Lake Macquarie residents will soon be able to weigh in on the city’s future waste priorities, after councillors recommended placing a draft strategy on public exhibition.
The move follows discussion at Lake Macquarie City Council’s meeting on Tuesday 10 March at the Hunter Sports Centre, kaiyu nungkiliko.
The draft Lake Macquarie Waste and Circular Materials Strategy 2026-2030 outlines how the city plans to respond to rising waste volumes, increasing disposal costs and the limited remaining capacity at the Awaba Waste Management Facility.
A key focus is the future management of residual waste – the material that remains after recycling and organics are removed.
Available landfill space at Awaba is expected to be exhausted in the early 2040s, prompting the need for long-term planning.
Lake Macquarie City mayor Adam Shultz said careful planning now would help ensure waste services remain reliable and affordable for the community.
“Waste management is one of council’s most visible services, and the decisions we make now will shape how effectively and affordably we can manage waste into the future,” he explained.
The strategy prioritises reducing waste before it reaches landfill by focusing on avoidance, reuse and recycling.
“This draft strategy sets a clear direction for reducing waste to landfill, cutting emissions from our operations and preparing for the significant challenges that come with a growing population and tightening regulatory expectations,” Cr Shultz said.
Lake Macquarie already performs strongly in domestic waste resource recovery and is considered one of the highest-achieving councils in NSW in this area.
The draft strategy proposes seven key outcomes.
It includes growing the circular economy, conserving resources, reducing food waste, cutting emissions, decreasing waste to landfill, ensuring long-term preparedness and maintaining reliable, affordable waste services.
If endorsed, the draft will be placed on public exhibition, allowing the community to provide feedback on the city’s waste priorities over the next four years.
Councillors also recommended adopting a revised Acquisition and Divestment of Land and Easements Policy.
The updated policy includes expanded definitions, changes to valuation processes and other improvements aimed at improving clarity, consistency and alignment with council policy templates.
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