By Deanne Jeffers
If you’ve been holding onto unwanted items in anticipation of a hard rubbish collection service in Greater Shepparton, you’ll need to wait a little longer.
Despite earlier excitement, plans for a roadside hard waste collection — originally slated to begin in July 2026 — have been delayed after the Greater Shepparton City Council abandoned its procurement process.
In an update on May 5, Council said an evaluation found the tender process did not meet the competitive requirements needed to award a long-term contract.
“As a result, the current procurement process has been formally abandoned, with the objective to commence the service in the 2027/28 financial year,” the statement said.
Acting Director Infrastructure Janelle Bunfield stressed the delay was not a rejection of the service itself.
“Council’s commitment to introducing a hard waste collection service remains unchanged,” she said. “This approach ensures any future service is financially responsible, operationally effective, and aligned with community expectations.”
She added that procurement timelines, market conditions and the need to refine service specifications meant the rollout could not proceed before 2027/28.
In the meantime, Council said it will monitor market conditions, consult industry, and further develop the service model ahead of a new tender process.
Mayor Councillor Shane Sali acknowledged strong community support for the initiative, but said the procurement outcome fell short.
“Our community clearly supports a hard waste collection service, and it remains a priority for Councillors,” he said.
“The process undertaken did not allow for a recommendation to be presented. Taking the time now ensures the service we introduce is affordable, consistent and fit for purpose from day one.”
He said getting the model right from the outset would set it up for long-term success, with updates to be provided as the new tender progresses.
Council had previously announced the service would begin on July 1, 2026, offering residents two annual nature strip collections of up to three cubic metres. The plan was approved at the June council meeting following a review of resource recovery operations, however, subject to the open tender procurement process to ensure the new service provided value for money.
Cr Fern Summer, who advocated for the service for more than a decade, said the delay was disappointing but necessary.
“It is disappointing, but we haven’t given up,” she said. “We don’t want to lock the community into a sub-par service in a long-term contract. Taking a step back will allow us to get it right for ratepayers.”
