BELCONNEN suburbs, the hardest hit in Monday’s severe thunderstorm, will receive an additional green waste bin collection on Saturday (January 8) to help with the clean up of damaged trees and plants.

“Our city services staff have been busy helping the ACT Emergency Services Agency and utility providers with clean-up efforts including clearing trees from roads, paths and nature strips as well as repairing stormwater,” said City Services deputy director-general Ben McHugh.

“We know that many residents have been doing the same in their yards and recognise that their efforts in clearing the green waste generated may mean their green waste bin is already full. We hope this additional collection will help residents in the clean-up process.

The suburbs to receive the extra collection are:

• Charnwood
• Dunlop
• Florey
• Hawker
• Holt
• Latham
• Macgregor

Green waste includes garden pruning, leaves, grass clippings, weeds and small branches no longer than 45cm and a diameter of 10cm.

Household green waste can also be dropped off for free at Corkhill Bros at Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre in Symonston between 7.30 am and 4.45 pm daily (charges apply to branches or trees larger than 200mm in diameter and/or 2000mm in length) as well as at Canberra Sand and Gravel on Parkwood Road in Macgregor between 7.30am and 4.45pm daily.

MEANWHILE, the opposition spokesperson for City Services, Nicole Lawder, is calling for more help for storm affected suburbs.

“Severe storm activity earlier in the week has seen many Canberra residents without power for a prolonged period and with substantial damage to their homes, cars, and gardens, not to mention our neighbourhoods,” she said.

“Some services which could assist residents in affected suburbs include additional: normal bin runs so that residents can dispose of spoilt and rotten food as a result of power outages, gutter cleaning to stop debris washing into our stormwater system and into our waterways and footpath and road sweeping to help clear debris and make sure residents, including those with mobility issues, can safely walk through their neighbourhoods.”