Tonight could be the last chance for Maitland residents to secure a bulky goods, kerbside collection service.
In the past, cost has prevented the adoption of such a service, which is provided by neighbouring councils Dungog, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Cr Henry Meskauskas urged ratepayers to call other councillors today and secure their support.
“I’ll be moving to go ahead and call for tenders to start a kerbside collection,” he said. “If it gets up tonight it would come in during the 2012-13 financial year and all we need is seven votes.”
In a report to council the provision of two bulk goods collections a year would cost ratepayers an additional $30, when the kerbside waste levy is already set to go up by $97.
“The $30 is still far less than paying for two car drop-offs,” Cr Meskauskas said.
“For the elderly that don’t have cars or a licence this is an important service.
“It is a service for the bloke that dumped his lounge suite at the back of Alexander Avenue reserve last week.”
Council will vote tonight to determine its position on a bulky goods collection service.
The report to council does not recommend a vote either for or against.
