THE West Tamar Council's tip sites will open an hour earlier in the new year following a successful notice of motion at last week's council meeting.
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Cr Tim Woinarski seconded Cr John Watson's motion that suggested the council's Beaconsfield and Exeter waste transfer stations open at 10am through the week.
"Ratepayers are increasingly frustrated by the current hours of operation and the current hours encourage illegal dumping and littering," Cr Watson said in the council agenda.
General manager Ian Pearce advised caution and said there was no money set aside to immediately implement the plan.
Infrastructure services manager Ian Howard estimated the change would cost about $20,000 and said contractors at the Beaconsfield site were not obliged to change their opening hours.
Mayor Barry Easther quelled fears the contractors could then negotiate for a higher fee and said such events would have the item returned to council.
Cr Peter Kaye supported the motion: "I've seen the council spend more than $27,000 on things less important to ratepayers."
The motion, which had the stations open from 10am on January 1, was eventually passed by all councillors.
