Waimairi plans change of status

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 6

Waimairi plans change of status

The Waimairi County Council will change its status to a district council. . The council’s finance committee recommended last evening that the council set about becoming a district council.

The chairman, Mr D. B. Rich, said the name-change would be in name only, “which gives us. the right to cut off from the Counties Association which we have had so many problems with.” Dealing with the association had been very difficult, he said. Some councillors felt it might, have been better to have further discussions with the association about changing its constitution before announcing a sudden withdrawal from it.

Concern was also expressed over what practical effects the change would have on the council.

Mr Rich became annoyed with some councillors who wanted to know what these effects would be. “This matter has been dealt with at committee meetings on three separate occasions,” he said. “All we do is change the name from county to district council and go into the Municipal Association.” Practical effects of the proposed change in status will be discussed at later council meetings. Tip charge The cost of dumping a trailer-load of rubbish at the Sawyers Arms tip will probably stay at $2.50, in spite of a request for a price increase. The committee recommended that the charge for trailers stay at $2.50, even though the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal committee had asked the council to increase the charge to $3 to keep it in line with refuse station charges. Mr Rich said the discussion last evening was “a wrangle over nothing” and the $3 charge should be agreed to. But Cr P. Carter disagreed, saying the $3 charge for a trailer would be “profiteering. It is no incen-

tive at all for people to dump if the cost is $3,” he said. Cr H. M. Tait said it was “quite enough to charge $2.50 to take rubbish to a dirty, stinking old dump.” Uncontrolled dogs Uncontrolled dogs on county beaches are worrying several committee members. Mr Rich told the council’s dog ranger, Mr R. Pemberton, that dogs “had been a continuing problem on beaches,” and said extra policing would be required in prohibited areas. Cr A. A. Adcock said he had been told that many families using beaches in the county had complained about uncontrolled dogs. Roaming goats Untethered goats roaming county streets have kept Mr Pemberton busy in the last two months. From December 5 to January 25, 12 complaints had been made against goats. Six of these goats had to be impounded, and the other animals were claimed by their owners before he arrived, or else had wandered away. Band noise Automatic prosecution will probably follow any confirmed complaint about band noise at the Russley Hotel. Committee members heard a report from the Chief Health Inspector, Mr G. F. Manton, which said no complaints had been received about the noise recently. To combat the noise the hotel management had employed only “soft”-sounding entertainers and had built a “sound shell.” Sound-level measurements had shown the noise to be within the council’s limits, he said. In spite of the hotel’s recent good record the committee recommended that there should be an automatic prosecution if noise levels were exceeded: