COUNCILLOR Alex Christian is calling on the NSW Government and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to, for the sake of mental health, allow tips to open during lockdown.
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He is one numerous residents to express frustration that the Bathurst Waste Management Centre has been closed to the general public.
The centre can only be accessed by businesses or regional residents who don't have a kerbside collection.
In response to the public outcry, Bathurst Regional Council explained the closure reflects advice received from the EPA in relation to what is regarded as 'essential travel' and waste disposal.
But Cr Christian said that the restriction doesn't make sense, as waste disposal can be done in a COVID-safe way.
"The tip isn't a place where people go to socialise. It smells bad, you go up, you drop off your load and you leave. It's certainly not a place where you socialise; I don't think social distancing would be an issue up there, people do it anyway," he said.
"There is nothing about closing the tip off to householders in Bathurst that makes sense."
Additionally, he said the opportunity to get things done around the house while in lockdown, including getting rid of bulky items, could be something that helps people cope.
"I just think it's a really, really silly decision. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter whether you get kerbside pick-up or not, I think it should be an essential reason to leave your home," Cr Christian said.
"During these lockdowns, it's good for people's mental health to tidy up their homes, to clean up the garden and to get outside into their backyard in the sun and fresh air and do some tidy-up.
"I think it puts people off if they can't take a trailer or ute load of stuff to the tip, and I think either people don't do those things that are beneficial to their mental health or they do them and just leave the rubbish to pile up."
He has been vocal online about the closure of the tip and said he has been "absolutely inundated" with questions from residents who share his frustrations.
One person who doesn't agree, though, is council election candidate Stuart Driver, who thinks council should implement an alternative: bulky green waste kerbside collection.
"It would be a good outreach for council at this time if they can do it within COVID rules, because ... especially with it being spring, to have at least a green waste pick-up arrangement I think would assist people moving forward while they're at home," he said.
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