Shoal Bay fee increases to adversely impact Palmerston residents and businesses.

City of Darwin’s proposed increase to the general commercial waste charge at Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility (SBWMF) by over 30% next financial year has been met with disappointment from City of Palmerston.

The Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility is the only licenced landfill within the Darwin region. As a result, all of City of Palmerston’s municipal waste and non-recyclable waste from the Archer Waste Management Facility (AWMF) is disposed of at SBWMF at commercial rates.

City of Darwin charges have been increasing each year, with a more than 40% increase over the past 5 years. To date City of Palmerston have absorbed these increases to limit the impact to residents. A proposed further 30% increase this coming financial year from City of Darwin will be felt by residents across Palmerston with City of Palmerston forced to pass on these costs to rate payers.
Many of the over 1500 businesses in Palmerston including builders, retailers and any business that generates waste from their activities will also be affected by an increase in their waste management expenses from City of Darwin.

City of Palmerston Mayor, Athina Pascoe-Bell, said Council is disappointed with the City of Darwin decision.

“City of Darwin have not considered the broader impact of this 30% commercial waste increase and how this will impact residents and businesses already struggling in the current financial climate. City of Palmerston have worked to minimise the cost burden to the community in the areas we can control while maintaining high quality service levels and ensuring the growth and development of our city as A Place for People.

City of Darwin’s approach hits the Top End community hard when inflation is already causing cost of living pressure. We understand increases are required currently but a 30% increase without transparent explanation is very difficult to plan for and cannot be done without impacting every residence and business in Palmerston and the broader region. I encourage all Top End residents and businesses to voice their disappointment for these proposed increases directly to City of Darwin.” she said.

To view the City of Darwin draft 2023/24 Municipal Plan and to provide your feedback please visit:
https://engage.darwin.nt.gov.au/municipal-plan-2023-24. 
Consultation closes 3pm Wednesday, 17 May 2023