City of Rockingham mayor Lorna Buchan has warned returning to weekly waste pick-ups will come at a “significant” cost after residents saw red over changes to their collection service.

Hundreds of locals who want a return to weekly collections from the fortnightly pick-ups packed the Gary Holland Community Centre last Tuesday night.

Issues with the FOGO (food organics garden organics) red bins in Rockingham include shocking images of maggots spilling from lids, reports of foul smells and rubbish dumping at parks.

Residents gathered to vote on five motions, including reinstating weekly red-lidded bin collections.

But Ms Buchan warned that doing so would come at a “significant and ongoing” cost to ratepayers.

“For a five‑day per week service, the city estimates an additional $2.5 million every year in ongoing operational costs,” she said.

“However, in the first year, costs would increase by approximately $5 million, driven by the loss of a one‑off Better Bins Plus grant, the purchase of three additional waste trucks and extra communication and education expenses.”

Ms Buchan said FOGO aimed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and impact on future generations.

She understood change could be challenging but the city had to provide an effective service for the broader community.

“As residents become familiar with separating food waste and garden organics, many are finding their red‑bin waste decreases over time,” Ms Buchan said.

“We encourage residents to keep thinking about how much waste their household produces, and to engage in conversations about waste services in a respectful and constructive way, both online and in person.”

Residents at the electors’ meeting also sought an independent audit of the FOGO waste system, a public transparency register for lobbyists and developers, a mandatory ratepayer impact statement for capital projects more than $500,000, and a public accountability dashboard for tracking questions taken “on notice”.

The meeting was prompted by a petition by local Jarrad Krollig, who collected the signatures of 440 ratepayers.

Mr Krollig said he was inspired to start the petition after his mum, a foster carer, struggled with the fortnightly collection of bins.

He has faced criticism after One Nation senator Rod Caddies supported the cause and turned up to meetings.

Mr Krollig said from the members from all political parties he approached for help, including Liberal and Labor, Mr Caddies was the only one who showed support.

The motions passed at the special electors’ meeting will now go before full council to be decided.

Mr Krollig hopes this is the start of more people taking on their local governments over inaction on core functions, like bins.

“Just listening to all the people hearing them say they’re not being listened to, I just thought it’s not really fair,” he said.

“So I just decided to do something about it.

“People power . . . that’s what I tell everyone when they’re like, good job, I tell them I can make all the videos in the world, but if they don’t show up to have their voice heard when it counts, it’s all for nothing. I’m just a guy talking to my friends online.”

The meeting was moved to the Gary Holland Community Centre from the council chamber in anticipation of a big turnout.

Only an audio record of the meeting was taken for minute purposes, despite requests for it to be livestreamed.

Ms Buchan had estimated the livestream would cost about $10,000, based on the livestream of the February annual electors meeting from a smaller venue.

“The estimate accounts for the greater scale and technical complexity of the GHCC,” she said.

Premier Roger Cook defended the city during comments on the local government sector last week, saying: “They’re a strong council, but they’ve been undermined by community campaigns which are utilising digital technology to see unrest in the community.”

Mr Krollig said he was shocked by the comments.

“So making videos about the council and asking for transparency, and then lodging a legal form, one that is designed to give the ratepayers a voice, is undermining the local council?” Mr Krollig said.

“Well, then I guess that’s what we’re doing, so I’m just a traitor that’s followed the legal process designed to give people a voice.”