Think Global act locally

Sustainability Matters Column 11 May 2023, WarwickStanthorpe Today

Most of us who live on the Granite Belt and who follow the news are feeling increasingly concerned about the state of the Planet. It’s hard to imagine how we can make a difference at the global level but, as a thinker once said, “THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL”.

One of GBSAN’s missions is to turn a spotlight on what happens to our rubbish and promote modern, sustainable solutions that convert waste into a resource and divert material away from landfill and create employment, protect the environment and save money.

For example did you know that 40% of Australia’s landfill waste is made up of organic material that could be diverted to a bio-digester that would produce methane gas that could be used to generate power and produce fertiliser for agriculture? Biodigesters thus convert a cost – dumping – into jobs and income. 

Our current Council says it is committed to “improving the sustainability of the region for the future, increasing resource recovery, improving infrastructure and exploring new technologies”  (Speaking Up For The Southern Downs Oct 2020). Yet they are already planning another landfill and have shown little initiative in exploring other more sustainable options. Frankly it’s not good enough and our community will pay the price - lost job creating opportunities, more pollution, and higher rates. 

So it’s time we changed tack and adopted smart, “best practice” solutions to our waste problem. We need to hold Council to their commitments and not put up with second rate, lazy and expensive investments that compound the problem, not solve it.   

The Granite Belt and Southern Downs has an opportunity to become one of the most sustainable regional communities in the country if we begin to think long term and begin to build the necessary infrastructure to take us into the next decade and beyond. 

We have mountains of organic waste from agriculture and households and there are tonnes of agricultural plastic sitting out there in the paddock all destined for the Council’s next hole in the ground. Let’s do something intelligent about it and leave the place in a healthier state for ourselves and our children.

For more information about GBSAN please go to gbsan.org.au

John Lucas

Resource Recovery Team

Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network.