Author: admin

Tuesday 23 December 2025

Wollongong City Council has taken a major step toward a sustainable future for the region in awarding the tender for essential kerbside waste collection services for the next decade.

Responsible and sustainable management of domestic waste is a core service of Council and vital to both public health and amenity, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through diverting organics and recyclables from landfill.

Evaluation of the tender was carried out collaboratively with Shellharbour City Council in line with a Joint Procurement Agreement. At an extraordinary meeting on 16 December, Wollongong City Council unanimously endorsed a recommendation to accept the tender of Remondis Australia for seven years from July 2027, with a further three-year option.

With Council legislatively required to provide waste collection services to more than 89,000 properties in our local government area, the tender locks in an essential service for the community over the next 10 years.

“Kerbside waste pick-up is a fundamental service offering for Council and our community expects and deserves a safe, reliable weekly collection service,” Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said.

“How we manage waste post-collection underpins our many goals and objectives when it comes to building a sustainable Wollongong and reducing our carbon footprint. We’re committed to our Net Zero target, and diverting waste from landfill and encouraging people to FOGO and use recyclables is a major part of that.

“We know that sustainability is a top priority for our community in all services we offer, so it’s important we work with contractors that share those priorities. That has been demonstrated through the tender evaluation process and we’re very pleased to have secured this vital service for our community for the next 10 years.”

Waste collection services will include pick-up of FOGO (green lid), recycling (yellow lid) and waste to landfill (red lid) bins, as well as bulky kerbside waste and recycling collections (Council pick-ups), supply of bins, FOGO caddies and caddy liners, and collections from Council’s business sites and commercial premises. The tender also includes delivery of customer service and waste education programs.

The tender is aligned with Council’s sustainability objectives, with eight fully electric or hybrid vehicles to be used for delivery of ancillary service components, while a trial is currently underway for the use of biofuel and its long-term viability for use in collection vehicles.

It also includes an undertaking to continue collaboration with Council in reducing overall carbon emissions whilst ensuring excellent service delivery.

The tender is a major step toward achieving net zero emissions and driving a circular economy to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The are goals outlined Council’s Community Strategic Plan 2035 and aligns with our Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2025-2035.

For over a decade, ENR has celebrated global design and construction excellence and this year examined around 90 submissions, analysing the performance and innovation of each project.  

The award highlights the collaborative efforts of Sydney Metro and the Crows Nest Design Consortium (CNDC) in delivering a station that not only meets the needs of passengers today but will also serve generations to come. CNDC consisted of lead consultants SMEC and partners Woods Bagot, Robert Bird Group, Norman Disney Young, and Oculus. 

A unique design feature of the station includes the pavers on platform level which were designed with inspiration from historical pavers found at the site during excavation. The geometric pattern reflects the heritage of Crows Nest.  

A defining feature of the station is its artwork Ceramic Wall Relief, a series of nine tile collage panels, which frame and embellish the walls in both entrances at the station.  

Designed by artist Esther Stewart the colourful artwork references the heritage of the Crows Nest area and the building elements in handmade coloured glazed tiles. 

Ceramic Wall Relief bridges both art and design, incorporating functional and decorative elements. The collages’ colours, patterns and motifs celebrate North Sydney’s once booming brick and tile industries and the urban history of artisanal fabrication.  

This latest award follows a series of international recognition for Sydney Metro, reinforcing its reputation as a global leader in rail infrastructure design and delivery. 

Welcoming around 9700 passengers each weekday, Crows Nest Station is one of six new metro stations, along with new platforms at Central and Sydenham that opened in Sydney’s north and under Sydney’s CBD in August 2024. Passengers can enjoy fast metro rides to Chatswood in 4 minutes, Sydenham in 18 minutes and out to Castle Hill in 28 minutes.