Save the Central Goldfields waste transfer stations!
The issue
**Update on 16/4/2026 13:20 Thank you to all who have supported this petition in its online and various written forms. We will be combining the lists as much as is practical and submitting this material to CGSC before 5pm today.
The short version.
Central Goldfields Shire Council wants to close three of their four waste transfer stations, and their stated approach to this goal is that ratepayer silence = acceptance. Your voice is needed if this has any chance of being stopped.
The longer version.
On page 4 of their recently released 2026-2027 draft budget document¹, Central Goldfields Shire Council claim that "low revenue growth, rate capping and rising expenses" will involve "making difficult decisions and reducing services". Among the proposals to improve their financial position is one to close the waste transfer stations located at Bealiba, Dunolly and Talbot. It is assumed that residents currently relying on these transfer stations would then be directed to use the remaining waste transfer facility at Carisbrook, a round trip of approximately 97km/76min from the Bealiba station, 48km/38min from the Dunolly station and 40km/32min from the Talbot station².
This proposal was discussed at the council meeting of March 25, 2026³. During the discussion, Councillor Gerard Murphy began to raise the question of how the council has found itself in this financial position and questioned some of the spending choices still being made to this day that are contributing to it, at which point his questions were dismissed as "inflammatory". The discussion ended with a vote on whether to proceed with the proposal and open the door to written submissions from the public. The motion was carried, with the following results.
- For - Councillor Ben Green - Paddys Ranges Ward
- For - Councillor Grace LaVella - Maryborough West Ward
- For - Councillor Anna deVilliers - Tullaroop Ward
- For - Councillor Liesbeth Long - Flynn Ward
- Against - Councillor Gerard Murphy - Maryborough Central Ward
- For - Councillor Jake Meyer - Maryborough East Ward
- For - Councillor Geoff Bartlett - Maryborough North Ward
Interested parties who also wish to send a written submission to the council outlining their specific concerns can do so either online, by email, by post or in person at the council offices - 22 Nolan St Maryborough. Submissions should be labelled "Submission in relation to draft budget 2026/2027".
For online submissions, first time users will need to register their details here:
https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/register
Then fill in the online form located here:
https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/budget/surveys/submissions-2
Submissions can also be sent via email to: mail@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au
Submissions must be received by 5pm on the 16th of April 2026. People wishing to present their case in person can do so at a special budget hearing on the 29th April 2026 at 6pm.
References.
¹ CGSC Draft Budget 2026-2027 document. https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/106259/widgets/484799/documents/324887
² Distance and time estimates provided by Google maps 'fastest route'.
³ Central Goldfields Shire Council meeting of 25/3/2026.
Meeting begins - https://youtu.be/7S7YIx4vg9Q
Discussion of the waste transfer station closure proposal begins - https://youtu.be/7S7YIx4vg9Q?t=1954
Vote on the waste transfer station closure proposal - https://youtu.be/7S7YIx4vg9Q?t=2707
12
The issue
**Update on 16/4/2026 13:20 Thank you to all who have supported this petition in its online and various written forms. We will be combining the lists as much as is practical and submitting this material to CGSC before 5pm today.
The short version.
Central Goldfields Shire Council wants to close three of their four waste transfer stations, and their stated approach to this goal is that ratepayer silence = acceptance. Your voice is needed if this has any chance of being stopped.
The longer version.
On page 4 of their recently released 2026-2027 draft budget document¹, Central Goldfields Shire Council claim that "low revenue growth, rate capping and rising expenses" will involve "making difficult decisions and reducing services". Among the proposals to improve their financial position is one to close the waste transfer stations located at Bealiba, Dunolly and Talbot. It is assumed that residents currently relying on these transfer stations would then be directed to use the remaining waste transfer facility at Carisbrook, a round trip of approximately 97km/76min from the Bealiba station, 48km/38min from the Dunolly station and 40km/32min from the Talbot station².
This proposal was discussed at the council meeting of March 25, 2026³. During the discussion, Councillor Gerard Murphy began to raise the question of how the council has found itself in this financial position and questioned some of the spending choices still being made to this day that are contributing to it, at which point his questions were dismissed as "inflammatory". The discussion ended with a vote on whether to proceed with the proposal and open the door to written submissions from the public. The motion was carried, with the following results.
- For - Councillor Ben Green - Paddys Ranges Ward
- For - Councillor Grace LaVella - Maryborough West Ward
- For - Councillor Anna deVilliers - Tullaroop Ward
- For - Councillor Liesbeth Long - Flynn Ward
- Against - Councillor Gerard Murphy - Maryborough Central Ward
- For - Councillor Jake Meyer - Maryborough East Ward
- For - Councillor Geoff Bartlett - Maryborough North Ward
Interested parties who also wish to send a written submission to the council outlining their specific concerns can do so either online, by email, by post or in person at the council offices - 22 Nolan St Maryborough. Submissions should be labelled "Submission in relation to draft budget 2026/2027".
For online submissions, first time users will need to register their details here:
https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/register
Then fill in the online form located here:
https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/budget/surveys/submissions-2
Submissions can also be sent via email to: mail@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au
Submissions must be received by 5pm on the 16th of April 2026. People wishing to present their case in person can do so at a special budget hearing on the 29th April 2026 at 6pm.
References.
¹ CGSC Draft Budget 2026-2027 document. https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/106259/widgets/484799/documents/324887
² Distance and time estimates provided by Google maps 'fastest route'.
³ Central Goldfields Shire Council meeting of 25/3/2026.
Meeting begins - https://youtu.be/7S7YIx4vg9Q
Discussion of the waste transfer station closure proposal begins - https://youtu.be/7S7YIx4vg9Q?t=1954
Vote on the waste transfer station closure proposal - https://youtu.be/7S7YIx4vg9Q?t=2707
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 26 March 2026