Prepare for storm season - October is Get Ready Month

The Fraser Coast Regional Council will hold Get Ready Month in October to encourage residents to prepare for the coming storm and cyclone season.

“Now is the time to have a clean-up around your yard to get rid of anything that could become airborne in a storm or a cyclone,” Councillor David Lee said.

“Get rid of those old sheets of corrugated iron, damaged or unwanted or unused play equipment (trampolines, swing sets), outdoor furniture and barbeques from your backyard,” he said.

“It is time to trim trees and branches from around your homes and prepare for the storm season.

“Broken branches and loose items can become airborne in a storm or cyclone and damage houses or injure people.”

Previously Council held a Get Ready Weekend in November.

The promotion of a storm clean-up has been brought forward to align with the State Government Get Ready campaign.

To cut confusion a list of items that can be disposed of for free during the Storm Clean-Up Month is available on the Council website www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au.

Residents will still be encouraged to sort their loads to ensure all reusable and recyclable items and green waste can be disposed of for free and don’t end up in landfill.

As part of the changes, Council will no longer accept free-of-charge during the storm clean-up program tyres, mattresses or fridges, freezers and air conditioners that have not been degassed.

“In previous years residents would bring in these items during the storm clean-up campaign,” Cr Lee said.

“That is not what the storm clean-up campaign is designed to encourage.

“It also passed costs on to ratepayers.

“Once those items are handed in ratepayers have to pay the cost of transporting tyres to the recycling centres; to degas and dispose of the refrigerant in fridges, freezers and air conditioners; and had to bring in equipment to shred mattresses as they cannot be compacted in the landfill.

“We also found that offering free disposal took away the incentive to sort loads and recycle. People would just dump everything into the landfill.

“The storm clean-up campaign is to encourage us to prepare for storm season – to make sure that our gutters are clean, overhanging branches near our homes are trimmed and items that could become missiles in a storm have been secured or removed.

Residents will be able to dispose of four cubic metres or one tonne of green waste (about a 6x4 trailer load) for free.

“Loads from commercial operators will be charged at normal rates,” he said.

Quick Guide

• Clean you gutters, trim overhanging branches near your home.
• Get rid of items that could become a missile in a storm (such as old furniture, toys and trampolines).
• Separate you load to ensure reusable, recyclable items and green waste are disposed of for free.
• Residents can dispose of four cubic metres or one tonne of green waste (about a 6x4 trailer load) for free.
• You will have to pay to dispose of tyres, mattresses or fridges, freezers and air conditioners that have not been degassed.
• Loads from commercial operators will be charged at normal rates.