Board communique - June 2023
The Board met on 20 June 2023 ahead of WMRR’s 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the Australian Landfill and Transfer Stations (ALTS) Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre. At this meeting, directors heard from the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC), which met earlier in June to review WMRR’s year-end financial position for 2022. In 2022 membership numbers remained strong with over 2,200 members nationally. The Board agreed that this was in clear recognition of the Association’s diverse array of offerings, which the Board is very keen to flow in to further training opportunities- recruiting appropriate resources permitting. If you know someone that has a real passion for training in the waste and resource recovery space- why not have them contact the national office?
In reviewing the ARC report the Board noted that for 2022 the Association closed the year with a small surplus of $30,700 - a reflection on the ongoing active participation of industry in WMRR activities, with three (3) conferences in 2022 and almost a WMRR event, webinar or networking session every two (2) weeks somewhere in Australia. In 2022, we saw events as far north as Mission Beach in Far North Queensland, south in Hobart and west in Perth, plus with the benefit of webinars WMRR can reach members from across the entire nation at once! I would like to take the opportunity to share the Board’s appreciation of our members’ continued commitment to the Association as well as the efforts of all staff in the delivery of these events.
The ARC noted that although membership fees have increased modestly with inflation over recent years the strong financial position the Association finds itself in is due to sustained growth in the membership base not the adjustment to the fee structure, which is greatly pleasing. ARC has also recommended a review of the historic KPIs in the audited financial report expressing a desire to update these in the next report to better reflect the goals and achievements of the Association.
The Board also discussed recent engagements that the WMRR CEO has had in both Queensland and NSW to progress key initiatives including strategic infrastructure planning, the importance of the levy in incentivizing resource recovery and the ongoing need for government leadership in procuring recycled materials. Time and again the success of the Victoria initiative EcologiQ comes up in this area and WMRR continues to urge other states to look to this successful model.
The Board welcomed the outcomes of the Environment Ministers’ Meeting (EMM) noting that the Ministers are clearly recognizing that greater generator responsibility is required if we are bona fide in achieving 80% diversion by 2030, key to this success is the market demand that must also be required form these schemes to buy back the products they manage. WMRR is very interested in the development of the mandatory packaging regulation and we look forward to seeing the details in due course.
Reflecting on 2023 so far, the Association, like everyone else in the industry, has faced challenges with resourcing and intends to continue the research position to deliver a key initiative of WMRR’s Strategic Business Plan 2023-2026, improving the data and knowledge hub we have.
WMRR’s Strategic Plan has been operational for six (6) months with State Branch Committees currently in the process of reviewing their State specific initiatives to ensure that these goals remain relevant and achievable. The Board has added the Initiatives and Guiding Principles as a standing agenda item and will continue to review progress throughout the year. Strong Working Group participation has also been driving these activities, particularly the work being done by the NSW Landfill and C&D and Queensland Landfill groups. If you are a 2023 financial member and are interested in reviewing your state’s initiatives head along to the next monthly meeting or contact Romany in the National Office if you are not already involved in Working Groups or your State Branch Committee.
At the AGM I was glad to start my second and final term (2023-2025) as National President. The National President and Vice President terms alternate to ensure continuality of direction with Mark Rawson our Vice President’s second and final term concluding at the 2024 AGM. Nominations will be called in the first half of 2024. The AGM also saw the auditor’s contract to prepare the annual financial report extended for another two (2) years to 2025.
To keep up to date with events and webinars please regularly check the events page and our rolling calendar, we have a number of face to face events coming up in Queensland, Victoria and NSW- hope to see you there!