Greater Geraldton mayor doubtful of verge waste pick-up future as City unable to find partner on second search

The waste headaches for the City of Greater Geraldton continue after it was revealed it was again unable to find a verge-side rubbish collection contractor. Greater Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn has said the return of the program was now in doubt after the City’s second attempt failed. After bulk waste collection was dropped by the City in 2016, it was announced in the 2022-23 budget that the program would return. Initially, it was hoped the collection program would return in late 2022 but after some delay, the City went to tender in December seeking a contractor. After that window for expression of interests showed no results, the council voted in February to go back to the market for a second time. It was hoped that by being willing to pay more and offering more flexibility for how contractors could carry out the program, a partner could be found. After the window for expressions closed on May 30, Mr Van Styn said no companies had made a submission, and only six had downloaded the tender documents. The mayor said the difficult current circumstances for businesses including labour and supply shortages, were the likely reason why the program hadn’t got off the ground. After two failed attempts he was doubtful the City would search a third time. “The City has exhausted all avenues in trying to find someone to conduct the work,“ he said. “It may well, for now, be the end of attempting to deliver verge pick-up in Geraldton. “The City would look at doing it in-house, however, that would involve redeploying staff who already conduct very important works across the city.” “The council will continue to deliberate on the options there might be for the removal of bulk waste out there in the community.”