‘Politicking’ delayed refuse scheme

Press, 3 November 1981, Page 6

‘Politicking’ delayed refuse scheme

Politicking has delayed a Christchurch metropolitan refuse scheme for at least one to two years, a Riccarton Borough councillor said last evening. Cr R. S. Lester told the council’s works and town hall committee meeting that “people wanting to make themselves heard” had caused most of the problems for the Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee. The swing to the Labour Party in the last Christchurch City Council elections had led to a changed emphasis in committee decisions.

He backed the original committee plans for three refuse transfer stations and a land-fill site but said after the meeting that more attention was being paid to resource recovery and recycling.

He said that his main concern was the money, rather than time wasted on delays in choosing a northern transfer station site.

“Some people are using this for political means only,” he said. They would have “red faces” after the General Election ;when northern city residents had to travel across the city to dump refuse at the other transfer stations. < The news media had also been unfair during'the controversy over the northern transfer station. People did

not realise that several committee decisions had been made on divisions decided with the chairman’s casting vote. Noise control Councillors criticised proposed legislation which would allow “noise control officers” to shut off the power to noisy premises. The electricity committee recommended that the council voice its opposition in principle through the Electrical Supply Authorities’ Association. The Mayor (Mr R. W. J. Harrington) said that the Community Noise Control Bill before Parliament was clumsy legislation. The police had the best training to enforce controls, not council staff or health inspectors. Cr Lester said the bill implied that local authorities needed to employ “bouncers.” Officers could enter premises, turn down the volume or impound the noise source, and ask the electrical supply authority to cut off power. Street flooding Residents near Riccarton Bush can expect some flooding relief from the stormwater which discharges from the reserve. The works and town hall

committee was told that the Christchurch Drainage Board has adopted a $103,000 piping scheme as part of its works programme for the Riccarton main drain. Power charge A recommendation to double the supply charge on power bills drew heavy fire from Cr Lester. The electricity committee recommended a further staff report on the charge, including consultations with neighbouring electrical supply authorities. The Town Clerk (Mr T. N. Neate) had suggested a 100 per cent charge increase, from $5 to $lO for each meter reading, to cover rising administration and metering costs. The rise, part of a standardisation move with other supply authorities, would take effect next financial year. Extra revenue from the increase would lower the general unit charge. Cr Lester said that he saw no reason for the change. The electricity account showed a handsome profit each year and the increased charge would be a penalty for lower-income consumers. ’Mr Neate said that the lower unit charges would offset the supply charge increase. Introducing an increase next year would avoid a “lump” increase in the future.