LABOR Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart visited King Island last week and brought good news from the Federal Government about waste management and recycling.
THE Federal Government has recognised that King Island does not have the same options for waste management as mainland municipalities and has approved the council’s request that a truck for curbside pickup of recyclables be eligible for federal funding from the Federal Recycling Modernisation Fund.
Mayor Marcus Blackie said the council had been working with the State Government since late 2021 to secure this funding from the Federal Recycling Modernisation Fund.
The news was delivered by Labor Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart who visited King Island last week.
“Our effort has paid off and it represents an exciting opportunity to improve our overall waste management,” Mr Blackie said.
“Our council Waste Working Group will receive the details of this approval in the coming weeks. We anticipate that a new recycling truck capability will introduce curbside pickup of recyclables on King Island but still need to confirm what has just been granted.
“We’ll share more detailed information when confirmed and how the council will deploy this new capability.”
Senator Urquhart’s last visit with friends was during the King Island Racing season. She has socially attended over many years and is a race sponsor. Previous visits have addressed King Island’s concerns around seismic testing and healthcare.
During this visit Senator Urquhart crisscrossed the island visiting Cape Wickham, the kelp factory, Hydro’s renewable energy operations and new solar farm build and the Dolphin Tungsten mine and latest developments.
Her meetings included catching up with King Islanders at work, at home and in organisations.
Amidst a host of formal and informal meetings, there were some new insights as she met with Lion Steve Bishop to walk the proposed Seafarers trail from Lions Park in Currie to the Museum and to look at the new Hub site.