Clarence can dodge carbon tax
CLARENCE Valley Council still has a chance to dodge the carbon tax bullet if it keeps its carbon dioxide production below the magic 25,000-tonne mark.
Council general manager Scott Greensill downplayed accusations from Federal National Party figures who claimed the council would have to pay the tax.
Mr Greensill said the council always knew the emissions from its tip were near the Federal Government legislation's 25,000-tonne threshold for emissions.
He said the council faced the prospect of doing nothing and having an $890,000 carbon tax bill to pass onto the ratepayer or to look at measures to lower CO2 production.
"It's still not certain we'll have to pay anything," he said.
"Our new garbage collection system will allow us to reduce CO2 production by allowing us to compost green waste and recycle more rubbish rather than put it into landfill. And if we do landfill gas capture and flaring we'll be able to reduce our CO2 emissions further."
Federal Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker and its candidate in Page Kevin Hogan have claimed the Clean Energy Regu- lator has added the council to the list that will pay the tax.
But Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin has said this is just scaremongering.
"He (Mr Hartsuyker) wrongly suggested the council would pay the carbon price on their entire emissions of their landfill, knowing full well they are only liable for emissions from waste deposited after July 1, 2012," she said.
"It is plain wrong for Mr Hartsuyker to inflate the Clarence Valley's carbon price liability, but unfortunately this is yet another example of the levels the Liberal National Opposition will stoop to to mislead and deceive Clarence Valley ratepayers."
