City apologises after residents squeezed out of special meeting over bin collections

The City of Rockingham has apologised after residents were unable to take part in a special electors’ meeting.

Hundreds of people who want a return to weekly collections from the fortnightly pick-ups packed the Gary Holland Community Centre last month for the special meeting.

Issues with the FOGO (food organics garden organics) system in Rockingham have been long documented.

The red-lidded general waste bins are picked up fortnightly, and there have been images of maggots spilling from lids, and reports of foul smells and rubbish dumping at local parks.

The meeting was moved to the Gary Holland Community Centre from the council chamber in anticipation of a big turnout, but councillors heard at their May 26 meeting many people were still denied entry because of space issues.

Mayor Lorna Buchan said the city had hired the community centre as it was one of the largest indoor venues available, and could accommodate about 400 people.

“Unfortunately some community members were not able to be accommodated, and for this the city apologises,” she said.

The recording of the special meeting was also questioned. The city elected not to live stream it based on the cost, and made only an audio recording.

Singleton resident Teresa Ong claimed the sound on the night was of “very poor quality”, and asked if the city had sought a refund and if the audio would be released.

Ms Buchan said the audio output at the electors’ meeting was “satisfactory”, and was recorded only for minute-taking.

“The decision to audio-record was consistent with the processes undertaken for previous special electors’ meetings,” she said.

“The minutes meet the requirements set out in the Local Government Act 1995. (It) does not require audio of special electors’ meetings to be published.”

Ms Buchan said the total cost of recording the meeting was $2414.50.

Rockingham resident Kim Amer asked at the May 26 meeting what had happened to the trucks that were previously used for weekly red bin pick-ups.

Ms Buchan said two of the oldest trucks had been sold, and the money had gone to the “relevant proceeds account”.

She said up to the end of March the waste levy attributed to the city’s general waste collection had reduced by $850,000 and it had provided 664 second red bins to residents.