Beaudesert’s business community is leading the charge to help the town clean up its litter problem.
The Beaudesert Chamber of Commerce is advocating for more bins along Brisbane Street and taking measures to foster civic pride.
The Beaudesert Bulletin, which is a Chamber member, raised the issue at a recent meeting after calls from local businesses including Hohl Plumbing Manager Wayne Weiland.
“There’s only one thing I’d like to see Council do, and that is put some rubbish bins further up the street than down opposite the Council chambers as the last one in town, because all the business owners are forever doing the street cleaning,” he told the Bulletin in February.
Following a lively Chamber discussion, President John Powell wrote to Council CEO David Keenan on 30 March.
“The discussion centred around the concentration of fast-food outlets in the area, the lack of rubbish bins and the general lack of community pride demonstrated by those who drop the rubbish,” Mr Powell wrote.
“Councillor Michael Enright commented that just having more bins would have little impact and the majority of the members agreed.
“We resolved to do three things: –
“1. Approach the Council about placing more bins in the area.
“2. Approach the Tidy Towns organisation about becoming a participant and undertaking an education program to promote more civic pride and tidiness.
“3. Consider a joint approach to community education and action against rubbish.”
Within three business days, Mr Powell received a response from Council’s Resource and Sustainability Manager Kartik Venkatraman.
“We appreciate you… reaching out in regard to installing additional public place bins along footpaths on Brisbane Street,” Mr Venkatraman wrote.
“Council would be happy to participate in further discussions in relation to Tidy Towns and a joint approach to community education.
“Council is also in the process of developing a regular waste reduction community awareness program, and litter prevention will be included.
“Council is currently conducting a review of public place bins with the intention to develop a policy that identifies clear consideration for placements. Our aim is to make any changes to the public place litter bins after this policy has been prepared.
“Please note there will be new public place bins installed in the park as part of the town centre revitalisation project, and the specific concerns about the northern end of Brisbane Street have already been noted and will be considered in future planning.”
Following the exchange of letters, Mr Powell also met with a Council officer to give them a first-hand look at the litter problem on Brisbane Street.
