Friends of Nillumbik asked Council:

Many months ago Friends of Nillumbik asked a question about green waste going to landfill and we were told that a new contractor was being sought. We are now receiving reports about recyclables being mixed with green waste and going to landfill which we consider even more serious as recyclables can generate income. Formerly Nillumbik Shire led the State in green waste management. Why hasn't the Council resolved these issues?

Cr Ken King, Mayor, responded:

A number of councils including Nillumbik have been affected by the absence of a green waste processor in the northern metropolitan region for some time. Council has been working closely with the Metropolitan Waste Management Group to find a long term solution to this issue and considerable progress has been made in this regard. Council’s waste system still maintains the separation of the three waste streams and its waste education continues to promote the correct use of each bin to minimise contamination.
Officers regularly conduct audits to identify levels of contamination and tailor responses at a broad or individual level to address this. Officers welcome any advice on specific instances of contamination and will address each accordingly.

Friends of Nillumbik asked Council:

In response to a question from the gallery some months ago, regarding council's 12 month delay in appointing a new Advisory Committee for the Kangaroo Ground Memorial Park & Tower of Remembrance, the mayor advised that council would soon constitute a new Advisory Committee to cover all War Memorial sites within the municipality.

In light of recent advertisements seeking Expressions of Interest from potential nominees for the Kangaroo Ground Advisory Committee, Friends of Nillumbik ask:

For what reason has council abandoned the mayor's proposed new committee, and why has it taken this long to re-advertise for nominees for the Kangaroo Ground Committee?

Cr Ken King, Mayor, responded:

Council has been considering a range of options for the best practice management of War Memorial sites throughout the Shire. The Kangaroo Ground Tower Advisory Committee will be appointed in the near future with the advertisement calling for expressions of interest having been placed in the local media recently. Council is soon to be briefed on a proposed Heritage Strategy, and the Strategy proposes the establishment of a Heritage Group that will comprise community representatives, Councillors and officers early next year. This may present the best option, with access to the appropriate expertise, for the management of the Shire’s memorials into the future.