General News
9 July, 2025
Millmerran bin stations set to close August 1
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has responded to residents' concerns regarding its decision to permanently close the six rural bin stations located in the Millmerran district by August 1.
TRC Waste Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Melissa Taylor said Council was aware of community concerns around the Millmerran district waste service changes.
“We’ve listened to the community concerns following the decision to permanently close the Millmerran district bin stations,” Cr Taylor said.
“Based on this feedback, we acknowledge that we need to improve our communication with the affected property owners.
"We will be sending affected residents further information about the closures, including information about the type of waste that can be disposed of and recycled at the Millmerran Waste Management Facility.
“A Millmerran Waste Management Facility service level review found that the provision of six bin stations, outside Millmerran, substantially exceeded Council’s whole-of-Region waste facility service levels.
“The change will align the Millmerran district waste service levels with the Region’s waste service delivery levels," Cr. Taylor said.
“The bin stations incorporated several large industrial-style bins located near major roads.
"Users were required to travel to them to dispose their waste, unaided by gatehouse operators or other staff who are available to assist at our facilities like the Millmerran Waste Management Facility."
The bins stations are no longer offered anywhere else across the Toowoomba Region.
Residents in the Millmerran district with an existing kerbside waste collection service will not be affected by these changes.
Residents not currently serviced by a kerbside collection service can contact Council on 131 872 to lodge an expression of interest to have a kerbside collection at their property.
“Data shows that approximately 85 per cent of Millmerran district residents use the Millmerran Waste Management Facility,” Cr. Taylor said.
“Residents can feel assured that the facility has the capacity to accommodate customers who may have previously used the bin stations.
“The diversion rates for the Millmerran Waste Management Facility and the bin stations are well below the 54 per cent diversion rate of all our Region’s waste facilities.
“This highlights the opportunities for improving waste disposal practices and diverting more waste from landfill at Millmerran.
“By improving the diversion of waste from our landfill operations, Council can reduce the impost of the State Waste levy, or the ‘bin tax’, while also promoting further environmental benefits and recycle precious resources where possible.
“Council is working to transition in line with the state government targets for 90 per cent of our waste being reused and diverted from landfill by 2050.
“Council intends to remediate the closed bin sites and will monitor the locations for instances of illegal dumping or misuse following the closures.
“Illegal dumping is unacceptable, and Council will take enforcement action to avoid clean-up costs being met by ratepayers.
“Council’s June 2025 Ordinary Meeting also endorsed reviewing the removal of the bin stations, with costs and savings to be monitored and reported back to Council in a year’s time,” Cr. Taylor said.
The bin stations set to close on August 1 are:
• Bringalily bin station: Bringalily Creek Road, Bringalily;
• Kooroongarra bin station: Hain Road, Kooroongarra;
• Rocky Creek bin station: corner of Moffatt Reserve Road and Rocky Creek Road, Rocky Creek;
• Rural Residential No. 1 bin station: corner of Moffatt Road and Millmerran Woods Road, Millmerran;
• Rural Residential No. 2 bin station: Paddy’s Creek Road, Millmerran; and
• Turallin bin station: corner of Turallin Road and Main Street, Turallin.
Tania Williams has started an online petition against the permanent closure of the bin stations, which has received 659 votes at time of writing.
“We, the undersigned residents and ratepayers of Millmerran and surrounding rural communities, call on Toowoomba Regional Council to immediately reverse its decision to remove all six rural waste bin stations in our region,” the petition said.
“For many of us, these bin stations are the only service Council currently provides.
“We have no kerbside collection, no postal delivery, no town water, no public transport, and no street lighting.
“This isn’t a cost-saving measure - it’s a service cut that punishes rural communities while offering no replacement, no support, and no meaningful consultation,” stated the petition.
There was a lengthy discussion on the topic at the TRC committee meeting on 10th June before any decisions about the closures were made.
Cr. Edwina Farquhar made note of her recent visit to Wylahra Grove with Cr. Trevor Manteufel as part of the councillor drop-in sessions that were held in May.
Cr. Farquhar said the residents expressed their interest in having Council increase their services to potentially three times a week, as the bins were always full.
Mayor Geoff McDonald said Council needs to make decisions without fear or favour, to support the broader community.
“The bin tax is something that no resident would like to hear about,” he said.
“What our community does deserve and should deserve is that the revenue raised throughout the bin tax is spent in areas to improve the services that our community deserves around waste.”
The Millmerran Waste Management Facility is located on Owens Scrub Road (access via Foxwood Road) and is open Monday 1pm to 5pm, Wednesday 8am to noon, Friday 1pm to 5pm and on the weekend between 10am and 3pm.
Customers with domestic and household waste can dispose of up to 400kg per visit, free of charge at any waste management facility across the Region.
There are limits on items specifically listed on the TRC webpage, such as batteries, oils and tyres, which incur a fee or have maximum limits.
For details about waste facilities, visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/waste
