Lake Macquarie to exhibit draft waste strategy as Awaba landfill capacity narrows

newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council will place its draft Waste and Circular Materials Strategy 2026–2030 on public exhibition after councillors recommended the move at Monday night’s meeting at the Hunter Sports Centre, kaiyu nungkiliko.

The draft strategy sets out the city’s waste priorities for the next four years and comes as the council responds to rising waste volumes, increasing disposal costs and the finite remaining landfill capacity at the Awaba Waste Management Facility.

The council said the strategy builds on Lake Macquarie’s performance as one of NSW’s highest-achieving councils for domestic waste resource recovery, while planning for future pressures from population growth and tighter regulation.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said long-term planning was needed to keep waste services reliable and affordable.

“Waste management is one of Council’s most visible services, and the decisions we make now will shape how effectively and affordably we can manage waste into the future,” he said.

“This draft strategy sets a clear direction for reducing waste to landfill, cutting emissions from our operations and preparing for the significant challenges that come with a growing population and tightening regulatory expectations.”

A key focus of the strategy is the future management of residual waste, which is the material left after recycling and organics are removed. Available landfill space at Awaba is expected to be exhausted in the early 2040s, with the strategy calling for staged planning to avoid higher-cost decisions later.

The draft strategy gives priority to waste avoidance, reuse and recycling, with landfill identified as a last resort. It includes seven outcomes focused on circular economy growth, resource conservation, food waste reduction, emissions reduction, reducing waste to landfill, long-term preparedness and maintaining reliable, affordable waste services.

Councillors at the same meeting also recommended adopting a revised Acquisition and Divestment of Land and Easements Policy. The council said the updated policy included expanded definitions, changes to valuation processes and other amendments aimed at improving clarity, consistency and alignment with council policy templates.