Tip fee proposals

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 4

Tip fee proposals

The Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee will consider written proposals from rubbish contractors who are angry about a proposed 100 per cent rise in commercial tipping fees.' The committee’s chairman (Mr J. M. McKenzie) said talks yesterday with representatives of the newly formed Canterbury Rubbish Contractors’ Association had been “very amicable” and had given them new appre-

ciation of the losses involved in tip operations. The .committee had recommended the higher, charges from April. 1 as a, step towards reducing the dump deficits before the metropolitan scheme begins. While -the Christchurch City Council brought in the higher charges from April 1, Heathcote . County and Waimairi County will, defer implementation until the committee- reaffirms its recommendation or. alters, it. The contractors had. been invited to : prepare counterproposals fbr presentation at a committee meeting . next Tuesday, said Mr McKenzie. The recommended increases in tip charges might then be reconsidered, he said. “If we can find a new formula, and there is room to reconsider, by all means we will make recommendations to the local bodies,” said Mr McKenzie. Urgency was needed, as the local bodies concerned would need a final recommendation when considering their annual estimates. Mr McKenzie hoped the doubling of commercial tip charges would be reaffirmed or altered on April 22. The contractors had been told of the deterioration in tip revenue in which the deficiency was becoming a greater cost against the ratepayer, he said.

The 'deficit on local bodies for the year ended February 1, 1979, was $148,000, and[ Mr McKenzie expected this would be higher in the last financial year. ’’• .■■■ ( The growth in the deficit!! had to be arrested, he said? The contractors were, invited to consult the com* mittee’s project engineer in preparing the counter-propo-sals. ■ The contractors had also! been told they would be able toj dump: at the. proposed Wdimairi landfill area..'foria'! charge slower' the rubbish transferHstaffbnSi j Mr McKenzie said. 11 'Howeyerj this was' still six years away.