livable city. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Coe) adjourned to the next sitting.
Planning, Environment and Territory and Municipal Services—Standing Committee
Proposed reference
MR COE (Ginninderra) (10.28): Pursuant to standing order 174, I move:
That the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Bill 2016 be referred to the Standing Committee on Planning, Environment and Territory and Municipal Services for inquiry and report.
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