Get your fill of clean fill

16 March 2023

Council is looking for landowners interested in accepting clean fill from our construction projects and flood repairs.

We re-use excess fill material from road and drainage works by repurposing them for other projects and providing them to landowners at free of charge (provided the cost of delivery is less than the cost of disposal at Council sites).

The waste soils and private sites expression of interest process:

• provides a sustainable way to manage waste as excess fill material does not end up in landfill, saving excess material being stockpiled and taking up valuable space at the landfill
• saves haulage costs from the project site to the landfill by delivering to a landowner’s property near the site
• saves weighbridge charges for the waste (about $140 per tonne or about $1,640 per 12 tonne truck load).

The benefits of the process to landowners and other ratepayers include:

• access to free fill material including soils for the construction of necessary farm infrastructure such as the construction of elevated livestock and machinery platforms for flood protection, filling of eroded sections and land and drain infill
• access to no or near no cost supply of fill material to the landowner’s property – cost of supply and delivery is free if the cost of delivery is less than the cost of disposal to Council sites however, if the cost is greater (for example if the Council site is closer than the landowner's location) then the landowner will be asked to pay the difference in costs
• cost savings to Council projects which are funded by income from rates – funds saved from the cost of haulage and tip fees are redirected to other projects.

The February and March floods last year resulted in unprecedented amount of excess fill and there are a limited number of landfill sites available in the Tweed. The cost to dispose of fill elsewhere is considerably higher which is funded by income from rates. So, if you’re a landowner and have a need for fill material at your private property, register your interest now.

The application process has recently been streamlined making it easier for landowners to register their interest. Details provided with the application will be assessed to make sure the fill will not cause impacts such as worsening flooding or damaging the environment. For details, visit the Disposal of fill page.