Waverley withdraws waste stewardship motion at February council meeting

Waverley Council withdrew a proposed Australian Local Government Association motion on waste management and resource recovery when it met at The Boot Factory on Spring Street, Bondi Junction, on 24 February 2026.

The notice of motion, moved by Cr Ludovico Fabiano, would have asked the Australian Government to strengthen nationally consistent product stewardship arrangements and back local governments with fair and transparent contributions for residual waste and resource recovery services. It was marked withdrawn.

That left the council without an adopted advocacy position on the issue at this meeting.

The waste item sat alongside a broader meeting in which councillors adopted the 2025-26 second-quarter budget review, appointed Lisa Berwick as an independent member of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee until 15 March 2030, and approved a three-year procurement exemption to extend Generation-E Productivity Solutions Pty Ltd’s customer service contact centre and enterprise telephony contract.

Council also endorsed two separate ALGA motions. One called for a national framework and civic education program to combat antisemitism, racism, hatred and bigotry and promote social cohesion. The other sought Commonwealth recognition of walking, cycling and micromobility as essential transport infrastructure, with coordinated funding support.

In the budget review, councillors noted the projected financial position was satisfactory and adopted variations to the 2025-26 operating and capital budgets. The meeting also recorded that investments for November 2025, December 2025 and January 2026 complied with section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993, ministerial directions, including ministerial investment orders, and council’s investment policy.

Councillors further noted the six-monthly report on councillor expenses and facilities for 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025, and the returns disclosing councillors’ interests.

The meeting also acknowledged the impact of the Bondi Beach terror attack on the Waverley local government area, including increased operational demands and disruption to community events and services.

For residents, the immediate result was simple: Waverley did not add its backing to a national waste stewardship lobbying position at this meeting. Any future push on the issue would need a new motion and a fresh council vote.