City of Melville Council Approves Free Extra Bins for Leaf Litter in Narrow Vote
Residents in the City of Melville who have been struggling with an overwhelming amount of fallen leaves will soon have access to an additional bin to manage the debris, thanks to a new council-approved trial. The decision came after a heated debate and a close vote, highlighting the ongoing battle between community needs and municipal budgets.
Council Votes 7-6 in Favour of 12-Month Trial
At its meeting on March 17, the City of Melville council voted 7-6 to support Councillor Nicole Robins' proposal for a trial offering up to 500 extra Food Organics Green Organics (FOGO) bins to residents most affected by leaf litter from city trees. The vote was initially tied at 6-6 until Mayor Katy Mair used her casting vote to break the deadlock in favour of the initiative.
The trial will run for 12 months, with the city assessing the results to determine its long-term viability. Originally open to all residents, the proposal was amended to limit eligibility to those most impacted by city-owned trees, following concerns from Councillor Jennifer Spanbroek about fairness and potential misuse.
Residents Express Frustration Over Leaf Litter Burden
Councillor Robins argued that the current system unfairly burdens residents who are cleaning up debris from trees on city land. She noted that this issue is the second-most common complaint she receives from constituents.
"I'm very regularly contacted by people saying, 'Why am I having to deal with this? Why is this cost and burden falling to me when they're not my trees?'" Robins stated. "If residents can't get rid of their waste appropriately because they don't have space in their bins, then I think we're failing them."
She shared anecdotes from residents, including one in Bateman who suggested dumping leaves back at a park out of frustration, underscoring the community's desperation for a solution.
Financial and Operational Concerns Raised by Opponents
Despite the trial's approval, several councillors voiced strong objections due to financial and operational impacts. City staff had previously recommended against the idea, citing "substantial operational, financial and service delivery impacts." Currently, residents can pay $213 per year for an additional FOGO bin, but the trial would provide them free of charge.
Cost estimates for the trial ranged from about $132,000 for 1,000 requests to $298,000 for 3,000 requests. Councillor George Panayotou expressed concern that offering free bins could set a precedent, leading to widespread demand in the leafy city.
"Melville's a leafy city. There are trees everywhere. There's going to be an expectation that everyone's going to be wanting this extra bin," he warned, advocating for minimal services to keep rates low.
Safety and Practicality Debates in Council Chambers
The discussion also touched on safety issues, with Councillor Clive Ross noting that fallen leaves can create slippery hazards. "At the moment, the city's been getting away with not doing its job properly and fully," he argued, suggesting that the trial supports residents who are willing to do the council's work.
Councillor Glynis Barber questioned how the city would verify that collected leaves came from municipal trees, but Robins responded that she did not expect staff to differentiate, focusing instead on providing relief to affected households.
Background on Leaf Litter Management in Melville
The City of Melville, known for suburbs like Applecross with its iconic jacaranda trees, faces significant leaf litter during autumn. While the city conducts road sweeping four times a year and uses daily sweepers in high-leaf-drop areas for about eight weeks—costing approximately $1,300 per day—many residents feel this is insufficient.
A previous service that collected bagged leaves was discontinued in 2018 due to safety concerns and the rollout of the FOGO system in 2019. Councillor Karen Wheatland acknowledged the frustration, stating, "I do understand the extreme amount of leaf litter in some of the leafy suburbs. It drives you bonkers," but urged residents to be smarter with waste management rather than relying on extra bins.
The trial represents a compromise to address community grievances while evaluating a sustainable approach to urban forestry and waste management in one of Perth's most verdant local government areas.
