PHOTO: Paul Blattman has received machinery qualifications he never thought possible.
Clean up is well underway at the old rubbish tip at the end of Windagee Street as Coonamble Shire Council staff consider the site’s future use.
Work under the Caring for Country project began in early March to clear vegetation and replace fencing, carried out by participants in the Wake Up Shake Up program.
Twenty-four participants are expected to come out of the project with practical experience and certifications for machinery including bulldozers, loaders and chainsaws.
They’ll also join a pipeline for a potential job with Council’s outdoor crew.
“I never thought I’d have any machinery tickets. I’ve got them all in the last two months,” said participant Paul Blattman.
“It’s wonderful. We’re only working for our dole, but it’s something.
“We’ve got a good chance of getting a job on the council after this.
“We’ve got one fella on – he’s nearly 24 – and he’s already a supervisor. He’s only done his Wake Up Shake Up a year ago.”
The Wake Up Shake Up program began last year in 2024 with a view to preparing locals for employment and filling gaps in Council’s workforce.
As yet it’s unclear when the three-phase project will finish since the workers mostly began with little experience on the machines.
However, it’s expected that the clean up and preparation phase at the 28-hectare site will be completed by the end of May.
“We are a good team,” says supervisor William Jones.
“You can easily get a machinery ticket somewhere, but the main thing is big hours on the seat.
“They’re loving it.”
Last year, the former landfill site underwent an initial compulsory clean-up after an official clean-up notice from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was issued due to historic contamination from asbestos.
Coonamble Shire Council previously used it to irrigate liquid waste in rare cases when the ponds at the Sewer Treatment Plant were full.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has funded the project, while Council provides machinery and supervision.