THE City of Swan has welcomed delays to the State Government’s proposed landfill levy increase but said the impact on residents would not be known until its budget was passed tomorrow.
Environment Minister Donna Faragher announced last week that the 300 per cent increase would be deferred until January, following council protests and WA Local Government Association claims it was “unconstitutional”.
It had been intended to take effect from July 1.
The levy increase announced in the State Budget was designed to encourage recycling and improve parity with other states, and was introduced to Parliament on June 18 as a legislative amendment.
City of Swan chief executive Mike Foley said the City was still calculating the reduction in its refuse rate.
He said a decision on whether to delay the increase in its rates to cover the landfill levy increase would be made tomorrow.
Mr Foley last month predicted City of Swan residents would be forced to pay an extra $25 for waste services to cover the rise.
“Council has indicated that it wishes the reduction to be included in the Budget document and this is what staff at the City are working towards.
“The best advice we have is that the increase in the disposal levy will be in the range of $7 to $28 from January 1.”