The following items were addressed at the Ordinary Meeting of Mareeba Shire Council on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
Kerbside Collection Services Contract Awarded and the Mareeba Shire Waste Survey Results
At the June Ordinary Council meeting, Mareeba Shire Council awarded the Kerbside Collection Services contract and discussed the results of the Waste Survey conducted earlier this year.
The survey sought community feedback on introducing fortnightly kerbside recycling and garden organics collection.
The contract was awarded to JJ Richards & Sons and is scheduled to commence on 1 December 2026 for an initial term of seven years and seven months.
Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said kerbside waste collection remains one of Council’s most important essential services, providing weekly general household waste collection as well as servicing Council facilities and the waste transfer station network across the Shire.
“During the tender process, Council also explored the introduction of fortnightly kerbside recycling and garden organics collection services for areas already receiving general waste collection,” said Mayor Toppin.
Council conducted a community survey in March and April this year, which received 1,094 responses with 90% of the surveys submitted by property owners.
Results showed:
- 1% of participants were likely to use a kerbside recycling service, however 71.8% were not willing or able to pay for it.
- 32% were likely to use a GO service, with 85.6% not willing or able to pay.
“Council has made a balanced assessment based on financial and operational feasibility, long-term community interests and community feedback when considering whether to introduce the new services,” said Mayor Toppin.
“We recognise that while many residents support recycling, the survey highlighted strong community concerns regarding affordability and cost-of-living pressures.”
Mayor Toppin said that by introducing additional kerbside collection services, this would have cost at a minimum $144 per year for recycling and $88.50 annually for garden organics.
“We will not be introducing kerbside recycling or garden organics services at this time and continue to encourage recycling through the use of existing facilities and further promote waste education,” said Mayor Toppin.
The survey confirmed residents actively use existing waste services, including transfer stations, the Mareeba Buy Back Shop, Containers for Change bag drops, and free recycling options for materials such as cardboard, metals and batteries.
“Council thanks residents for their strong participation in the survey, with community feedback playing a vital role in informing future service planning and decision-making,” concluded Mayor Toppin.
ENDS
Mareeba Shire Council Recognised with Two Awards
Mareeba Shire Council has been recognised with two separate awards for community shaping and small business friendly practices.
The first award was the Local Government Managers Australia Award for Excellence in Community Shaping for the project Together We Recover – Building Community Resilience.
In response to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper on the Mareeba Shire, Council coordinated the Stories of Jasper documentary series, capturing the real experiences of local residents affected by this devastating event.
Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said she was incredibly proud of Council for producing this powerful video series in collaboration with Zoe Maree Media.
“The impacts of TC Jasper and the flooding that followed were significant and widespread. The purpose of the project was to capture those experiences and demonstrate the importance of preparedness for our community.
Stories of Jasper is a tool for the future to show our community and new people moving to the area what can happen during these significant weather events,” Mayor Toppin said.
Mareeba Shire Council is planning a follow-up series to capture the long-term impacts and recovery journey which will be showcased at a free community movie night in October 2026.
Stories of Jasper can be viewed on Mareeba Shire Council’s website.
In other news, Mareeba Shire Council was awarded the Small Business Friendly Member of the Year Award (for Council’s with a population under 50,000) from the Queensland Small Business Commissioner.
“Mareeba Shire Council works hard to be a small business friendly Council, and it is fantastic to have these efforts recognised by the Queensland Government,” said Mayor Toppin.
Council supports small businesses through regular monthly workshops with industry professionals, facilitates mentoring opportunities, and supports industry growth through the Mareeba Industrial Precinct and the Mareeba Airport.
Council closely with Mareeba Shire Tourism which supports small business owners, hosts networking opportunities, and facilitates tourism marketing for the Shire.
“To be recognised by two major awards in the same week is a great achievement and Council will continue to work hard for our community and local economy,” concluded Mayor Toppin.
ENDS