RIVERLAND councils are planning short-term extensions to existing waste collection contracts as they await a region-wide waste strategy that could lead to “considerable” savings.
Existing contracts between the three councils – Berri Barmera, Loxton Waikerie and Renmark Paringa – and Cleanaway Waste Management will be extended to a common expiry date on March 31, 2022.
The extension will allow time for the Murraylands and Riverland Local Government Association (MRLGA) to deliver its Regional Waste Strategy currently due in June, 2021.
Berri Barmera Council CEO Karyn Burton said having a common expiration date between the three councils would allow them to work together to find a more cost-effective contract in the future.
“Creating the common expiration date allows all three councils to work together on a collaborative tender process,” she said.
“We are also awaiting the outcomes of the MRLGA waste strategy, as there may be a lot of opportunities that come out of that strategy that will assist us in keeping some of those costs down when we finally do go to tender.
“If we go into a tendering process now, there could be some opportunities that we overlook that could potentially save the three councils quite a bit of money.”
Berri Barmera infrastructure services manager Dave Otto de Grancy will co-ordinate the extension and the future tender process for the three councils.