Garbo seeks load exemption

Gosford Council's garbage contractor has sought exemption from the new load limit proposed for Woy Woy Rd.

Waste service contractor SITA Environmental Solutions has applied to Council's traffic committee for the exemption.

It claimed it may not be able to service up to 1500 bins daily if the load limit applied to it.

The contractor claimed that reaching the Earthcare Recycler's Facility at Woy Woy via Brisbane Water Dr would add from 35 minutes to an hour per load.

It asked to be able to use Woy Woy Rd instead, which would breach the eight tonne load limit.

According to a Council staff report, the recycling contractor claimed that going via Brisbane Water Dr could see up to 1500 bins not being serviced on most weekdays in a number of suburbs.

However, Council staff stated that "the increased travel times reported seem excessive".

The traffic committee has commissioned a survey of travel times to the recycling plant via Woy Woy Rd and via Brisbane Water Dr for Council's recycling trucks.

The report also stated that "The Committee also considered that Council granting an exemption to its own contractor might be seen by other transport operators as self-serving."

There are currently 43 truck movements per week to the recycling facility.

Gosford Council advertised the proposal to reduce the load limit on Woy Woy Rd to eight tonnes in November last year.

Public submissions were open on the proposal for 28 days following that announcement.

Under the plan, the limit would apply between Langford Dr, Kariong, and a location north of the abattoir access at Woy Woy.

Chairman of the traffic committee, Cr Chris Holstein, said the load limit was still under consideration as there had been delay caused by objections from businesses who use Woy Woy Rd.

"The load limit was proposed for safety reasons.

"Once we've lost Woy Woy Rd, it's gone," he said.

"It's a Catch-22 situation."

Cr Holstein said Woy Woy Rd was a State road, but Brisbane Water Dr, also a State road, had received more funding.

"At the same time, there are safety concerns about trucks at the West Gosford intersection with some not taking the corner and tipping."

There were a number of businesses with heavy vehicles that use Woy Woy Rd, and an increase was expected with Woy Woy tip introducing full resource recovery.

The load limit would not apply to buses or commercial vehicles gaining access to properties on the road, or vehicles that must use the street to gain access to the area and cannot do so by another street.

Alison Branley TR.04.119 Council Agenda, July 6